Wonders of Water at the Flower Show
In just a little over three weeks, the 189th Philadelphia Flower Show will open the doors on yet another spectacular display. This year’s theme is “Wonders of Water” and, as usual, we can expect to be amazed, beginning with an entrance feature that recreates the experience of being in a rain forest.
Explains Sam Lemheney, Philadelphia Horticultural Society’s Chief of Shows and Events, “We want to capture all the sensory elements of the rainforest—its fantastic colors, scents, and sounds — and demonstrate its unique and vital role in purifying water and sustaining our environment.”
Special features of the Show will explore innovative ways green infrastructure is used to protect and conserve our water sources. And a “Water Summit” will be convened, engaging leading environmental and industry experts from throughout the U.S.
Every day of the Show, expert gardeners, designers, bee-keepers, composters, authors, and others give lectures and demonstrations on a wide variety of topics. These are all designed to be of interest to gardeners and plant-lovers of all skill levels. The presentations are offered right on the show floor, at the Gardener’s Studio, and there is no fee to attend.
Here are some of this year’s talks that look interesting to me. I’ve highlighted the ones that focus on water, but there are plenty more. For the full list of Gardners Studio presentations, go to https://theflowershow.com/experiences/presentations/ Saturday, March 3 10 a.m. Rainbarrels, Downspout Planters and Rain Gardens: How You Can Manage Stormwater at Your Home
2 p.m. 7 Ways Watering Your Garden Can Manage Disease and Maximize Abundance (Repeats March 4, 10:00 a.m.) Sunday, March 4 6 p.m. Water: A Philadelphia Story (repeats Sunday, March 11, 11 a.m.)
An illustrated history of Philadelphia’s use and abuse of its rivers and streams, which resulted in gross pollution that killed thousands, and the piping of hundreds of miles of streams into underground sewers. You’ll never look at this city—or any city—the same way again.
7 p.m. How Green is Your Garden: Watershed Impacts
of Traditional Gardening Practices
Learn alternatives to minimize and/or mitigate chemical fertilizers and pesticides from reaching beyond your garden. Monday, March 5 2 p.m. The 10 Best Ways to Water Your Garden & Landscape for Maximum Results While Using Less
5 p.m. Integrating Elements of Water into Everyday Gardening: Conservation vs. Preservation Tuesday, March 6 11 a.m. Your Backyard Sponge
Find out how your yard affects the quality of your drinking water and how you can garden to make a difference.
2 p.m. Creating a Water Garden in a Container Wednesday, March 7 6 p.m. Hydroponics: How Water and Organic Nutrients Make Plants Grow (repeats Thursday, March 8, 11 a.m.) Thursday, March 8 1 p.m. Landscaping for Birds and Water: How Creating Bird Habitat Protects Your Watershed Friday, March 9 11 a.m. Ways to Retain Water in Your Garden, Containers, and Hanging Baskets Saturday, March 10 3 p.m. Long Journey of the Trees
Where do trees come from? What are they doing? Where are they going? Presenters Ned Barnard and Cationa Briger will reveal a few curious things about twelve tree species we live with.
4 p.m. Stormwater Solutions: Downspout Planters
Learn how to design and build a micro rain garden for your downspout.
5 p.m. Helping the Honeybee
Learn how to select beneficial plants, shrubs, and trees to support our honeybee populations. Sunday, March 11 2 p.m. Watersheds, Wetlands, and You: The Importance of Protecting our Native Wetland Plants
3 p.m. Tabletop Water Gardens
The 2018 Philadelphia Flower Show runs from 1 a.m., March 3 through 6 p.m. March 11 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center at 12th and Arch Streets, Philadelphia. For information, go to www.theflowershow.com. Pam Baxter is an avid organic vegetable gardener who lives in Kimberton. Direct e-mail to pamelacbaxter@gmail. com, or send mail to P.O. Box 80, Kimberton, PA 19442. Share your gardening stories on Facebook at “Chester County Roots.” And check out Pam’s new book for children and families: Big Life Lessons from Nature’s Little Secrets. Available at amazon.com.