This year’s theme, “Rooted: Origins of American Gardening,” celebrates the stories, cultural traditions, and ongoing horticultural inspiration that shape our gardens of today. It’s the third and final show leading up to the 200th anniversary of the PHS next year.
The previous two shows in 2024 and 2025 honored present-day gardens and the gardens of tomorrow. The entry garden shown above, “The Forest Floor,” is inspired by diverse traditions, from Japanese Zen gardens to Scottish forests. It’s meant to illustrate how American gardens have evolved through landscape and floral culture from around the globe.
The winning landscape entry went to Mark Cook Landscaping & Contracting of Doylestown, PA. The judges cited the firm for “an infinite palette in which flowers and textures emerge in a dynamic, purposeful composition.” Called “The Unseen Palette,” Cook said it was “inspired by the surrounding environment and structures” …and said “the unseen transformation reflects a new signature shaped by a visionary’s touch.”
Of course the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) sponsors innumerable competitions during each year’s show. I loved this rendition of the city’s Independence Hall made entirely from pressed flowers or parts of flowers.
And how about this broach with the picture of a sailboat in the middle? The sails are made from garlic skins and the lapel pin also includes peppercorns, raffia, Chinese toon, eucalyptus, bird’s nest fern, Norfolk pine and mustard seeds. Naturally, it won a blue ribbon in its class.
The show is open through March 8th .. well worth a visit. And can’t wait to see what they do for the 200th anniversary in 2027!
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