Philadelphia: home of the Liberty Bell, brotherly love, cheesesteaks and... gardens? Yes, gardens. Philly also houses the Philadelphia Flower Show and the Magic Gardens. Be sure to visit both (after grabbing a cheesesteak on your way, of course).
The Philadelphia Flower Show: Feb. 28-March 8
The Flower Show is a dazzling spectacle held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center (1101 Arch St., Philadelphia). More than 260,000 people typically flock to the oldest and largest indoor garden show to see large-scale gardens, landscapes and avant-garde floral creations. After viewing the beautiful flowers (and possibly cursing your non-green thumb), check out gardening workshops and lectures run by experts.
Additional events include Wedding Wednesday (March 4), when brides-to-be can sip on champagne while receiving advice on wedding decor and catering from local experts, and a Girls Night Out party, full of shopping, food and wine, on March 5.
Proceeds benefit the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and its City Harvest Program, which feeds more than 1,200 families per week during the growing season. View ticket prices and purchase them here.
While the Flower Show is a limited time event, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is open every day. But why not visit them both and make it a garden-filled Philly weekend?
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
Worth the Trip
Magic Gardens artist Isaiah Zagar began this project with a humble passion to beautify Philly’s South Street neighborhood. In the '60s, Zagar and his wife, Julia, bought and renovated rundown buildings and transformed them into bright mosaics.
Still devoted to this beautification almost 30 years later, Zagar started work on a lot near his studio, excavating tunnels, and sculpting and mosaicking walls across 3,000 square feet.
When this newly colorful lot went up for sale, the community refused to see his artwork destroyed. Zagar’s work then adopted the titled Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens and is now a nonprofit organization, offering mosaic workshops, concerts and exhibitions alongside the captivating walls.
The labyrinthine design allows visitors to step out of their daily lives and wander around the walls for as long as they please, learning about art and passion along the way.
