DelVal Students Win Gold At Philadelphia Flower Show

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Delaware Valley University students earned the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Gold Medal at the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show for their display entitled “Launch.” The show, which wrapped up over the weekend, was based on the theme "Flower Power" — a focus on the impact flowers and plants have on human life.

DelVal students developed an exhibit called "Launch" with aim of educating visitors about environmentally appropriate, sustainable landscapes.

According to a description provided by DelVal:

Guests entered the exhibit through a tunnel representing a mine shaft, with lanterns and bats hanging from the ceiling. A bridge was surrounded on either side by diverse plant life and water features. On one side of the bridge, a pond was home to a canoe named “Petunia.”

Representations of small animals like turtles and skunks were along the stream, and artificial birds were perched in the trees and suspended in the air. Guests enjoyed peeking into the display through a hole behind the waterfall on the side wall, allowing visitors to see the exhibit from a unique perspective. The edge of the display included bench seating for guests to relax and take in the peaceful scenery.

The students tucked educational signs within the landscape to teach visitors about how animals and plants rely on each other, and how humans can live harmoniously with nature. Bizzy the Beaver, a cartoon character in the exhibit, appeared on many of the signs to educate visitors about the surrounding environment.

Inspirational quotes were used throughout the display as well, to help visitors appreciate the importance of protecting the beautiful environment around them. One of the quotes was from Gary Snyder, an environmental activist and poet, “Nature is not a place to visit…it is home.”

The students began preparing for the show in September.

“It’s exciting for the students to see the reward for their accomplishments,” said Howard Eyre, an assistant professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Sciences.

The gold medal is awarded to exhibits earning 95 points or more; displays are judged based on design quality, horticulture, planstmanship, and visitor experience.