We are in the last few weeks of winter and the cold dreary days continue in the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic States. To hurry the spring, we went to the Flower Show in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Flower Show is an annual event produced by The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and held in early March. It is the largest indoor flower show in the world, attracting more than 250,000 people. There are gardens displays, florist creations, floral specimens entered for prizes, featured presenters and a whole host of vendors selling their plants, flowers and wares. The theme for 2019 was inspired by the 60's Woodstock Concert and the associated "Flower Power" theme. I liked it because it featured a lot of pop art culture of the 60's. Also, I am all about flowers----- indoors and out in the summer.
First, my son, his fiance, and I went to the Mishulu for a "Meowshulu" Brunch. The old time sailing ship is anchored at 401 South Columbus Boulevard along the Delaware River and operates as a restaurant. Proceeds were used to promote a group that supports nonlethal options for animals in shelters. The moderator and the top supporter for the campaign was Lucy Noland, the news anchor at Fox channel 29 where my son works. Nearby we stopped at a Vietnam Veterans Memorial and a Farmers Market.
Farm Market Pea Man
Farmers Market
Sean's favorite childhood character
Vietnam Memorial
Old Philadelphia Neighborhood
Neighborhood House Number
Mishulu Old Sailing Ship....Restaurant
View of the city from the Mishulu
A view of the dreary day at the top of the parking garage.
Wanted to contrast this from the flower explosion before we got to the flower show.
We made the most of the day. Even visited the butterfly exhibit before viewing the flower show. Then it was onto the the spectacular flower show.
There were plenty of real tulips but these
were painted wood.
The purple spikes are liatris. They always had a special meaning to me because my grandfather grew these on his small farm in Hammonton, NJ for sale in the New York City flower market. I would help him often to get the flowers ready for market. His funeral had floral arrangements featuring this flower.
Usually I think of orange to be a mundane color for flowers ...thinking marigolds, but when the flower is an orchid .....pink becomes the mundane and I just adore orange orchids.
I guess most would be a bit puzzled to see this display but I liked it. It had a vacant lot scene and I think so many towns are enforcing codes that force people to clean up. To me there is something very appealing about abandoned dilapidated houses that have overgrown shrubbery. I am not totally sure I would like it if it were next door to me.
This artwork was submitted by a student from a third to fifth grade category....LOVE IT
Franklin Square in Philadelphia, is the scene of the Chinese Lantern Festival and along with lively music on the erhu and other stage presentations. The evening festival will continue through until June 12th. The stage presentation.... twice nightly--- features a magical face-changer dance, a local martial arts demonstration and my favorite Wu Peter Tang on the erhu----a Chinese instrument that in some ways is similar to a violin.
The face changing performer magically switches masks as he dances to traditional Chinese music. Nightly shows are held at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Entrance for adults was 17 dollars, $12 for youths and $15 for seniors and military. Visitors viewed in awe the giant illuminated displays of flowers, a three-story pagoda, a Chinese dragon and much more. Each was created using Chinese lantern methods with thousands of LED lights in dazzling glowing colors. You will also enjoy culinary delights at Square Burger concession stand. Chinese paper art and other unique crafts were featured by vendors. At an extra cost there is Philly Mini Golf and ride the Parx Liberty Carousel.
It was a perfect event for My son and I to take photos of the colorful dazzling night time light show.
Wu Peter Tang on erhu:
My son and I went on a Memorial Day jaunt to a cemetery----a national historic landmark along the Schuylkill River called Laurel Hill Cemetery. We thought we were going to attend a ceremony at noon but the event must have been held on Saturday before Memorial Day. Missing the ceremony did little to diminish the enjoyable time we had visiting on a glorious day.
It is a sculptural garden on 78 acres of scenic land along the river. No need to think solemn. Think celebration of those that were buried, think art, think natural beauty. I thought that I was going to find some old tombstones from the founders of the nation but really the cemetery was founded in 1836 so no notables like Ben Franklin or William Penn. I guess the most recognizable name among those that were buried here is Harry Kalas but I am sure many more important historical figures were buried there.....for one, Civil War General George Gordon Meade.
Broken obelisks symbolize a life that was cut short.
Scenic views of the Schuylkill River from Laurel Hill:
The cemetery has events that help fund the maintenance of this beautiful landmark. So this skeleton on a bike gives you a hint that not all events are solemn at this cemetery. Concerts and ghostly tours have been held:
I found one Italian name:
Plenty of spots for perching:
The 700 pound "Silent Sentry" watches over the graves of the civil war soldiers. Also there are nearly 20 generals from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican War, World War I and World War II buried here.
Found little red gem is not a true strawberry but it is an invasive mock or Indian strawberry. Although it is edible it has little taste.
After our visit to Laurel Hill Cemetery we headed for Penns Landing. There may have been an event that we missed but there were throngs of people taking boat tours, laying in hammocks, visiting food trucks, and roller skating.
Two skaters at the Penns Landing rink:
Delaware River with a view of the Camden Aquarium:
