Mediterranean gardens transported Flower Show visitors on a “Riviera Holiday” in Philadelphia recently.

From the Cliffs of Monte Carlos to the shores of Greece, the mood of the Mediterranean pervaded this year’s exhibits. Elegant displays of lemon and olive trees, arbors, and lavender-filled gardens attracted old and young alike for a visit.

Approximately ¼ million people visit the Philadelphia Convention Center annually for the show.  This year’s “Rivera Holiday,” which ran from Feb 28 to March 8, was no exception.

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The show began with an impressive archway of flowers that framed large landscape exhibits. Fountains, flowers, bushes, and trees appeared throughout the convention center, the work of top designers from the United States and abroad.

Further into the show, floral designs, miniature displays, and other exhibits showcased the work of professional designers and educational organizations in addition to the work of amateurs, both individuals and clubs.

Continue reading Philly Takes a “RIVIERA HOLIDAY” →

Does a visit to Mediterranean gardens this spring sound tempting? No need for airplane tickets, the Mediterranean Rivera will be coming to Philadelphia.

The scene of this unique experience? The Philadelphia Flower Show hosted by the Philadelphia Horticultural Society (PHS). Held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the show, “Riviera Holiday,” will run from Feb. 29 through March 8, 2020 (see ticket information and hours below).

Fragrant lavender and aromatic citrus will be among the plants that form artistically designed Mediterranean gardens and intimate pathways at the show.   

Five new designers, including James and Helen Basson of Scape Design, and Laurélie de la Salle of Laurélie Paysages, from Nice, France, will create acres of garden landscapes.

Continue reading The Riviera Comes to Philly →

A New Year inspires new resolutions. I have two for 2020.

First, I hope to publish many more blogs on In the Garden with Laura in 2020 than I did in 2019! Second, I plan to expand the scope of the website. In addition to native plants, the site will feature information about native wildlife and climate change.

Why the change? Wildlife (whether birds, mammals, or insects) and native plants are different sides of the same coin. We often grow plants for their beauty, yet they would not exist without wildlife. How can you talk about butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa, without talking about monarch butterflies?

Climate change will also be given more attention here. It’s long overdue. Climate change is destroying native plants and wildlife. The impact will only increase as climate change continues. The planet cannot sustain these changes.

One stunning statistic from 2019: 3 billion, or one in four, birds in North America have disappeared in the last 50 years, according to research published online in the journal Science in September 2019. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology focused their 2019 annual report Living Bird (vol.8, issue 4) on these findings.

Continue reading Welcome to 2020 →