PHILADELPHIA—“It’s just what we need after this winter in Massachusetts. It’s just a great thing to come to every year,” said Peggy Rusnock, who made the long drive from a suburb of Boston with her husband, John Rusnock, to attend the Philadelphia Flower Show on March 1.
Now in its 197th year, The Philadelphia Flower Show—the nation’s largest and the world’s longest-running horticultural event—is being held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center from Feb. 28 to March 8, 2026.
Presented by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), this year’s theme, “Rooted: Origins of American Gardening,” celebrates the upcoming 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States by exploring the history of American horticulture.
“I’m really loving all the orchid displays. And the First Lady Orchids, that were over there, was a really nice one,” Peggy Rusnock told The Epoch Times. “It’s just very graceful over there. Yes, the orchids are beautiful. The stories behind it are great.”
“It’s a good respite from the long winter, and we can look forward to what’s coming in the spring pretty soon,” John Rusnock told The Epoch Times.
John Rusnock said his favorite plants were the succulents: “They’re so wonderful. And some of the ones that are 20 years old, it’s such a long time that these things have been growing, and it’s amazing that they’ve been kept so long.” The couple, avid gardeners, maintain a garden of nearly an acre at their home.
“Now there’s not such a big show in Boston anymore,” Peggy Rusnock noted. “This is really a premier show on the East Coast. So it’s always good to come back. They look even more spectacular than last year.”
Andrew Bunting, vice president of horticulture at PHS, told The Epoch Times that this year’s show features more historical references than in years past.
“There’s a lot of exhibits in the flower show that have kind of historical references,” Bunting said.
One example is an educational display by Temple University–Ambler highlighting the contributions of the Bartram family, founders of Bartram’s Garden, America’s oldest public garden, located along the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia.
A Century of First Ladies and Their Orchids
One of the highlights of the Philadelphia Flower Show is “The First Ladies and the Orchids—A Floral Tribute to American History.” The exhibit traces a tradition dating back to 1920, when Mrs. Woodrow Wilson became the first first lady to have an orchid named in her honor. President Wilson reportedly gave her a fresh orchid every day, beginning a custom of naming orchid hybrids after first ladies.
Chadwick & Son Orchids, Inc. is showcasing orchid varieties named after 19 U.S. first ladies from the past century. Its president, Arthur Chadwick, told The Epoch Times that he has documented this history in a book.
“With the 250th anniversary of the United States, this is very particular and timely right now,” Chadwick said.
The display won two awards: the Best Artistic Design from PHS and the Best Educational Exhibit from the Orchid Society of America.
Chadwick explained that the tradition of first lady-named Cattleya orchids dates back more than a century. At one time, a greenhouse attached to the White House cultivated orchids and other tropical plants.
A second-generation commercial grower, Chadwick continues a family business founded by his father in 1930. Their nursery is based in Virginia.
“Now I have to keep them going for another 100 years. It’s a tremendous responsibility,” Chadwick said. “A lot of people today don’t realize that the first ladies used to wear orchids, and in fact, to the general public, it was a fashion statement. You were underdressed if you didn’t wear corsages. So that’s what this exhibit is all about. It’s bringing the history back to life today.”
He added, “the first ladies themselves have written me letters thanking me for naming the hybrids and to be part of the continuum of first lady hybrids.”
A Celebration of Creativity
The exhibition hall was packed with visitors.
Amanda Ognissanti, attending for the second time, described the experience as joyful. “We love the beautiful flowers and all the creativity behind the displays and the fun we have being together and the butterflies and the floral crowns. We just have a very delightful time,” she said.
Victoria Dornon, who was visiting for the first time from Maryland with her family, said she was excited to attend.
“I loved all the displays—the flowers, Esmeralda, the fire, the moon, just simplicities, where they used old white wire and old fences and gazebos,” she said. “One building over there that’s like a cabin that has a beautiful, intricate lantern with flowers all in it and crystals. But it was just a beautiful display, a beauty.”
“I had no idea you could put thousands of different plants together and make a story, a picture that’s not only memorable to your mind, but will bring you back year after year,” Dornon added. “It’s fascinating.”
Bunting said that about 235,000 people visited last year’s show, and this year’s turnout is expected to be similar.
Founded in 1827, PHS held its first flower show in 1829, showcasing a poinsettia native to Mexico. Over the past several decades, the Philadelphia Flower Show has grown into a major international event, considered one of the three massive international flower shows, alongside the Chelsea Flower Show held annually in May in England, and the biennial Singapore Garden Festival held in July in Singapore.
Because the Philadelphia Flower Show takes place indoors during winter, Bunting explained that many plants are transported from Florida or carefully forced into bloom to create the illusion of spring.
Bunting stated that all the profits made from the flower show are used to support community-based horticulture. This is PHS’s biggest charity fundraiser.
“Those funds go to support over 230 community gardens that we partner with workforce development, cleaning and greening of vacant lots, our street tree program,” Bunting said. “We also beautify through gardening about 30 gardens throughout Philadelphia, and one just to the north, so iconic landscapes like Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Rodin Museum, Logan Circle, LOVE Park, different gardens along the Delaware River, several gardens at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and so on.”
Bunting welcomes people to the Philadelphia Flower Show, saying, “If you’re into horticulture, this is one of the kinds of horticultural spectacles, at least in the United States, that’s kind of a must-see.”
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