What We Love: Gay Day at the Flower Show

This year’s theme for the Philadelphia International Flower Show (March 6-13) is “Springtime in Paris.” That makes us think of a walk along the Seine, sipping wine at a cafe and checking out all the gorgeous guys and gals in the City of Lights. Gay author Edmund White described Paris as “a world meant to be seen by the walker,” and that the city is only really ever sufficiently absorbed through the lazy pace of strolling, in The Flaneur (Bloomsbury, 2001). We think the same goes for the Flower Show every year.

But for 2011, new and noteworthy events – including gardening presentations and food and wine tastings – promise to bring out plenty of opulence, romance and “La Vie en Rose” at the Parisian-themed showcase. It’ll be worth seeing how the guys at MODA Botanica – last year’s winners for Best in Show for a stunning floral and graffiti creation – wow us again this year.

LGBT folks even have the chance to enjoy Monday Night OUT at the Flower Show on March 7. The evening includes tickets to see the best in floral design from around the world, the opportunity to pick up the first issue of GPhilly magazine – which features the best of gay life throughout the region – as well as free wine and spirits tastings until 7 p.m. in the Grand Hall. You’re guaranteed to take home some great ideas just in time for warmer weather from the cut floral showcase. This goes for city dwellers and suburbanites alike.

Need another reason? Each ticket helps the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society toward its goal of planting one million trees in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. We hope to see you there!

Philadelphia International Flower Show, March 6-13, Pennsylvania Convention Center, 12th and Arch St.