Big Winners From the 2023 Philadelphia Flower Show
March 14, 2023 The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) recognized a long list of award winners during the 2023 Philadelphia Flower Show, “The Garden Electric.” Located in the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the Flower Show returned indoors this year after a two-year hiatus. This year’s show incorporated the most beloved aspects of the past two outdoor shows to create a familiar, yet innovative, experience for guests.
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For the first time in the show’s history, many designers were tasked with creating gardens between 2,200 and 2,900 square feet in size, making them the largest gardens ever displayed at the event. This new design direction was meant to mimic the feel of being outdoors and immersed in nature, offering a 360-degree blooming wonderland that could be viewed from all angles.
“The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show Cup for Best in Show,” “The Philadelphia Trophy” and the “Governor’s Trophy” were among the many coveted awards bestowed. The 2023 exhibitor lineup placed emphasis on highlighting and uplifting garden and landscape designers from a variety of professions, experiences, and specialties, giving them an opportunity to share and showcase their unique perspectives.
The design inspiration for “The Garden Electric,” is dedicated to the spark of joy that comes from flowers and gardens. Designers created works of art featuring a dazzling array of colors, unique shapes and textures, rich fragrances, multi-media elements, and innovative designs focused on the opulent and celebratory aspects of flowers and gardens.
“The exhibits at this year’s Flower Show reflected the wide-ranging viewpoints of many of the industry’s preeminent names. From peaceful landscapes to over-the-top floral installations, designers took the theme to heart and created electrifying works of art that thrilled judges and the public,” says Seth Pearsoll, Creative Director of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show Cup for Best in Show – Landscape was presented to ILLExotics, a Philadelphia-based boutique store that specializes in exotic plants such aroids, orchids, and captive-bred creatures. The boutique’s exhibit, “Studio Exotica,” was a Studio-54-inspired nightclub fully overtaken by tropical greenery and flowers, complete with a floral DJ, bartender, and dancers.
The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show Cup for Best in Show – Floral was awarded to Harijanto Setiawan, an architect-turned-florist from Singapore and the creator of Boenga Floral Studio. His installation, “Florid Electron,” merged cutting-edge floral design, lighting, and experiential elements to create an immersive environment merging the world of floral design with interactive art.
The Philadelphia Award was presented to Newfields, led by renowned designer Jonathan Wright, the director of The Garden and Fairbanks Park at Newfields. This was Newfields’ first year exhibiting at the Flower Show, and their exhibit utilized mixed media projections to captivate guests.
The Silver Award was presented to Mark Cook of Mark Cook Landscaping & LLC, which has previously received numerous prestigious honors at the Flower Show, including Best in Show in 2022 and 2020.
Other major award winners included:
- Men’s Garden Club of Delaware Valley Award, to a garden containing plants suited to the Delaware Valley, in a setting that can primarily be maintained by one person: Susan Cohan Gardens
- The American Horticultural Society Environmental Award for an exhibit of horticultural excellence that best demonstrates the bond between horticulture and the environment and inspires the viewer to beautify home and community through skillful design and appropriate plant material: Treeline Designz
- Society of American Florists Flower Show Award, for artistic presentation of flowers and plants for public enjoyment: Schaffer Designs
- The Phyllis M. Craig Award, for the Floral major exhibit demonstrating the best use of color in flowering and/or foliage plants: Polycarp Flowers
- PHS Gardening for the Greater Good Award, for the exhibit that best exemplifies PHS’s mission to activate horticulture and gardening as a force for the greater good by advancing the health and well-being of people and their environments: Black Girl Florists
Click here for a complete list of winners.
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