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Taking the show outside: There's always a wow factor at the Philadelphia Flower Show and this year is no different.
Video Transcript
– We're here on Action News. We're getting a sneak peek at preps for this year's Philadelphia Flower Show, and it's going to be unlike anything you've seen before. The event kicks off this Saturday outside at FDR park in South Philadelphia. Action News reporter, Katherine Scott, takes us there.
KHATHERINE SCOTT: New venue, new views. There's always a wow factor at the Philadelphia Flower Show. And in that regard, this year is no different.
SAM LEMHENEY: This is a huge tradition for Philadelphia. It's the largest Flower Show in the country, it's the oldest Flower Show in the world. And we're outside for the very first time.
KHATHERINE SCOTT: So Sam Lemheny from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society explains they're adapting, bringing in any electricity, water, infrastructure they need.
SAM LEMHENEY: It's almost an entire city around the– around the show to make all this happen.
KHATHERINE SCOTT: Fittingly, this year's theme is Habitat, nature's masterpiece. And it was actually picked before the pandemic and before plans to be held at FDR park in June, as opposed to the Pennsylvania Convention Center in March.
KIERA DONNELY: It is completely different from start to finish.
KHATHERINE SCOTT: Kiera Donnely from Erwin landscaper's in Delaware says from the logistics to digging the plants in the actual ground, and of no control of the weather, this is not like past years.
KIERA DONNELY: We have the elements, we have birds and butterflies buzzing around, which is really, really cool to see in the gardens this time.
WAMBUI IPPOLITO: This is perfect for me, because I think you– you enjoy nature and– and plants and flowers more when you see them in natural light.
KHATHERINE SCOTT: New York landscape designer, Wambui Ippolito, who was born in Kenya explains she selected winding paths and lush dense greens.
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WAMBUI IPPOLITO: Clearly, none of these plants really are native to Africa, but I wanted to create that kind of spatial beauty that I grew up with in East Africa.
KHATHERINE SCOTT: Normally when the show is held in March, guests have to wait for warmer weather to plant their own gardens. But not this year.
SAM LEMHENEY: We're right in the heart of gardening season. So this is perfect for people who want to get inspiration, who wanna to find some new plants for the garden.
KHATHERINE SCOTT: Sam points out, you can pick your plants in the morning and have them in the ground by the afternoon. In FDR park, Katharine's Scott. Channel 6 Action News.
– I cannot wait to get out there and see it.
– Yeah, it's gonna to be pretty
– It's gonna to be.
