Sending Smiles ~

Well, it's that time of year again - Time for the Philadelphia Flower Show! This year I did not act as a judge as I have in the past, but I was able to attend and take a look see with the hubby on Sunday. The theme this year is Hawaii and as you enter this magical place you are greeting by blue clear ocean above and white dendrobium orchid and anthurium flower waves crashing over head. What a wonderful way to start the show!  A close up below reveals how the white caps were created along with elegant and gracefully curved phaelanopsis orchid plants. Folks loved it!!    This exhibit was my personal favorite, created by Robertson's floral. On each side, representing the blue oceans with white cresting waves, were these blue water filled vessels and cut phael orchid sprays. In the center was a trip thru the mainland with it's tropical flowers and fauna and sandy beaches.  Everywhere you looked there were every type of tropical bloom and o...

Well, it's that time of year again when my ticket to judge at the Philadelphia Flower Show arrives. This year the theme was Springtime in Paris! What a perfect theme for a wonderful show! Well, the show was amazing. Due to the time it took to judge and the judging still going on, we were not able to see everything but it was fun to run quickly around and breath in all the spring flower scents! The grand entrance was fun with it's copy of the Eiffel Tower and these adorable bugs made from flower and plant material. What a greeting they were! Paris scenes and spring flowers were everywhere! Flowing planters of Spring blooms were everywhere! Daffodils being judged for their beauty! I don't envy the judges who have decide which one of these gorgeous plants is the best. They all looked amazing to me. Well, that it's it, a quick recap of the 40 minutes we had to see the show between judging. If you want to really feel like you have experienced Springtime in Paris, go check ou...

I'm back from the Philadelphia Flower Show and I have to say that I was not disappointed. The theme this year is Bella Italia and anyone that knows me knows that Italy is my favorite destination! This year I was lucky enough to have been asked to be a judge! I represented an award given out by the Society of American Florists, of which I am a member. Our judging began at 8:30 am sharp on the morning of the preview day and it was great fun to be able to see everything up close and with no crowds. My wonderful husband was kind enough to drive me in to the city and then keep himself busy for a few hours during the judging. Afterwards, he and I were able to spend about 1/2 hour walking the show. The final judging was happening but the show was not yet open for the preview afforded the members of the Horticultural Society. It was wonderful to try to take it all in before the crowds streamed in. One of my favorite displays was the one that represented Milan and was created by AIFD me...