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From passports to petals

Brazilian samba music, talking parrots, and sprays of exotic flowers and seed-covered African masks highlighted yesterday's introduction of 2010's newly renamed Philadelphia International Flower Show, themed "Passport to the World."

Ruby, an Eclectus parrot, helped introduce the Flower Show with handler Danielle Quaglia of the Philadelphia Zoo.
Ruby, an Eclectus parrot, helped introduce the Flower Show with handler Danielle Quaglia of the Philadelphia Zoo.Read moreAPRIL SAUL / Staff Photographer
    by Virginia A. Smith, Inquirer Staff Writer
    Published 

Brazilian samba music, talking parrots, and sprays of exotic flowers and seed-covered African masks highlighted yesterday's introduction of 2010's newly renamed Philadelphia International Flower Show, themed "Passport to the World."

The show, scheduled Feb. 28 to March 7 at the Convention Center, will showcase the flora, and sometimes fauna, of Brazil, India, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Africa.

An Explorer's Garden will highlight plants that have been introduced or discovered over the years by members of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, which dates to 1827, and other adventurous Philadelphians.

Society president Jane G. Pepper also told the small gathering at World Cafe Live in University City that the show will have two new features this year: downloadable tickets from the website http://www.theflowershow.com/ and a free cell-phone tour similar to those available at the Philadelphia Museum of Art's major shows.

Despite the economy, officials are hoping for a good turnout. The show traditionally brings in $1 million for the horticultural society's urban greening programs, which are recognized as a national model.

Meryl Levitz, president of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, cited the annual event as a major moneymaker for the city. Showgoers pour $35 million annually into the city economy, she said.

One of the major beneficiaries of that largesse is the Reading Terminal Market, directly across the street from the Convention Center, which typically gets more than 230,000 additional visitors during the show's eight-day run.

"The flower show is our Holy Grail, our World Series, our Super Bowl," said Paul Steinke, the market's general manager.

Philadelphia International Flower Show

When: Feb. 28 through March 7

Where: Convention Center, 12th and Arch Streets.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays; 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

Admission: $23; $18 students (ages 17-24); $13 children (2-16); under 2 free.

Information: 215-988-8899 or www.theflowershow.com.

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