Pennsylvania Horticultural Society - Philadelphia Flower Show

Shows commonly featured floral introductions, such as Burpee's "Mrs. Calvin Coolidge" sweet peas shown for the first time at the 1927 Show. Sweet Pea displays from Burpees were a regular feature of shows at this time. W. Atlee Burpee, Jr. was one of the 6 original directors of Flower Show, Inc. and was for years the public face of the Philadelphia Flower Show.

From the mid 1920s to 1964, the Flower Show was held at the Commercial Museum in West Philadelphia. To manage this show, a group of florists and growers created a separate entity called the Philadelphia Flower Show, Incorporated. The "Incorporators" handled the show design, operations, and commercial entries. PHS organized the show's amateur and garden club classes, educational exhibits, and lectures.

A woman stands in the middle of the Burpee garden, an exhibit of the 1929 show. The exhibit consists of an upper and lower level, with a mansion at one end and steps leading down to an elaborately planted garden. The low banisters are entwined with climbing roses; along the rear are azaleas and other shrubs in flower. Spring-flowering bulbs are in the front border. A complete text description is in The Florists Exchange and Horticultural Trade World, March 16, 1929, p. 13. Show photographer: Grafton Foto Service, Phila Pa.

Caption from The Florists Exchange: How Wanamaker's and the Habermehl flower shop combined to stage a truly effective bridal group exhibit at the Philadelphia Flower Show. The floral accessories were renewed daily. Show photographer: Grafton Foto Service, 1102 Manning Street, Philadelphia.

Garden gnomes trace their origins to Northern European folk traditions and beliefs in fairies, elves, and leprechauns. Nineteenth-century English tourists who travelled to Germany were enchanted by the gnomes displayed in gardens there and imported the figures to England. Their popularity spread to the United States, and they were featured in the Hengel Brothers exhibit from the 1930 Show

This 1930 exhibit by Pennock Brothers Florists attracted attention with its festively arranged vases, flower baskets, and bouquets set up for an afternoon lawn party. The small house, numbered 1514, was a nod to the florist's address, 1514 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia. In the 1930s, owner J. Liddon Pennock Sr. and his son J. Liddon Jr. exhibited together. Later, J. Liddon Pennock Jr. exhibited under the name of his business, Meadowbrook Farm.

The Settlements Garden Clubs often exhibited in the shows of the 1920s and 1930s. These clubs were formed in 1917 "to stimulate love of flowers among children attending settlement houses." Settlement houses were located in poor urban neighborhoods to offer services to newly arrived immigrants. The houses provided social, cultural, and educational programs to young mothers and children. These exhibits were created entirely by children. Exhibition signage: Settlements Garden Clubs. Established 1917 to Stimulate love of flowers among children attending Settlement Houses. Now operating at College Settlement. 433 Christian Street. Friends Neighborhood Guild, 4th and Green Streets. House of Industry, 716 Catharine Street. Jewish Neighborhood House, 1901 South 6th Street. Jewish Foster Home, 700 Church Lane. Neighborhood Centre, 428 Bainbridge Street. Southwark House, 101 Ellsworth Street. Workman Place House, 756 South Front Street.

Partial view of rose garden exhibit of Conard-Pyle Company (then known as Conard & Pyle) of West Grove, Pennsylvania, covering 1200 square feet. The background is a one-story colonial house with a gable rising over the arched doorway. The roof is clapboard and the walls stucco. A flagstone floor outdoor living room, widened out at the door, features garden furniture consisting of a table, chairs and settee. Furniture, drapes and awnings provided by Karcher & Rehn Company of Philadelphia. Photographer number 11947 in lower left corner.

Louis Burk supplied Philadelphians with hot dogs and scrapple through his meatpacking business. He also built and operated the original Steel Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Known for his orchids, he entered them in Philadelphia and New York shows. New Yorker writer E. B. White playfully sketched Burk's orchid obsession in a 1928 piece. Burk exhibited from the 1890s through the early 1930s; his 1931 exhibit is shown here.

Mrs. Pinchot, wife of Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot, is Mayor Mackey's guest at the 1931 Philadelphia Flower Show held at the Commercial Museum, 34th Street above Spruce Street. Even in the depths of the depression, the Philadelphia Flower Show is wildly popular, with attendance over 115,000. Photographer number 11908 in lower left corner.