Easter at the Washington National Cathedral

 

Easter Day at the Washington National Cathedral, April 9, 2023.  Repairs continue at the Cathedral damaged by the 2011 earthquake. (See tower above.) Some $14 million still need to be raised to meet the total $38 million cost of restoration/By Patricia Leslie

Easter Day, Washington National Cathedral, April 9, 2023/By Patricia Leslie

Easter Day, Washington National Cathedral, April 9, 2023/By Patricia Leslie

Easter Day, Washington National Cathedral, April 9, 2023/By Patricia Leslie

Easter Day, Washington National Cathedral, April 9, 2023/By Patricia Leslie

The War Memorial Chapel on Easter Day, Washington National Cathedral, April 9, 2023 in /By Patricia Leslie

Easter Day at the Washington National Cathedral, April 9, 2023 in the War Memorial Chapel. British artist Steven Barry Sykes (1914-1999) sculpted the head of Jesus surrounded by a halo which hangs above the altar. British women, including the Queen Mother (1900-2002), mother of Queen Elizabeth (1926-2022), made the kneeling pads in the chapel in commemoration of sacrifices made by U.S. Armed Forces during World War II/By Patricia Leslie

A banner of Armed Forces in the War Memorial Chapel on Easter Day, Washington National Cathedral, April 9, 2023/By Patricia Leslie

Detail of the 9 x 12 foot Tree of Life embroidery which hangs at the left of the altar in the War Memorial Chapter with seals of all 50 states. Some of the seals (Tennessee's, above) appear to be unfinished which matches Tennessee's unfinished chapter in granting justice for all its citizens. Pictured Easter Day, Washington National Cathedral, April 9, 2023/By Patricia Leslie

The entrance to the Children's Chapel on Easter Day, the Washington National Cathedral, April 9, 2023/By Patricia Leslie

The altar in the Children's Chapel, Easter Day, the Washington National Cathedral, April 9, 2023/By Patricia Leslie

Flowers on the altar at the Children's Chapel, Easter Day, the Washington National Cathedral, April 9, 2023/By Patricia Leslie

The baptismal font in the Children's Chapel, Easter Day, the Washington National Cathedral, April 9, 2023/By Patricia Leslie

At the altar in the Children's Chapel, Easter Day, the Washington National Cathedral, April 9, 2023/By Patricia Leslie

A kneeling cushion at the altar in the Children's Chapel, Easter Day, Washington National Cathedral, April 9, 2023/By Patricia Leslie

The conclusion of Choral Evensong, Easter Day, Washington National Cathedral, April 9, 2023/By Patricia Leslie

The conclusion of Choral Evensong, Easter Day, Washington National Cathedral, April 9, 2023/By Patricia Leslie

A tower undergoing repair due to the 2011 earthquake, Easter Day, Washington National Cathedral, April 9, 2023/By Patricia Leslie

A tower undergoing repair due to the 2011 earthquake, Easter Day, Washington National Cathedral, April 9, 2023/By Patricia Leslie

Easter Day at the Washington National Cathedral, April 9, 2023/By Patricia Leslie

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Where have all the flowers gone, Philadelphia?

At the Hall A entrance at the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show, orange and yellow streamers hang from the ceiling looking like dried piece of mud and sand with apples and oranges strapped to them, a dreary introduction for adults who shell out a $42 weekend rate to attend/Photo by Patricia Leslie

This year's flower show in Philadelphia, ending March 10 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, is a tired and sad remnant of past years' displays.

The title, "Flower Power" left me wanting.

Really? I grew up in the 60s and "flower power" today lacks appeal and finesse. 

An infrequent garden landscape at the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

It must be peace at the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie


My expectations were not exceeded in 2019 in the City of Brotherly Love.

I found no magic or allure.  

Nothing climbs to the ceiling or sent me soaring.

But they came.  The flower show says 250,000 people come annually.

These narcissi ("Sir Winston Churchill" Double Daffodils) won our First Prize for Best Fragrance in the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

This host of golden daffodils were all that we found. Usually boxes of them are laid out in competition, but we missed them at the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

At the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

At the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie



The international show this year (and it truly is international since it's the first FTD World Cup competition hosted in the U.S. since 1985) is rather tame and boring (have I said that?) without any huge, mammoth splashes of color or vibrancy to make your mouth drop and the words, "Do you believe that?" tumble out.

Compared to years past, the flowers and exhibitions this year have lots of concrete space to take up room for missing displays. (See links below to compare with previous shows.)

