The worlds of art and horticulture will collide in the City of Brotherly Love this weekend for the annual Philadelphia Flower Show.
The annual event hosted by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society will be held from Saturday to March 9 at the Philadelphia Convention Center. A schedule of activities and ticket prices are available at the show's website, www.theflowershow.com.
Jane Kruse, Master Gardener with the Penn State Extension, will be making the nearly two-hour trip to the event called the "world's longest-running and largest indoor Flower Show." It will be her second trip to the show.
"It took some time to go through," Kruse said. "It's very impressive."
With winter weather prolonging the start of gardening season, Kruse said the flower show acts as a preseason event for horticulture enthusiasts. The show as a whole offers something for everybody but it's the detail and size of the individual displays that Kruse remembers from her previous trip.
"It's not small. It's done on a large scale," she said.
The theme for this year's show is "ARTiculture." According to a press release, the theme "will explore the influence of natural landscapes on the arts." It will also celebrate horticultural design as an art form.
The centerpiece of the flower show is the entrance exhibit. To go with the theme, this year's exhibit is inspired by the paintings and sculptures of Alexander "Sandy" Calder, a member of a family of artists whose art is found throughout Philadelphia.
Kruse said she is excited about the theme as she agrees that gardening is an art form.
"A painting is a piece of art you finish. Gardening is an art that never ends," she said.
On Monday, the St. Matthew Travelers will be making its annual trek to the flower show. Hosted by St. Matthew the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Minersville, the Rev. Leo Maletz said the trip is a favorite for the travelers.
"Everything is positive from the feedback from the trip," Maletz said.
He said the cost is $55 and includes transportation and ticket to the show. The bus is scheduled to depart at 8 a.m. from Quandel's parking lot and leave from Philadelphia at 5 p.m. for the return trip.
Maletz said the trip is not exclusive to parishioners.
"Everyone is welcome to come as long as we have tickets," he said. As of Tuesday, he said they have six to eight spots available and there is no deadline to sign up.
Maletz said the trip will go rain, shine or snow.
He said the annual trip started several years ago after the church received information from the flower show. He said he had previous knowledge of the show from an aunt who attended it and thought it would be a good trip for the church.
Maletz said the group members can do whatever they want at the show and surrounding areas as long as they are back in time for departure home. For example, he likes to have lunch across the street at the Reading Terminal Market, which has food selections from all over the world.
"They can plan the day as they wish," he said.
Maletz said he is glad that they are able to go on the trip as the flower show is a unique experience.
"To me, it's an enjoyable day and it's a reasonable amount of money to see something that is eye-catching," he said.
For information on the bus trip, call the church rectory at 570-544-2211.