Williamson’s 25th Year Exhibiting at the Philadelphia Flower Show

Visitors to Williamson’s exhibit in the upcoming Philadelphia Flower Show, “Waterless Wonder,” will feel like they are basking in the warmth of a villa along the Mediterranean Sea.

Fitting the show’s theme of “Riviera Holiday,” the exhibit, Williamson’s 25th, will feature the facade of a Mediterranean villa, with a walled garden, an entrance with an arbor, a wall fountain, a patio with tables and chairs, and a pergola. Guests will be able to walk through the exhibit.

The ten horticulture seniors who are putting the exhibit together, did much research to choose plants that have adaptive abilities for the Mediterranean climate with little rain. Their work was completed under the supervision of Chuck Feld, horticulture instructor, who is participating in his 52nd Flower Show exhibit.

Students located plants at local nurseries and Emory Knoll Farms in Street, MD, donated some plants from South Africa.

Because Williamson exhibits in the educational category, the exhibit will feature panels explaining how Mediterranean plants can survive with little water, such as by having long roots.

Helping the horticulture students were carpentry students who built the house facade and wall, paint students who painted everything to look like stucco, and machinists who made name tags for the plants using a laser on Mediterranean roof tiles.

Exhibit funding came from the Hoxie Harrison Smith Foundation, in Downingtown, PA, and Aqua America, in Bryn Mawr, PA. Donations of graphic panels were provided by KC Signs, in Aston, PA, and exhibit brochures were provided by Precision Print-Safeguard, in Chadds Ford, PA.

The Flower Show runs from Feb. 29 to March 8. It is located at the Pennsylvania Convention Center at 12th and Arch Sts., Philadelphia, PA. For ticket prices and hours call 215-988-8800.