The 2018 Show theme was “Wonders of Water”. Thanks to our judges this year: Katie Dubow, Garden Media Group; Sharee Solow, PCH, Solow Horticultural Designs; and Carrie Wiles, North Creek Nurseries.

The Educational display trophy was awarded to Stroud Water Research Center who partnered with Williamson College of the Trades to create a thought provoking display "Would You Drink the Water?" The exhibit featured flowing streams and highlighted best management practices for improving water and habitat quality in small streams so they can provide clean fresh water for both humans and wildlife.

This exhibit won a PHS Gold Medal in addition to the PLNA trophy.

Click here for more information on this display that was a huge hit with the Flower Show attendees.

The Landscape display trophy was awarded to Mark Cook Landscape and Contracting LLC of Doylestown, PA.

The Landscape category trophy was awarded to Laurel-Brook Gardens located in Belleville, PA for their exhibit – Till the Cows come Home. 

The display tapped into the agricultural roots and paid tribute to one of the “Foster Mothers of the Human Race,” along with the rich agricultural heritage of Holland. In addition to the PLNA trophy, the display was also awarded a PHS Bronze Medal. 

Temple University Ambler student’s won the Educational display trophy for the second year in a row with its exhibit “Nieuwpolders: Regenerating the Dutch Custom of Land Recovery”. Temple students and faculty took their inspiration for Nieuwpolders from Dutch traditions to reconnect with and restore the land, approaching the exhibit with a focus on what land can be reclaimed for cultivation in the Philadelphia region.

This exhibit was recognized with a treasure trove of awards; a PHS Gold Medal, the Bulkley Medal of the Garden Club of America, a Special Achievement Award of the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania and a PHS Sustainability award in addition to the PLNA trophy.

PLNA is continuously looking to get our members out in front of potential customers and share their knowledge, expertise and professionalism.  Another opportunity presented itself in March with the Gold Medal Plant Exhibit at the 2016 Philadelphia Flower Show.

Steve Mostardi, PCH, PLNA Member and PHS Board Member, reached out to PLNA for volunteers for the display and we subsequently petitioned the members.  Quite a few volunteered their time and feedback from PHS staff member David Carlson was positive stating "it was a tremendous success from a visitor standpoint considering the feedback received throughout the week.  So many comments related to the fact that the exhibit was back.  People really enjoyed having someone with whom to discuss their particular garden situation.” 

Many thanks to the PLNA members who volunteered: 

• Natasha and Marietta Bieberfeld, County Line Landscape Nursery
• Gloria Day, Pretty Dirty Ladies Inc. Garden Design
• Matt Gingerich, Erb Brothers Landscaping
• Chris Uhland, Harmony Hill Nursery
• Bill H. Wells, Water Crest Farms Nursery
• Tom Wolfgang, Native Designs Landscaping

As more opportunities like this come to PLNA’s attention, we will be sure to make you aware and you can volunteer your time.

Click here for more information about the Gold Medal Plant Program.

PLNA has been implementing many changes over the past year and one of them was re-evaluating the criteria for the PLNA Awards at the Philadelphia Flower Show.  Beginning in 2016, the PLNA trophies were awarded in the Landscape display category and Educational display category for most effective use of plants and best design. The show theme this year celebrated the centennial anniversary of the national park service as "Explore America".

This year’s award recipients were two PLNA members; Stoney Bank Nurseries and Temple University - Ambler. 

The landscape category trophy was awarded to Stoney Bank Nurseries located in Glen Mills for their representation of Yellowstone National Park. This was Stoney Bank’s 37th year exhibiting at the Flower Show. The award winning design was driven by the remarkable natural features and resilience of Yellowstone National Park. After the devastating fires of Yellowstone, trees, understory natives and dormant seeds burst into natural renewing cycles. In addition to the PLNA trophy, Stoney Bank was also awarded Best in Show and a Gold Medal Award. For more photos of Stoney Bank’s exhibit click here.

Temple University Ambler students’ hard work paid off in their display "After the Blast: Recollecting Roots and Resources at Hopewell Furnace”. Including the PLNA trophy, they received a nearly unprecedented seven top honors at this year’s flower show. These students are the future of our industry and take their education and dedication to horticulture seriously. For more information about Temple’s exhibit click here.

HARRISBURG - PLNA and FFA transformed the floor of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives into a forest of white pine seedlings on April 22, Earth Day, to celebrate both Earth Day and Arbor Day.

This year PLNA members Strathmeyer Forests and Henry Molded Products donated the items for the annual Arbor Day event. Strathmeyer's seedlings were planted into Henry Molded Products recycled/recyclable pots with the help of the Pennsylvania FFA officers.  

Rep. Ron Marsico (R- Dauphin County) helps to pave the way each year with Capitol security and the House administrative officials to allow this Earth Day/Arbor Day observance to occur without a hitch. Rep. Marsico is the only member of the General Assembly who was a landscape contractor before becoming a state representative.

FFA officers and PLNA staff placed the seedlings on the desk of each legislator in the House chamber. Seedlings were also taken to each Senator’s office. White pine seedlings also lined the steps in the Capitol Rotunda.