Was it just me who was disappointed?  Nyet. Another veteran and a newcomer on the Smithsonian Associates' bus tour agreed it was not the best day trip. No one on the return trip "oohed" and "awed" or even talked about the show, save the Smithsonian guide, Bill Ulman, who did a splendid job (assisted by Marilyn Jacanin).

After spending two hours at the show, the newcomer said she got bored and went across the street to the Reading Terminal Market.

This was one of the "miniatures" which had a theme this year of gardens in books. This title is The Magician's Garden by Chris van Allsburg which won a second prize for "Team Amanda" at the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show. The white dots are reflections of ceiling lights in the protective glass/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Another miniature, this one, Escape to Bag End by J.R.R. Tolkien won a second prize for "Northview Crew" at the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

This miniature, The Garden of Stubborn Cats by Italo Calvino won first prize for Deb and Jim Mackie at the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

A miniature for The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett won a third prize for "Jenkintown Mini-Makers" at the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show. The judges might have liked it more had they not had to bend over to see it in the window/Photo by Patricia Leslie.

Rudyard Kipling's changing colors The Glory of the Garden by John Jayne and Jayne Price won second prize at the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

This industrial setting, Return of the Restless Railway by Peter Brown won first place for Marlene Goeke and Michelle Blockwell at the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Bay leaves, rosemary, corn kernels and husks, mustard and caraway seeds, and almonds are some of the components of this first prize winner, a hair ornament, by Tyler R. Hetherston. Judges labeled it "exquisite, feminine and flawless" at the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show. The white dots are reflections of ceiling lights in the glass/Photo by Patricia Leslie

The judges criticized this beautiful ring by Sarah Carlson and Fran Gerdes awarding it only a third prize because its colors were not "bold and pop arty."  Good grief!  It is much nicer than the first place winner, whatever below, at the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

First place (?) jewelry at the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Great favs, the blue earring "challenges functionality," wrote the judges who granted a second prize for Georgette Sturam and the Garden Club of Trenton at the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

One of the international World Cup competitors, Tamas Mezoffy from Hungary created this array on display at the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Another international competitor which rather looks like artificial flowers stuck on cotton.  Sorry! At the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Looking up at the ceiling entrance, what would you guess? My tie-dye hair in the morning (had I this much!), hidden bee hives (whoops!  That's the holding screen), a still of a ceiling explosion of thistledown, or a skirt worn by an angry giant at the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show?/Photo by Patricia Leslie

I believe, another international competitor at the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

An entry in "Entryways" by the Norristown Garden Club won a second prize at the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Whatever is prettier and more soothing to the eye than a combination of white and green?  At the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

When it's "flower power," Jimi Hendrix is always nearby, maybe hiding in the bushes at the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

 Tulips at the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Hyacinths and more tulips whose colors seem a bit faded, now that the end is nigh for the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie


Dear Flower Show:  Can't you give us something pretty?  Like song titles, France, Italy, painters (please exclude harsh contemporaries), beaches, South America, cities, greens, planets, gems (imagine!), and animals? (Well, some of them are.)

Exclude reptiles from animals?  But I recall the life-sized one, standing I think, with skin of green flowers and red eyes which blinked!  I am still talking about him, for the third time this week!  Now, that's a memory, and the only memory I have of your 2019 show is...disappointment.

Philadelphia, I'll admit I am still fuming about Bryce Harper. You can have him, but please, ...bring back the flowers. Thank you. 

To compare 2019 with other shows, please check the following links for pictures from 2016, from 2015, and 2013.



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At the 2015 Philadelphia International Flower Show

At the entrance to the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show where nothing is artificial/Photo by Patricia Leslie

 

This year's theme at the Philadelphia Flower Show was Hollywood movies, "Lights!  Camera!  Bloom!" and what fun and beauty it all was, as usual.  Claire and I have made it an annual trek with the Smithsonian Associates for three years now, and our expectations are always exceeded, with the show, the pageantry, the artistry, lights, color, and action!  And the alcohol (beer and wine we drank) which make it more fun to walk around and admire the outstanding creations of so many, which increased in beauty, somehow, the more we drank (just kidding). 

 

And the products to buy!  I must have been the only one on the bus back to D.C. to leave with nothing purchased, save wonderful memories, and the visuals of Gene London's exhibition of Hollywood gowns for $5; well worth it in my playbook.  Below are highlights from the "world's longest-running and largest indoor flower show."

At the entrance to the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show.  It was bigger than my bridal bouquet/Photo by Patricia Leslie

This is the back of the entry from the Men's Garden Club of Philadelphia which based its design on the movie, Tarzan.  At the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

At the front of Tarzan, entered by the Men's Garden Club of Philadelphia at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

The entry by Inchscape, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was based on the movie, The Prince of Persia, at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

A multi-award winning entry by Leon Kluge Landscape Design of South Africa, modeled on A Maleficent View at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

A scene inspired by Finding Nemo by J. Downend Landscaping from Crum Lynne, Pennsylvania at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show.  "Underwater" viewers could look above and find a big boat "floating" overhead/Photo by Patricia Leslie

 From "Pooh's Hunny Depot" by Irwin Landscaping of Hockessin, Delaware at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Waldor Orchids from Linwood, New Jersey used Peter Pan in Neverland as its theme at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

One of my favorites, "The Sorcerer's Apprentice Meet the Horticulturist's Apprentice" based on Walt Disney's (a lot of Disney was present) Fantasia, presented by Mercer  County Community College from Trenton, New Jersey in the Education Division at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe by Paul Hervey-Brookes & Associates from Gloucestershire, United Kingdom at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Another view of The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe by Paul Hervey-Brookes & Associates from Gloucestershire, United Kingdom at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

"Cinderella's Wedding" by Robertson's Flowers & Events, Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Based on Frozen by Michael Bruce Florist, Pennsauken, New Jersey. Flowers seemed sparse because they don't grow on ice?/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Based on Aladdin by Pure Design of Philadelphia at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

This flower purse won the Blue Ribbon in its category at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show.  A purse with wings. Can you see Kate Middleton carrying it? I doubt the Queen would approve/Photo by Patricia Leslie

In the Miniatures Division, Beverly Sue Palacia won an Honorable Mention portraying Miss Scarlett on the porch calling to Mr. Butler in Gone with the Wind at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show.  A judge wrote:  "While the placement of Tara is pleasing to the scene, the architectural details are inaccurate." I do declare, Miss Scarlett: Tara was a figment of imagination so does that make "architectural details" inaccurate since they didn't exist?  Those judges are outright picky. but they need to find something to pick on, I suppose. The labels for every miniature list all plants used in each design/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Lucille Dickerson took Third Prize with her An Affair to Remember entry in the Miniatures Division at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Cathy Bandoian won Second Prize with her Enchanted April entry in the Miniatures Division at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

First Prize in the Miniatures Division was awarded to Louise Krasniewicz for Rear Window at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Pamela Goldman won a First Prize in the Miniatures Division at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show for her "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" entry/Photo by Patricia Leslie

In the movie posters category, Peggy S. Moore from Fairfield, Connecticut's Garden Club won Second Prize for her Thor at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show. A judge wrote the "placement of Heliconia disrupts the balance." If I knew what the hell "Heliconia" is, it might have added more points to the Blue Ribbon I would have awarded Ms. Moore for Originality, Style, and Design.  Look at it!  Incredible!/Photo by Patricia Leslie

In the jewelry division of previous Blue Ribbon flower show winners, a watch of flowers and plants which Richard Burton might have given to Elizabeth Taylor, on display at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show. Made with macadamia, crape myrtle, grapevine, nandina, wild rice, oak, pokeweed, green peppercorn, and black peppercorn.  Good enough to eat!  Edible watches.  Another product idea for Apple.  If you get hungry, just eat your watch!/Photo by Patricia Leslie

 Another jewelry entry from previous Blue Ribbon winners in the category of a Richard Burton gift to Elizabeth Taylor at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show.  The components are all plants and flowers, mind you:  anise seed, almond, chickpea, coriander seed, cumin seed, rice bean, juniper berry, split pea, peppercorn, mustard seed, pecan shell, andromeda, crape myrtle, hibiscus, money plant, allium, and cotton.  No wonder I failed biology/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Another outstanding jewelry design at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show made from eucalyptus, millet, wisteria, split pea, billy ball, French lentil, silver brunia, and star anise/Photo by Patricia Leslie

This asparagus fern won a Blue Ribbon at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show and won at the 2013 show. (How many times can one enter the same plant?  Another multi-year winner is further down.) We wondered if the white fronds were an outgrowth of age /Photo by Patricia Leslie

Lynn Cook and Troy Ray from Liberty Bell Gesneriad Society won a Third Prize for their Sinningia Bulbosa at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Another Blue Ribbon winner at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show which also won a Second Prize in 2013. Something for everyone! "Help!  I've fallen and I can't get up."/Photo by Patricia Leslie

This is a replica of Cinderella's glass slipper which the actress in the upcoming movie actually wears, said a vendor at the Philadelphia 2015 Flower Show. The actress (who is?) said the shoes are really uncomfortable, according to the vendor.  Really?  Wearing broken glass is uncomfortable?  Sounds like a typical shoe design to me/Photo by Patricia Leslie

 

Compare entries from the 2013 show.

 

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