Each year, more than 250,000 people attend the Philadelphia Flower Show to view the artistic garden and flower displays created by landscape and floral designers. According to the Philadelphia Horticultural Society, the flower show is the nation's largest and longest-running horticulture event. The theme of this year's show was "United by Flowers."

Representing the local community at the nationally recognized flower show this year were members of the Elverson Garden Club. For nearly 20 years, the group has created an exhibit for the show. Individual members also participate in the show's design contests.

This year, the club entered the Open for Business design category, which asked participants to design a Philadelphia-themed store window display that included fresh-cut flowers, greenery and accessories.

The Elverson club's design committee, chaired by Lisa Cherpanich and Mary Wickerham, created this year's presentation, called "Upbeat," which was meant to replicate a music store. The exhibition received a second-place ribbon along with a class commendation in the Open for Business design category.

"This is quite a feat for a small club like ours," said Carol Simonetti, club president. "We benefit from the skills and experience of our members, who lead the way."

The "Upbeat" music store featured a selection of plants and flowers situated among musical instruments, including a violin and a saxophone. The display also featured an old phonograph with a record on the turntable. On the walls hung a painting of a trumpet player completed by club member Trudy Moore and two musical-themed photographs taken by Wendy Fox.

"All the decorative items were either owned by committee members or they found them," explained club member Laura Alden. "We stage (the display) somewhere and then we (disassemble) it and put it back together at the show. They give us the physical space, but we do everything else."

In addition to the committee, club members also help with the display by keeping it looking good throughout the eight-day show, which ran this year from March 2 to 10. "Various people from the club go at 6 in the morning and do maintenance every day of the show," said Alden. "You want to make sure the plants are healthy and that it's clean. There is also more than one judging, so you have to make it look as fresh as you can."

"It's very competitive," Alden added. "You are talking about one or two points between the (winning) entries. The Elverson club has always been in the running."

Additionally, 18 of the Elverson club's members participated in the 2024 show in various capacities and club member Robert Grenfell served as chair of competitive classes for the Philadelphia show.

Fox was awarded a blue ribbon in the Overall Platform Design class and an honorable mention in photography for her Still Life class submission.

Simonetti received a third-place ribbon in photography and a class commendation in the Play class. Cherpanich placed third in the Miniature Design Class.

The Elverson Garden Club, which began in 1929, currently has approximately 50 active members. The club meets at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month March through December in Detterline Hall at Saint Peter United Church of Christ, 1920 Ridge Road (Route 23), Knauertown. Those interested in joining the club are invited to attend a meeting.

Members pay an annual fee to participate, which allows them to attend educational gardening workshops and club dinners.

Individuals may join the "Elverson Garden Club" Facebook group for more information about the club.