PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — For the first time in nearly 200 years, the Philadelphia Flower Show is being held outdoors at FDR Park in South Philadelphia.
Safety in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic led the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society to move its 193rd Philadelphia Flower Show, from
indoors in March at the Pennsylvania Convention Center to outdoors in June at FDR Park.
“Over 75 of the world’s most talented floral and garden designers have brought our show theme of 'Habitat: Nature's Masterpiece' to life over this 15 acre living canvas," said PHS Chief of Shows Sam Lemhaney.
"These imaginative exhibits will inspire and bring joy to people, and provide gardeners with a wonderful kickoff to the growing season.”
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Native plants and flowers are in the spotlight and exhibited throughout FDR Park.
"All of our native butterflies and all of our native birds are really declining in numbers," said Lori Cleveland from central New Jersey.
"It’s really critical that regular landscapers like you and me, and even professional landscapers incorporate native plants in to all of our garden designs.“
Reactions among flower show fans might differ about whether an indoor or outdoor show is better.
“Being outside, I think it is fantastic," said Eddie Gahrmann from Somerset, New Jersey.
"People are like, 'Yeah, but we have a lot of rain,' and I said, 'Rain makes the flowers grow, and this is a flower show.' Without rain, we have no flowers. It goes hand in hand, so why wouldn’t it be outside? And if it rains, there are umbrellas.”
“I do like it better indoors, I think," Mary Killoran of Upper South Hampton admitted. She has been going to the flower show for many years.
"You get a little more up close and personal with the flowers, but seeing all the flowers and the natural sunlight and being outside is beautiful.”
Those who are vaccinated were happy that they could finally take off their masks on a public setting.
“It’s a great feeling. Finally, a little normalcy returns to all of us,” added Gahrmann.
The Philadelphia Flower Show opens to the public Saturday and runs through June 13.