2017 Flower Show to Celebrate the Colors of Holland
American and Dutch designers highlight a land transformed by tulips and eco-design
PHILADELPHIA – The 2017 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show, ”Holland: Flowering the
World,” will celebrate the beauty and ingenuity of Dutch culture, from vivid flower fields
to innovative eco-design, on March 11 to 19 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
No other country is as well known for its floral industry as the Netherlands, which fills
the world with color. The Philadelphia Flower Show will transport guests to the rainbow
landscapes of tulips, hyacinths and daffodils and the cut-flower and bulb markets that
have shaped Dutch history. America’s premier floral and garden designers will celebrate
facets of Holland’s culture throughout the 10 acres of exhibition halls at the Philadelphia
Flower Show, which supports the transformative greening and beautification work of the
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
The Flower Show will also explore the innovation that has defined Holland’s approach to
its unique landscape, from windmills – one of the earliest uses of natural energy – to
21st-century ecodomes and the Dutch Wave movement, which takes a natural and
sustainable approach to landscape design. Leading designers from Holland, including
Nico Wissing, Bart Hoes, Bart Bresser, and New Jersey-born Carrie Preston, will share
their extraordinary floral and garden styles in major exhibits at the Flower Show.
“We are thrilled to have these stars of Dutch garden design working with our awardwinning Flower Show designers on the exhibits,” said Sam Lemheney, PHS Chief of
Shows & Events. “This Flower Show will inspire guests with new ways of thinking about
gardening in a changing world, and dazzle them with the colors and creativity of
Holland’s floriculture.”
New in 2017
Bridges, windmills, canals and water gardens in a sea of 30,000 flowers -- with 6,000
more blooms suspended in a giant floral canopy -- will welcome visitors to the Flower
Show. Guests will pass under a brick bridge inspired by the Amsterdam cityscape and
adorned with Delft tile patterns, overflowing flower boxes and hanging baskets. The
surrounding garden will be planted with cherry trees, sycamores, and drifts of floral color
ranging from hot orange to soft pinks, reds, blues and purple accents. Mixed in with
thousands of tulips will be hundreds of fritillaria, narcissus, anemones and other blooms.
New Flower Show attractions will include the World Market in the Convention Center’s
Grand Hall. The World Market will feature a Dutch Shopping Village of imported and
domestic specialties; opportunities to create a take-home bulb garden or crafted planter;
the lively Designer’s Studio demos and real-time competitions; the PHS Pop Up Beer
Garden; and free tastings at the Fine Wine & Good Spirits store.
The 2017 show will also introduce the Garden Spa, located on the Grand Concourse,
where guests can opt for a variety of ways to relax, recharge and be pampered.
Offerings will include massage, make-your-own essential oils or potpourri, and sips of
wine and spirits.
A favorite family experience, Butterflies Live, returns to the Flower Show in 2017. The
educational exhibit replicates a habitat of native plants where more than 1,000
butterflies of 20 exotic and American species interact with guests.
Shopping opportunities will grow this year, with the flagship PHS Shop in the main
exhibition hall and three satellite stores where visitors can purchase Flower Show
scarves and capes, T-shirts, the new Teddy van der Bear, and other keepsakes. The
Meadowbrook Farm Store will offer exceptional spring plants and garden accessories in
the central PHS Shop. The bustling Flower Show Marketplace will include more than
180 vendors offering cut flowers, plants, tools, horticultural supplies, fine crafts, and
home décor and garden products from around the world.
A gardener’s paradise
The 2017 show will inspire and empower gardeners of all interests with new horticultural
ideas and information. Exhibits throughout the show will spotlight the highest quality
trees, shrubs and perennials for the home garden, including the 2017 PHS Gold Medal
Plant winners chosen for their year-round beauty and hardiness. Interactive
presentations in the Gardener’s Studio, presented by Subaru, will include the latest
thinking in container gardening, foodscaping, attracting pollinators, growing orchids and
African violets, and planting bulbs. The Competitive Class displays will combine creative
design with expert gardening, while providing practical lessons in beautifying the home
landscape.
Expert advice is found throughout the show: at the special displays of the plant societies,
in the educational exhibits created by area universities and high schools, and at each
exhibit where leading designers look forward to sharing their knowledge. Guests are
also invited to bring gardening questions to the information booth at the Hamilton
Horticourt, where novices compete with veterans for the coveted Philadelphia Flower
Show blue ribbons.
Visitors to the 2017 Flower Show will experience the rich heritage of the Netherlands,
from the canals of Amsterdam to castle gardens and Keukenhof fields, from the historic
and modern architecture to the world-renowned Dutch art and cuisine. “Holland:
Flowering the World” will be a celebration of a culture that has touched every corner of
the globe, and everyone is welkom.
ABOUT THE FLOWER SHOW
The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show is the nation's largest and longest-running
horticultural event, and features stunning displays by the world’s premier floral and
landscape designers. Started in 1829 by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the
show introduces the newest plant varieties, garden and design concepts, and organic
and sustainable practices. In addition to the major garden displays, the Flower Show
hosts world-renowned competitions in horticulture and artistic floral arranging,
gardening presentations and demonstrations, special events, and the citywide Bloom
Philly celebration. The Philadelphia Flower Show has been honored as the best event in
the world by the International Festivals & Events Association, competing with events
such as the Kentucky Derby Festival, Tournament of Roses Parade, Indianapolis 500
Festival, and other international celebrations.
The Premier Sponsor of the 2017 Flower Show is Subaru, and the Exclusive Sponsor is
Bank of America. Official Sponsors are AARP, Accenture, Acme, Bartlett Tree Experts,
Belgard, Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Flonase Sensimist, and Green Mountain
Energy. Supporting Sponsors are Amtrak, FTD, and SugarHouse Casino. Contributing
Sponsors are Bath Fitter, Breck’s, Brent and Becky’s Bulbs, Cruise Planners, Espoma
Organic, Fios, Global Home Improvement, LeafFilter, Mid-Atlantic Waterproofing, Stash
Tea, and Stella Artois. Official Media Partner is 6ABC.
For more information about the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show and to purchase tickets,
visit theflowershow.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
ABOUT PHS
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1827, that
connects people with horticulture, and together creates beautiful, healthy and
sustainable communities. Proceeds from the Philadelphia Flower Show support the
work of PHS to transform lives and landscapes across the region. Through the
innovative greening programs of PHS, people of all backgrounds work together to tend
community gardens, plant trees, green vacant lots, and create and maintain iconic
public landscapes. These efforts provide healthy food for families in need, teach job
skills to returning citizens, build stronger and safer communities, and make our world a
greener, more beautiful place. For information, visit PHSonline.org.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Alan Jaffe, PHS Senior Director of Communications & Media, 215.988.8833, mobile 267.968.0859,
[email protected]
Marion McParland, PHS Communications Specialist, 215.988.8815, mobile 609.238.9599,
[email protected].