The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) Monday, announced its list of award winners at 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 hosting the show outdoors. This year’s show incorporates the most beloved aspects of the past two outdoor shows to create a familiar, yet innovative, experience for guests.
The Silver Award was presented to Mark Cook of Mark Cook Landscape and Contracting, a Doylestown firm which has previously received numerous prestigious honors at the Flower Show, including Best in Show in 2022 and 2020. Cook’s exhibit this year received the second-highest number of points.
“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. The boutique's exhibit, “Studio Exotica,” is 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 well-known designer Jonathan Wright, the director of The Garden and Fairbanks Park at Newfields. This was Newfields’ first year exhibiting at the Flower Show, and the exhibit utilized mixed media projections to captivate guests.
“The exhibits at this year’s Flower Show, ‘The Garden Electric’ 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,” said Seth Pearsoll, creative director of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
The show continues through March 12. Visit phsonline.org/the-flower-show for information. Tickets can be purchased at tickets.phsonline.org.
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