Building on last year’s silver-medal debut, the Bucks County Community College floral design program is returning to the Philadelphia Flower Show starting this weekend.
The display is titled “Rooted in Art” and will run from Saturday, Feb. 28, through Sunday, March 8.
The theme aligns with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s overarching show theme, “Rooted: Origins of American Gardening.”
The college’s exhibit draws inspiration from its physical and cultural beginnings on the Newtown Township estate of Stella Elkins Tyler, an artist and philanthropist.
“’Rooted in Art’ is a celebration of where creativity begins, and how it grows,” said Renee Tucci, a floral design instructor at the college and national president of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD).
“It tells a story deeply rooted in the vision of Stella Elkins Tyler. She is the root from which it all began.”
The display features seven original floral designs meant to bridge the gap between nature and education. It also incorporates six works from students in the college’s School of Arts and Communication, spanning disciplines such as ceramics, jewelry, woodworking, photography, and drawing.
A focal point of the installation is a bronze sculpture of Joan of Arc, which was created by Tyler herself.
“These pieces highlight the collaborative spirit and cross-disciplinary creativity that define the Bucks community,” Tucci said.
The lead floral design students participating in the show include: Amparito Arriaga, Certified Floral Designer (CFD); Isabelle Kondel; Karen Kuyper; Jennifer O’Donnell, CFD; Lauren O’Leary; Mary Rigau; Maria Salinas; Melinda Spink; Linda Weinberger, CFD; and the mother-daughter team of Els Poff, CFD, and Melanie Poff, CFD.
Art students who work is featured include Mason Chase, Payton Ferri, Crystal Grey, Layne Griffaton, Scott Menin, and Sofiya Vasyutinskaya.
The creative process behind the exhibit will be highlighted on the 6anc show “FYI Philly” on Saturday, Feb. 28. The segment will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the production and installation of the college’s display.
The floral design program at Bucks County Community College offers both certificate and degree tracks. As an educational partner with the AIFD, the curriculum allows students to earn the Certified Floral Designer (CFD) designation, preparing them for careers in retail and event design.
The Philadelphia Flower Show, which is put on by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, is the country’s largest horticultural event.
The 2026 show “celebrates the stories that ground us in gardening, whether it’s the nostalgia of a grandparent’s garden, a beloved family recipe that begins with the bright scent of freshly picked herbs and vegetables, or the heritage traditions that shape how we plant, grow, and gather,” according to the Philadelphia Flower Show.
Tickets for the flower show on are on sale.
Leave a Comment