Pennsylvania Horticultural Society - 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.

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.

"Bird Girl" was created in 1936 by Sylvia Shaw Judson, who made four bronze statues from one plaster cast. One sculpture appeared in this 1941 exhibit. Another was placed in Bonaventure cemetery in Savannah, Georgia, where, years later, it appeared on the cover of John Berendt’s 1994 bestseller Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Fans of the book flocked to Savannah to pay homage to Bird Girl, but 1941 show visitors admired her before she was “discovered.” The award-winning exhibit was executed by The Gardeners garden club.

Members of the Philadelphia Branch of the National Association of Gardeners are shown here setting up their exhibit in the 1941 Flower Show. This group, made up of head gardeners and park superintendents, was formed in the early 1900s under the leadership of William Kleinheinz, superintendent of the Joseph E. Widener estate in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, and, for many years, a key organizer of the Philadelphia Flower Show.

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.

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.

In an entry reflecting au courant decorating trends for 1947, competitors were asked to integrate plants, wallpaper, fabric, and furniture "stressing economy and ingenuity." The Valley Garden Club won a blue ribbon for this room entry. At that time, competitors were given one hour to stage their artistic class exhibits.

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Flower Show committee members meet at PHS headquarters to plan the competitive classes of the 1947 Philadelphia Flower Show. L. to r: Mrs. J. Gibson McIlvain, chairman of exhibits ; Mrs. Homer Reed, vice chairman of the schedule committee; Mrs. G. R. Rebmann, Jr., chairman of the schedule committee. Stamped on verso: Jules Schick Photography Architects Bldg., 17th & Sansom Sts., Philadelphia 3, Pa.

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.

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.