Whimsy and charm combined in the “Welcoming Wildlife Home” exhibit to capture the public’s hearts and the judges’ eyes at the 2025 Philadelphia Flower Show (PFS).

An oversized squirrel, robin, bee, turtle, butterfly and other creatures attend a mad hatter tea party where they are served a feast of flowers.

Jennifer Reed, her team from Jennifer Designs, and friends created the fantastic scene.  Her 14-year-old daughter, however, came up with the idea for the mad hatter party for pollinators and other wildlife.  

“My daughter volunteered for a nature organization in Cape May [N.J.] last summer,” said Reed.

She became interested in biodiversity from the Nature Center Program. She in turn got me interested, she added.

While Reed admits she is not an expert on native plants, “our aim is to be wildlife friendly.” She hopes the exhibit will reflect the importance of thoughtful plant choices and habitat creation to support wildlife.

She brought in a large team of experts and worked with the World Wildlife Federation.

“The project involved lots of friends, creative artists, etc. [There were] 15-20 people every day, some may only be there for an hour or two. We have been planning this exhibit since late August,” said Reed.

“I am trying to give the average person a better understanding of biodiversity and native plants,” she added.

She also worked with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF).

In her website, there is a NWF five-minute quiz that lets you see if your outdoor space supports wildlife. 

The assessment was developed from NWF’s science-based Certified Wildlife Habitat Program.

Additional games and information are available on JenniferDesign.

What captured her fancy most about the exhibit? The animal sculptures: six oversize ones and some smaller ones.

“I hope that a school or garden will want them,” she added.

Flowers have been an integral part of Reed’s life. She grew up in a flower shop. “My dad was retail,” she says.

Her initial dream was to pursue a career in illustration but despite a degree in the arts, she found it difficult to earn a living.

She has been in the floral business for 20 years. She first worked with her father and now works out of Mullica Hill, N.J.

She loves creating shows and working with local farmers using American-grown flowers when possible. Her background in art blends well will her expertise in flowers. Her business handles wedding and events as well as flower “parties” and “bars”. She has exhibited at the Philadelphia Horticultural Society’s (PHS) flower show for the past five years.

This year has been a rewarding one for Reed. Once again, she worked with Tu Bloom, who is the official botanical artist of the Grammys® and her exhibit at the flower show caught the fancy of many judges.

PHS awards medals for three categories of exhibitors based on different criteria that celebrate creativity and exceptional execution. Exhibits are scored based on quality of design, horticultural excellence, “plantsmanship,” construction and craftsmanship, visitor experience, and educational value (for educational exhibits).

Reed and her team were awarded five metals. In the floral category they received The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show Cup for Best in Show; The Society of American Florists Flower Show Award; and The PHS Gardening for the Greater Good Award. They also received Special Achievement Awards of the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania, horticulture, for education as well as creativity in spaces over 1,000 sq ft.

But perhaps even sweeter, her exhibit was the talk of the show.

The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show is the nation’s largest and the world’s longest-running horticultural event featuring displays by floral and landscape designers. Started in 1829 by the PHS, the show introduces plant varieties and garden and design concepts. It also hosts competitions, gardening presentations and demonstrations.

PHS, a nonprofit organization founded in 1827, uses horticulture to advance the health and well-being of the Greater Philadelphia region.

The Philadelphia Flower Show runs through Sunday, March 9. Visit  PHSonline.org/the-flower-show for additional information. Tickets may be purchased online at tickets.PHSonline.org. 

Photos by Dave O’Callaghan