Hawaii: Islands of Aloha

As the Philadelphia International Flower Show kicked off their Hawaii: Islands of Aloha to the public on Sunday, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's President Drew Becher is pretty much Philadelphia's man of the week.  Last year's Flower Show brought in $61 million to the Philly region and enhanced local programs like Plant One Million.  Luckily, we were able to sit down with Drew for a few minutes to chat about the Drew's favorite exhibit at the Flower Show, PHS's wins & challenges to greenify Philadelphia, and Drew's secret 'green' habit he's been practicing since age 10. (Read the full interview after the jump!)

Last night, I visited the Philadelphia International Flower Show Media preview to check out Hawaii: Islands of Aloha, our theme for 2012. Once again, I was blown away by the displays that all perfectly embodied Hawaii... Although I haven't been to the islands for 20 years (true story), I was transported as soon as the orchid lei was placed around my neck.  The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society implemented a setup with incredible scenes, design & an authenticity which will impress all attendees, both old & new. One of the most impressive changes is spreading out the main displays across the Convention Center Floor (versus in previous years, the displays are typically all on the east side of the room bunched together.)  Also, the marketplace is rearranged from east-west (vs North-South Lanes), which will definitely give Flower Show attendees more space to move around and not bump into the usual crowds. The moment you walk into the showroom, digital waves with turtles, surfers, schools of fish & other marine life lead you into the various displays... (See tons of pictures & more of the sneak peek, after the jump!)