Schaffer Designs Earns Gold at Philadelphia Flower Show

By Jill Brooke

Schaffer Designs once again took the Gold at the Philadelphia Flower Show.

Led by Bill Schaffer and his wife Kristine Kratt, this dynamic duo interpreted the Philadelphia Horticultural Society’s theme of “Riviera  Holiday” by visiting the idyllic Italian towns of Vernazza, Riomaggiore, Monterosso, Manarola and Corniglia.

The multi-award-winning installation was titled “La Strade Delle Cinque Terre.”

“The streets of the Five Lands are inspired by Italy’s ancient fisherman who painted their houses in bold and pastel colors to easily split their homes as they returned from sea,” said Schaffer. “Centuries of artists have been inspired to put brush to canvas in their attempts to capture the breathtaking beauty of the Cinque Terre.”

Of course, that also meant that Schaffer and his merry elves had to take a “brush” to lots of watering tubes to clean them for this installation. The number was 3,500 to be exact.

Ah yes, “the glamorous life,” jokes Schaffer.

The empty convention space was transformed in days with mock colored houses ranging in height from 8.5 feet to 28 feet. Staff had to climb ladders and cranes to install over 8,000 flowers.

Throughout the week – until the show ends Sunday on March 8 – Schaffer and his team had to ship an additional 3,000 stems to keep this dazzling installation bright and fresh for the over 250,000 visitors.

“We have a crew of 6-10 that are at the exhibit every night watering, cleaning, changing flowers stem for stem and resetting lights,” he says.

 

In fact, during the two main rotations,  almost 80% of the flowers from the opening of the show are completely refreshed.

To achieve this installation requires a military precision that Schaffer and Kratt -along with their army of pros – spend weeks preparing for with detailed mock-ups.

According to Schaffer, flowers are generally cut at farms almost two full weeks before the show opens.

These glorious Citronella vanda orchids, Van der Ende amaryllis, green tea and salmon roses, Empress protea, myrtle, Dancing Perfume alliums, Orange Queen alstroemerias, yellow Hermes carnations,  and so much more arrive from all over the world.

“Flowers ship from Holland 7 full days before opening, from Japan: 8 full days before opening, from California, 8 full days before opening and from South America and Miami, 7-10 days before opening,” he says. “We receive the flowers 3 full days before the show opens and begin designing with flowers 2 full days before the show opens. The show opened on Friday, February 28 and finished Sunday, March 8: 9 Full Days of the Show plus 3 days of Care&Handling plus design, The flowers are in our care for 12 full days!”

What is his secret for preservation? Water and love.

This marks the 10th time the Philadelphia-based Schaffer Designs has won a Gold Medal from the Philadelphia Horticultural Society. They had also won 3 silver medals, 1 bronze medal, and more than 30 additional awards.

Among the awards for this installation – aside from the big prize of Best in Show- was Special Achievement Award of the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania for creativity, The Emile H. Geschick Award, for distinctive orchid display, to be judged for quality and artistic arrangement in either group or individual specimens, the Phyllis M. Craig Award for best use of color in flowering plants in an innovative design.

 

Last but not least, Schaffer Designs won the PHS Gardening for the Greater Good award which could be a fan favorite too.

This award is for an exhibit that best exemplifies PHS’s mission to activate horticulture and gardening as a force for the “greater good” by advancing the health and well-being of people and their environments.

Well, having witnessed the crowds delighting in this extraordinary installation, it definitely earned the award for advancing better mental health and happiness through flowers.

As a young couple said, “This is my first time here. It’s amazing.”

THE TEAM:

Front Row:Left to Right: Linda Wharton, Holly Urban, Frederic DuPre, Kristine Kratt, Bill Schaffer, Max Hurtaud, Rita Daffinson, David Hamilton

Second Row:Left to Right: Robert Quartucci, Ellie Grande, Caitlyn Acquaotta, Olga Ramirez, Sue Weisser

Third Row:Left to Right: C.J. Marion, Nancy Leppo, Nicola Evans, Brian Coovert, Janet Souza, Beth Hohensee, Kathy McNeil, Bill Murphy

Fourth Row: Left to Right: Conny van der Westerlaken, Diane Schaffer-Hibble, Jonas de Vestel, Anjelica Van Hijkoop, Mike Boerma, Armas Koehler, Wil Gonzalez

Back Row:Left to Right: Morgan Douglas Nuth, Ahti Lyra, Steve McNeil

Judges in above photo who are left to right of Bill Schaffer and Kristine Kratt are J.M. Schwanke and Tomas DeBruyne.

Jill Brooke is a former CNN correspondent, Post columnist and editor-in-chief of Avenue and Travel Savvy magazine. She is an author and the editorial director of FPD.

Photo Credit: Flower Power Daily, Schaffer Designs