Flower Show a hothouse of ideas

With a big winter storm looming, a bonus for those taking cover amid jaw-dropping gardens, ponds, waterfalls, and flower arrangements at the Philadelphia Flower Show yesterday was this: gathering interesting and useful information while ambling.

This year, the theme of the nation's oldest flower show, "Bella Italia," pleased the senses of attendees at the Convention Center. But visitors also found an educational extravaganza, with lectures, demonstrations, sampling booths, and exhibits on going green, managing pests organically, cooking, wines, painting, attracting birds, and much more.

Eric Zwerling of Medford, a noise-reduction expert in Rutgers University's environmental sciences department, stopped to scope out a double-chamber, rotating composter, the Mantis ComposT-Twin - a way to transform organic waste into nutrient-rich dirt.

"On this side of the show, I've seen stuff on native and invasive plant species and water conservation," Zwerling said approvingly.

Yesterday was opening day, and while the producer, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, did not yet have attendance figures, the dismal economy did not seem to hurt the show, which benefits the society's urban greening program.

"It seems to be crowded, and that's good," said Laura Hoover, the society's senior public-relations coordinator.

Education is woven into the show in several ways.

The city's W.B. Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences, for example, designed and installed "Phil-Italia," an edifying peek at an old-fashioned South Philly meat-and-cheese shop with a courtyard ringed by herbs, vegetables, and fruit trees.

"We grew most of the plants in the greenhouse at school," said 11th grader Paige White, who was on hand with classmate Raven Turner. "Last year, we did an exhibit on wetlands. I think this one is better."

Lower Merion High School's award-winning backyard garden was so lush and colorful that its food plants - rhubarb, rosemary, peppers, peas, basil - blended right in.

"They made it simple - things people can identify with," said Cheryl Bobick of Drexel Hill, who was there with her extended family.

A particularly popular garden featured nonaggressive, environmentally friendly native plants including spicebush and Jacob's ladder, plus mulch made of recycled materials such as tires, cocoa shells, or, believe it or not, beads of glass.

"I've been shocked at the amount of interest in the recycled mulch," said Kristen L. Hand, an education coordinator with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. "We brought 350 sample bags, and I'm almost out - and it's only 1:30 p.m."

In stark contrast to the colorful flora throughout the rest of the show, Peco Energy's exhibit of its "green roof" technology was about as visually interesting as a pool table. Even so, a steady stream of visitors examined the roof, a cutaway look at what really tops the company's building on Market Street.

Indeed, some viewers were disappointed when Peco representative Lynn E. Miller said the technology - layers of rubber decking, insulation, drainage material, special soil, and low-growing sedum - was not a do-it-yourself project.

Elsewhere, in a big room set aside for families with young children, Philadelphia Zoo representatives showed off porcupines and a boa constrictor. (No petting allowed.)

"This is our first time coming to the Flower Show," Carrie Ray of Devon said as her husband, Topper, and their daughters, ages 8, 7, and 4, grimaced at the snake. "It's made us very excited for spring."