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A table full of fair phalaenopsis in the Hamilton Horticort at the Philadelphia Flower Show 2023

Extravagant, magnificent, impressive, show-stopping . . . All of these words describe the main, mostly professionally-designed exhibits at this year’s Philadelphia Flower Show. My friend and I enjoyed some of them very much, and found others, well, shall we say, intriguing? (I’m looking at you, ice cream cone heads!) However, what we found perhaps even more captivating were the displays in the Hamilton Horticort, where individuals entered their own plants in what the PHS termed a “massive competition.” There were some absolute stunners!

First, some sumptuous orchids:

This Phalaenopsis hybrid won first place in its class for Leslie Anne Miller of Barberry Botanicals.
Another first prize winning Phalaenopsis hybrid, this time in the novice category, meaning the competitor, Debbie Valinsky, has never won a blue ribbon in the Orchid class at this show before. I am in love with this color combo!
Cymbidium ‘Showgirl’ was a second first prize winner for its grower, Leslie Anne Miller.
Cymbidium ‘Showgirl’
Vanda Tricolor won a second place ribbon for Effie Wister of Runnymede Sanctuary.

The Clivias were to die for! I’m showing these pictures to my own so it knows what I expect of it, hahaha!

A cluster of colorful clivia!
The third prize winning Clivia miniata, from Damon G. Smith of the North American Clivia Society
I loved this second prize winner, also from Damon G. Smith.
L.T. Tran of Runnymede Sanctuary took home second place for this luscious specimen. Oh, but those peachy pink tinges at the petal edges make my heart flutter!
This prolific bloomer garnered a blue ribbon, again for L.T. Tran.

A category I particularly enjoyed was Miniature Landscapes. They are the epitome of adorable!

Sue Morrison of the Swarthmore Garden Club brought this depiction of the Wizard of Oz and took home a third place ribbon.
I’d be happy to live in this little cottage setting, constructed by Sandra and Jim Holt and Judy Sheppard of the Huntingdon Valley Garden Club! It won second prize in this category.

Somehow, I neglected to take a picture of the first prize winner for miniature gardens! It just didn’t capture my fancy as charmingly as these.

Here are a few more of my favorite prize winners:

A streptocarpus from a name we’ve seen before–Effie Wister won second prize.
This Mammillaria Petterssonii won first prize for Frank Straup of the Philadelphia Cactus and Succulent Society.
This arrangement in the Life on a Log class won first prize. It was perhaps the most impressive display I saw all day. I’m sorry I don’t have the name of its maker, who surely worked very hard to create such a beautiful piece.
One of the gorgeous Paphiopedilum orchids in the Life on a Log arrangement
This Abutilon ‘Biltmore Ballgown’ won first prize for Daniel Miller of Miller Greenhouses Garden Club. That woven trunk/branch design must have taken years to perfect!
The flowers of Abutilon ‘Biltmore Ballgown’ are just exquisite!

Well, have I worn you out? Do you feel like you’ve been to the flower show with me? Believe it or not, I have yet more to share, and what I’ve shown you is just the tip of the iceberg that is the largest flower show in the world! Tune in again soon to see some African violets and inspirational interior designs!