Pennsylvania Horticultural Society - Philadelphia Flower Show

The F. A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company exhibited regularly in shows of the 1930s through the 1950s, as well as in recent years. Bartlett Tree Experts has always stressed the importance of educating the public in proper tree care as shown in this 1939 exhibit. Bartlett's has generously sponsored past PHS exhibits and regularly holds tree care seminars at the Philadelphia Flower Show.

“The World of Tomorrow” is this year’s theme, and a nod to the New York World’s Fair. Show layout designed by Walter V. D. Hengel. Central Feature is a huge modernistic garden with a central fountain of four tiers, white pylons with chartreuse tops, and sculpture throughout the exhibit. Walter Hengel (also known as Van Den Hengel) was a retail florist, a designer of the Philadelphia Flower Show, and one of the “incorporators” of the Philadelphia Flower Show, Inc. He died in 1941 at age 63. Born in Amsterdam, Hengel was, according to his obituary in the New York Times (August 9, 1941) the designer of the Glendinning rock garden on East River Drive in Fairmount Park, an artist as well as a floral architect, and was a member of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the Art Alliance of Philadelphia. Letter "B" inscribed in lower left corner of photograph.

Attentive crowd gathers in front of Conard-Pyle Company (West Grove, PA) exhibit to hear lecture on Star Roses.

Shown here are Anne Wertsner Wood, left, and Maria Samuel taking a break at the 1941 show. A graduate of the Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women (now Temple University Ambler campus), Wood joined the PHS staff in 1937. For years she staged the Flower Show as well as the Victory Garden shows during the war years. She wrote Flower-show Guide, a definitive book on producing shows.

In the 1941 Flower Show, Ramon Bermudez’s work, Seated Woman, was awarded second prize from a Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts jury. The judges also commended the serene, restrained formality of the garden setting, executed by the Wissahickon Garden Club. Bermudez, born in the Philippines, spent much of his professional career in the exhibition department of New York’s American Museum of Natural History.

To represent wartime Victory Gardens, garden clubs created cottage gardens of flowers and vegetable plots for the 1941 show. Here are members of the Planters Garden Club installing their exhibit.

Signs and arrangements trace the life of a rose arrangement from Sunday, when the hostess receives a bouquet of roses from her guests through Friday and Saturday when the remaining roses can be floated in a shallow bowl to decorate the dinner table. Florists Exchange and Horticultural Trade World, March 21, 1942, p. 12:“Roses, Inc. did their prettiest showing roses arranged for all occasions with fine blending of colors and appropriate containers. The career of a Rose drew the attention of the visiting public." The exhibitor is Roses Incorporated (National Rose Growers Association). Arrangements created by Pennock Florist, Philadelphia.

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society followed a theme this year of “Morale Contributes to Victory. Flowers Contribute to Morale.” This is the winning table setting from Class 521. Buffet supper table set for entertaining men in the service. From Evening Bulletin, March 20, 1942: “Worried hostesses who have been haunted for days by thoughts of the kind of table decoration that servicemen like to see when they are invited for a buffet supper, found an answer to their problem in to-day’s special exhibit of the Flower Show. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society sponsored a competition to-day for the best place setting for a table for entertaining servicemen. No food other than fruit or vegetables and no flatware could be used. The first prize was awarded to Mrs. Charles A. Fife. White and red geraniums were placed in a low, wooden container. Two toy soldiers and a model sailing vessel stood on either side. Gold and white dishes, pewter tray, pitchers and mugs, and cigarette box.

Promotion shot of two women putting up a poster advertising the 1947 Philadelphia Flower Show, to be held March 17 - 22 at the Commercial Museum. The show returns after a 4-year hiatus due to the War. Stamped on verso: Jules Schick Photography Architects Bldg., 17th & Sansom Sts., Philadelphia 3, Pa. Penciled on verso: 1947-3.

Champion figure skater Eileen Seigh and Philadelphia Flower Show, Inc. president W. Atlee Burpee, Jr. cut the ribbon to open the 1947 Philadelphia Flower Show. The show opened at noon on March 17. Stamped on verso: Jules Schick Photography Architects Bldg., 17th & Sansom Sts., Philadelphia 3, Pa.

Modeling 3 debutante bouquets were 3 lovely Flower Show hostesses: (from left) Peggy Deegan, Lee Grazer, and Kay McClane. Kay McClane is "Miss Greater Philadelphia." Stamped on verso: Jules Schick Photography Architects Bldg., 17th & Sansom Sts., Philadelphia 3, Pa. Penciled on verso: 1947-1.

New Jersey Governor Alfred Driscoll tours the show on "New Jersey Day" (March 11, 1948). Stamped on verso: Faust's Photo Service, 6039 Kingsessing Avenue, SARatoga 1505, Philadelphia, PA.