Philadelphia Flower Show question

[razz]

Just got back from a bus trip to see the Philadelphia Flower Show along with Longwood Gardens, Barnes Art Museum and the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh. Wonderful visit generally with great tour participants. Gardeners usually are very easy to enjoy.

Really loved the greenhouse/ Conservatories (the orchids were glorious) and art museum but was quite puzzled by the Flower Show which is the largest in North America. Other than miniature arrangements in abundance, a few competitive entries and some simple flower arrangements, it was not at all as I expected.
I was expecting lots of garden innovative ideas, new lighting techniques, landscaping for BBQ ideas, rare exhibits (the bronze statues were amazing) or exhibits of unusual plants etc. It seemed to be mostly jewelry, silk paintings, lots of cut flowers for sale to take home, one bonsai booth, etc.
Are my expectations out of line or are the flower shows undergoing changes? Is there a different venue that has taken over the role of the Flower Show?

[rodeosweetheart]

I don't know, razz. My mom used to docent at Longwood Gardens and Winterthur. We would go to Longwood Gardens on field trips and it was one of my favorite places in the world.

I have never been to the kind of flower show you describe, and I always imagined a flower show looking like something out of The Manchurian Candidate.

Are flower shows more like trade shows, now, like home and garden shows?

[herbgeek]

The last 10 years or so I've noticed the vendors at Flower Show's have changed from directly home and garden related to pretty much anything goes.

[razz]

Canada Blooms on at present in Toronto, Ontario is undergoing some changes by combining with the Home Show. I have not been to the combo as yet and no one seems to have a clear opinion on the change. http://canadablooms.com/event-type/speakers/

It used to be a location for excellent speakers on different topics, new ways of doing things, innovative garden products and beautiful displays. I used to plan my day of going with the topics that I wanted to learn more about. It did become repetitive so I have not attended in a couple of years. Must plan on going next year to see what is happening.

Anyway that was why and what I was expecting at the PFS.

Just thought I would ask.

[iris lilies]

I'm don't know what big flower shows in halls are supposed to be. Ive seen photos of the Chelsea Flower Show, of course. Here, we have the Home and Garden show but I thought it started out as the spring Garden Show. It shows landscaping options and garden furniture.

I just finished competing in the Home and Garden show with flower designs, got two second place ribbons.

[Float On]

I have a friend who has been showing in the Philly Flower Show for years. She has the copper garden faeries. There are a lot of categories and a lot of wholesale buyers come there to place orders. That is why she shows there and also why you see artists/companies with exhibits that aren't actually flowers. A lot of nurseries and flower shops sell a lot more than just flowers. Jewelry, clothing, purses, scarfs etc. She actually does better at the Philly Flower Show for orders than she did at the Buyers Market of American Craft where I first met her in the same hall. Man I miss doing those big shows in their heyday (they've decreased in size and location since we were involved in the wholesale market).

[razz]

I have a friend who has been showing in the Philly Flower Show for years. She has the copper garden faeries. There are a lot of categories and a lot of wholesale buyers come there to place orders. That is why she shows there and also why you see artists/companies with exhibits that aren't actually flowers. A lot of nurseries and flower shops sell a lot more than just flowers. Jewelry, clothing, purses, scarfs etc. She actually does better at the Philly Flower Show for orders than she did at the Buyers Market of American Craft where I first met her in the same hall. Man I miss doing those big shows in their heyday (they've decreased in size and location since we were involved in the wholesale market).

OK, that makes sense. It clarifies why so much seemed to be non-living floral and greenery. Thanks.

[pony mom]

I'd love to go to Longwood Gardens. It's not too far away from me but I don't want to drive there. I was on a bus trip to Winterthur, which I enjoyed. Last Sept. I took a bus trip to the NY Botanical Gardens, which would have been spectacular IF anything was blooming that time of year!