Pennsylvania Horticultural Society - Philadelphia Flower Show

Description of central feature from Horticulture, April 1, 1935, p. 174: "The Philadelphia Flower Show, held as usual in the capacious Commercial Museum, during the week of March 25, was voted unanimously, by the vast crowds which thronged the paths winding between the endless displays, the most distinguished show the city has ever witnessed. For several years an outstanding attraction has been a superb collection of acacias, possibly the finest in the East, from the estate of Joseph E. Widener. This year these fine plants took their place with brilliant effect in the keystone landscape arrangement. A serene canal ran through the large center aisle of the hall, on either side of which wide beds of hyacinths glowed in two colors of blue. From these delph carpets, the dazzling acacias, in full flower, raised their soft plumes and were reflected in the silver mirror of the canal. The waterway was broken in the center by a circular pool, where a Nereid fountain by Beatrice Fenton held the place of honor. The fountain and pool were flanked on four sides by low flights of steps which joined the flagstone walks dividing the two small canals running at right angles to the pool. The center exhibit was walled in at either side by tall continuous hemlock hedges which lent seclusion to the scene. Immediately before these, the motif of acacias and hyacinths was repeated. More than 20 works of sculpture, the product of Philadelphia and New York artists, loaned to the show through the instrumentality of the Philadelphia Art Alliance, were placed at accent points in this display. The 20,000 hyacinths woven into the picture were especially imported from Holland for the show, and forced in local greenhouses. " Penciled on verso: 1935-14

From the Philadelphia Inquirer, February 24, 1935: "One of the most unusual exhibits of the Flower Show which will be held in the Commercial Museum March 25-30, will be the "Gardener's Open Book" an exhibit of the women of the Southeastern District Garden Division of the State Federation of Pennsylvania Women. The book will feature the various activities of members of the Garden Division of the clubs throughout the medium of huge books. The pages of the books will be six feet by four, and will be opened so that all who pass may read."

One of the several sculptures in the 1935 central feature was this charming work, Fountain Figures Riding on a Fish by Louis Milione. Born in Padua, Italy, Louis Milione studied sculpture at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and exhibited regularly there. In addition to teaching at Philadelphia's School of Industrial Art (now the University of the Arts) he did several architectural sculpture commissions in Philadelphia and elsewhere. Look for his work on the west pediment of the Philadelphia Family Court building on Logan Circle in Philadelphia.

Conveniently sized for pocket or purse, The PRT Traveler was a biweekly news leaflet produced by the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company (a predecessor of today’s mass transit system, SEPTA) and placed in transit vehicles and stations throughout the city. The 1935 PRT Traveler included tips on getting to the Flower Show. Visitors had a choice of taking the Market-Frankford “EL,” one of several bus and trolley routes, or a “Yellow or Quaker Cab (in which five can ride as cheaply as one).” Getting visitors to the show was and continues to be a priority for SEPTA.

Close up view of 1936 Central Feature tulip bed with garden sculpture, a boy riding a dolphin.

This 1936 exhibit featured sculptor Ossip Zadkine’s “Pomone” set in a garden terrace. To the right, placed on top of the garden wall is a bust of a head, presumably also by Zadkine. A Russian artist who spent most of his life in Paris, Zadkine was best known for his cubist-inspired sculptures. He was awarded the grand prize for sculpture at the 1950 Venice Biennale, and many of his works may be seen today at the Ossip Zadkine Museum in Paris.

1936 Flower Show exhibit with garden sculpture, a sundial resting on the head of a kneeling winged male figure.

In the 1930s, the Philadelphia Art Alliance organized sculpture shows at the Philadelphia Flower Show. In 1936, "Alba," a 64-inch-tall bronze work by Lawrence Tenney Stevens, was staged in the Widener Acacia collection. Stevens is best known for his work in the American West, including architectural sculpture at the Centennial Fair Grounds for the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition in Dallas.

The Weeders garden club captured first prize in the 1936 garden class. This simple and charming entry with a small pool, a tall pine tree, and potted primulas was complemented by a stone figure, Kaan Yin, a Buddhist goddess of compassion and kindness.

This 1939 exhibit was executed by Alfred M. Campbell, one of the founders of Philadelphia Flower Show, Inc. He used one plant only, hydrangeas, in several varieties including his new brilliant pink introduction, "Strafford," as well as a mix of others such as Madam Mouilliere, Europa, Deutschland, and Merveille, all popular varieties of the day. Show visitors eagerly awaited the Campbell hydrangea displays each year.