In just a few months, spring will be bursting out everywhere in the landscape, and even those of us who love snow and cold weather will revel in the color and fragrance of the plant world. Weeks before that, though, The Philadelphia Flower Show will burst into bloom, giving attendees a welcome glimpse of what’s to come.
The Flower Show always feels a bit exotic to me. It’s not just seeing flowers in bloom and trees leafed out ahead of season, it’s also that the exhibits often include species that aren’t hardy in our planting zone or make a nod to other places and climates. While I love that experience, I find this year’s theme, “Rooted: Origins of American Gardening,” personally compelling.
I’ve lived and gardened on the same property in Kimberton for over forty years and have come to feel deeply connected to this particular bit of land. I also feel deeply rooted in the ties I have to nine generations of Mennonite farmers who tended crops and dairy cattle just across the border in Montgomery County. Visiting many of you readers and touring your gardens also makes me feel rooted to Chester County. I feel a deep connection not just to The Land in a general sense, but to this land — this place where I know the nature and quality of the soil and can call the trees and shrubs by name.
With so many global influences on the American landscape and on individual gardens over the past 250 years, I’m eager to see how the “Rooted” theme will be brought to light. Here’s how the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) describes it:
“Gardens aren’t just made; they’re passed down through generations, carried across oceans, lifetimes, and lands. The 2026 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show celebrates the stories that ground us in gardening, whether it’s the nostalgia of a grandparent’s garden, a beloved family recipe that begins with the bright scent of freshly picked herbs and vegetables, or the heritage traditions that shape how we plant, grow, and gather.”
One exhibit I’m particularly interested in seeing is “Before 250.” Presented by W.B. Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences, this exhibit honors the Lenni Lenape people and indigenous roots in Pennsylvania by highlighting connections between culture, environmental stewardship, and the use of native plant species. The display features a Pennsylvania forested hillside with a flowing stream, a re-created Lenni Lenape site, and tree species at multiple stages of growth, offering a reflection on how the land has been cared for and shaped over time.
Another exhibited I’m interested in seeing is “Rooted in Time,” created by the Philadelphia Society of Botanical Illustrators. This exhibit explores “the enduring presence of America’s native plants and fungi over the past 250 years. Through detailed botanical illustration, the display reveals both the visible beauty of native species and the hidden worlds that have sustained them across generations.”
I also want to check out “First Ladies and Their Orchids.” This exhibit, by Chadwick & Son Orchids, highlights 19 Cattleya orchids named after First Ladies from Edith Wilson to Jill Biden. (I didn’t even know that this was a tradition!) Native from Costa Rica south to Argentina, the orchid genus is named after English botanist William Cattley. The display honors “the long-standing, non-political, and sometimes forgotten history of these orchids.”
The 197th Philadelphia Flower Show opens at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Center City Philadelphia on Saturday, February 28 and runs through Saturday, March 7. For full Show information, visit https://tinyurl.com/36b2bayb
Note: The Phoenixville Public Library has invited me to talk about my book, Listening to Nature’s Voice on Monday, March 2, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. You can attend in person or via Zoom. The program is free, but registration is required for both in-person and online. Details at: https://ccls.libcal.com/event/15666288
Pam Baxter is an avid organic vegetable gardener who lives in Kimberton. Direct e-mail to pamelacbaxter@gmail.com, or send mail to P.O. Box 80, Kimberton, PA 19442. Pam’s books, including Listening to Nature’s Voice, are available via her website pamelabaxterbooks.com. You can also sign up for “Rambles,” her monthly newsletter.
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