814-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 20 1993
Kaleidoscope Of Philade
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming Staff
PHILADELPHIA (Philadclphi
a Co.) Six acres of flowers
flaunted a touch of spring for those
who made it to the Philadelphia
Flower Show before the record
setting blizzard caused the week
long event to close two days early.
Early figures revealed that the
blizzard whited out attendance by
about 40,000 persons. But those
who made it to the Show were
entranced by the beauty of 55 ela
borate landscaping displays and
1,700 individual entries.
The theme “Preserving the Past,
Presenting the Future,” was evi
dent at the Philadelphia Civic Cen
ter where displays blended the
flowers of the past with environ
mentally responsible gardening.
Proper care of shrubs, plants and
trees was emphasied to maintain
the past ecology. Bartlett Tree
Experts taught visitors the art of
pruning. “Pruning trees is like rais
ing children: providing early direc
tions results in fewere problems as
the plant matures. Pruning young
trees eliminates weak growth to
provide a strong basis for future
development.”
Shrubs should be thinned to
control size and maintain their
natural shape, but not sheared.
For the more than 150,000 visi
tors at the Show, education was of
prime interest. Several displays
Jack’s eyeview of Jack and the Beanstalk by Pennsyl
nla Nurseyman’s shows an effective use of plants.
Miniature hollyhocks
* ♦^'■P^pppppi
V-* J.
The “growing swan”
swims contently In a pool of
water.
emphasized that the secret to a
healthy lawn in a safe environment
lies in working with nature.
A green lawn often requires
over-fertilized, energy consuming
practices that waste water and fill
up landfills with grass clippings.
Soil should be tested periodical
ly to determine the right tertilizcr,
compost, and services needed to
keep your lawn healthy.
Grass type should be a variety
that is well-adapted to the area
where it is planted. It will grow
better and resist pests and diseases
belter. Mowing high
{2Vi -3/2 -inches) and -more often
will produce healthier grass with
fewer pest problems.
Flowers, shrubs, and trees in the
displays are marked so that visitors
can easily identifiy plants they
may want to include in their home
gardening.
Free lectures and demonstra
tions on gardening, flower arrang
ing, floral photography, and
houseplant care were scheduled
for each day.
The crowds packed the area
where more than 100 vendors sold
everything from floral tape to
glass-enclosed decks.
Plan to attend the 1994 Philadel
phia Flower Show scheduled for
March 6-13. For more informa
tion, contact the Pennsylvania
Horticultural Society, 325 Walnut
St.. Philadelphia, PA 19106-2777.
This arrangement shows how recycling an old milk can
for a container of fresh flowers preserves the past with the
present.
Landscai g displays sw . as. one ere; ;d by McNaughtoi se» js Inc. of
New Jersey show how flowers, shrubs, and trees enhance the beauty of the house.
Iva-
Water gardening shows plants suited for
«"•
g*'"'
Mi'S -
s
‘
ia Flower Show
rowing In water and around water.
cult to perceive that the Philadelphia Flower Show is really
held Inside the Civic Center.
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