Philadelphia Flower Show

Goodness gracious me, to put it mildly. I do need new glasses - I can hardly see this screen! :-(

However, I could see well enough to admire the displays at the Philadelphia Flower Show! And what a show it was. The theme was New Orleans and Jazz - which led to some exravagant interpretations of jazz in floral form. Pictures to come, when I get them to my computer, and thence to the appropriate Flickr repository. 

Last year the theme was "St Patrick's Day", which led to some interesting monochromatic or whimsical "fairy at the bottom of the garden" type of things. (Oddly, no one did both. Maybe that's not so odd...) 

If you're in the area this weekend - I can highly recommend the show. If you're in Jersey, pop over to a local Acme - you'll save $2 a ticket; otherwise, it's $24 a person. Wow! 

The displays. What a show of flowers! A lot of water was also used; which might be a metaphor best left unexplored. Ponds were in style, though. One aquatic center managed to get a lot of Koi swimming about; it was truly a serene moment, watching the fish flit around. Another garden had a "small" pond, at the end of which was a fantastical, definitely "fairy at the bottom of the garden" gazebo. It made me want to drop everything and build something similar in our garden! This display was followed by a surreal and abstract display that was as evocative as it was intriguing; and not a little disturbing! Flowers weren't displayed, as such - it was more that you, the viewer, were on display to the flowers. 

Quite unnerving. 

Riots of color were everywhere - with the emotions definitely being tweaked! There are some floral artists out there who can work pure magic with their impressionistic displays. Monet definitely inspired the works of this flower show. 

Interestingly, the bonsai was displayed in a fresh manner this year. Previous years adhered to format where the tree was physically framed; it led to a quiet moment, but translated to terrible pictures. This year, the trees were more dynamic in their presentation - simple stands of wood that captured the idea of bonsai quite well, and trees displayed in groups. All of it made bonsai seem quite exciting; I really should get back into it. I really enjoyed growing bonsai; I even managed to get a 2 foot high oak going! Unfortunately a period of neglect as I got ill, and recovered, ensured the death of some very interesting trees. 'twas a pity, indeed. 

The cacti and succulent blooms were splendid; they weren't displayed with much imagination though. Plants, placed in soldier-like rows didn't make for a dynamic or even interesting visage. Still, there were some gems in among them - it just took some effort to identify them. 

It's difficult to describe the flowers in a textual mode; either it displays my inadequacies as a scribe, or the displays need pictures to them justice. A bit of both, I fear. Tomorrow, I'll go through the pictures and upload the best of them. 

A splendid day was had, with lunch at the Reading Terminal Market (I had a cheesesteak, with onions and American, that was simply perfect! The Mrs had a cornbeef sandwich that had about 3 foot of corned beef on it. All for less than $20. How can you beat that?) and parking at the no-longer-outrageous price of $25. (For some reason we passed on the $20 lot. Go figure.) 

Tonight, in my dreams, I'll be planning how our garden will shape up. :-) (I have one idea, and it's a good 'un. More when, and if, I implement it. :-) Don't you just love the anticipation? No? Oh. Sorry. :-) )

Carolyn Ann