The international theme of this year’s Philly Flower Show yielded some very exciting and inspired exhibits. The most memorable displays spanned the globe and defied the flower show exhibit norm of "a little flowered and shrubbed landscape surrounding a cunning little house with patio."  In fact, several were among the most interesting and compelling I'd ever seen.

The truly unique, multifaceted exhibit presented by the Philadelphia Flower Designers at MODA Botanica caught my eye first. They used industrial steel storage containers to house wild, modern floral fantasy rooms. All floral rooms in the display had a industrial or urban feel while also being wildly fantastical.

Luminous and surreal vases of green dyed sweet peas, grasses and fern fronds hung from the ceiling of the first MODA Botanica steel container display.

One of the glassed in Moda displays was white, bright, utilitarian and fluorescent.

Bold graffiti and an intricate web of colored bamboo stems were brought to life by vines of vibrant gloriosa lilies.

A workman's lamp is softened by an unlikely mix of moss, orchids, sweet peas, muscari and ranunculus.

Another memorable display was that presented by showcase exhibitor, the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD). "Exploring South Africa" was the title of their large, varied display that featured everything from seeded and flowered South African masks to tribal figures, shields and animals made of cast bases decorated with natural materials. Much of the plant material was South African in origin.

Flowers, feathers, seeds, raffia and plastic pull ties decorated the South African tribe's people in the AIFD display.

The walkway lined with seeded and flowered African masks was so packed with interested visitors it was hard to enjoy the workmanship.

A lion with a grassy mane and orchid dusted back was one of several African animals AIFD  created.

A giraffe decorated with small, orb-like vases filled with tangerine orchids also stood tall above the show.

India was another country beautifully presented through floral interpretation. Jamie Rothstein Distinctive Floral Designs Inc. provided a colorful Indian landscape in, Flowers! The Jewels of an Indian Wedding. Like the South African display, it was colorful, creative and featured flowery animals as well as gardens and landscapes. Rosettes of floral beds dotted the ground like jewelry and a long pool led the way to the matrimonial cottage.


The brightly colored round beds that dotted the Jamie Rothstein display were vibrant.

A flowered peacock added charm to "Flowers! The Jewels of an Indian Wedding."



A happy elephant (I swear it was smiling) with Spanish moss skin, Craspedia tusk decorations and a love-lies-bleeding head dress was the star of the India display.

The main display of "Passport to the World” was quite a showpiece as well. Its red Chinese house was my favorite. The colorful travel balloon at the entrance was also impressive. Live, trained parrots flew among the gardens adding an extra element of exoticism.

The main PHS display is always beautifully done and this year was no exception.

Jane Pepper, much loved president of the PHS since 1981, will be retiring from her post this year. A lovely Scottish garden display was created in her honor. It was a fitting farewell for a woman whose leadership and vision took the society to new heights.

The Scottish Garden dedicated to Jane Pepper had elements of naturalism and fun (note the Yellow Submarine mailbox).