TIME TO PREPARE FOR PHILLY’S 2024 FLOWER SHOW 

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My second date with my husband was a magical trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show (PFS). Combined with the extraordinary displays of flowers and other plants, it has held a special place in my heart ever since.

When we created our website, In the Garden with Laura, in 2014, we began covering the show. It has been a joyous way to celebrate spring and nature; I look forward to it every year.

This year, the show runs from March 2 to 10, 2024 at the Philadelphia Convention Center, 1101 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA. It opens daily from 10 am to 8 pm, except on March 10 it closes at 6 pm.

The show, whose theme is “United by Flowers,” “illustrates the beauty and power of flowers to transform, inspire, delight, and connect us to one another,” according to event organizers.

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Goldenrod / Pollinator Pleaser or Bully?

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Is goldenrod, Solidago, a pollinator pleaser or a garden bully? It straddles both worlds.

Goldenrod benefits 104 caterpillar and 42 bee species, making it the #1 perennial that benefits insects. It is an invaluable keystone plant and a must have in any garden.

A versatile plant, there are between 100 and 120 species. Goldenrods are suited for most settings, though the majority prefer sun. They range in height from under two ft. to over 6 ft. Bloom times vary depending on the species.

When choosing goldenrod for a garden, consider clump-forming ones. Plants that spread by rhizomes can become aggressive bullies that overrun other the rest of the garden. (I speak from experience).

Sweet goldenrod, Solidago odora, has golden flowers and an upright nature. It grows 2 to 4 ft. high and has a mild anise smell. A low maintenance, non-aggressive type of goldenrod, it grows in clump (not rhizomes). It is highly appealing to pollinators. The photo is by Helen Lowe Metzman, USGS.

For a study of different species, visit the Chicago Botanic Garden’s research.

Indian Pinks / Love at First Sight

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Taking a tour at Mt. Cuba, I saw Indian pinks, Spigelia marilandica, for the first time. It was June and they were in full bloom. Dainty red and yellow flowers peeked out from under bushes and trees. I was enthralled.

A hummingbird favorite, the perennial forms clumps. It grows 1 to 2 ft. high and spreads from .5 to 1.5 ft wide. Native to the Southeastern United States, it grows in zones 5 to 9.

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Native Plants