Phila. Flower Show marks nearly 200 years since first exhibition

Are you thinking warmer thoughts? I'm talking about flowers. In this week's Made in PA, plenty of American cities host flower shows, but only one can say it started the trend. The first one took root right here in Philadelphia back in 1829, and the prestige of the show still carries global weight in the world of flowers. What's now a global trend began as a Pennsylvania idea. It says here, Mr. Landreth reported on behalf of the committee that they had obtained a suitable room in the Masonic Hall that was going to be the first public flower show in America. This is a big deal. This is how it all started. In the archives of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society are the planning stages for the nation's first flower show. The year was 1829. That's the Masonic Hall. Janet Evans is the non-profit's historian. These are awards that were handed out. The idea of the show was to really give people a chance to strut their stuff. The show was initially one day. Almost 200 years later, it's a nine to ten day event. This year, there will be 54 major large scale exhibitions and around 6,600 competitors between exhibitors and competitive classes. This year's theme, Rooted, Origins in American Gardening. This is a really special Pennsylvania asset. President and CEO Matt Rader says it's become one of the top three flower shows in the world alongside London and Singapore. Other cities have a home and garden show. This is different. This is a competition for the best in horticulture. For a gardener to exhibit in the Singapore show, they have to have won gold at Philadelphia or at the Chelsea Flower Show in London. This is the gateway to other flower shows. The flower show is also a place for an aspiring talent. This is their chance to hit the big leagues, right? What does that mean to be on this global stage and also having started the flower show right here in Philadelphia? To know that over almost 200 years, what is shown keeps expanding. New voices, people who historically weren't represented in these worlds now getting a chance to show all genders, people of different ethnic and racial backgrounds, international. Listen, if you can make it to the Philadelphia Flower Show, you can make it anywhere. And this year's theme marks a full circle moment celebrating the nation's birthday and the many cultures that have contributed to shaping our gardens and public spaces today. The flower show starts this Saturday, February 28th on 6TBC as a crowd media sponsored show. It's just spectacular, isn't it? Every year. Right, and gives you a sense of springtime, which is coming. Which we need. The color. We just, we really need to absorb that for sure. Can't wait. Christy, thanks.