Seasonal flowers. Lush foliage. Garden Burgers. Frozen Mojitos with butterfly pea powder. And even Frozen Gritty Margaritas. With all this, you'll undoubtedly grow to love the Pop Up Gardens springing up around Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) is opening gardens in Manayunk and on South Street.
The Pop Up Gardens will blend horticulture and culinary arts, serving food and drink by local restaurants in a calm, colorful garden setting. All ages are welcome, as are pets.
The food and drink will be provided by Cantina Los Caballitos and Khyber Pass Pub. In addition to Garden Burgers, the menus will include Mexican Shrimp Cocktail, Lemony Artichoke and Herb Hummus, Nashville Hot Chicken Wraps and more. The menu includes vegan options and kid-friendly selections too. Sixteen beers will be served including Half Acre Daisy Cutter Pale Ale, Log Yard Blueberry Shandy, IPAs, ciders, wheat beers and sour beers. Plus wine and non-alcoholic options.
For the first time, the gardens will have space rentable for private outdoor events. Information on these private spaces and reservations are available at: PHSOnline.org.
In another first, patrons will be able to purchase tickets for the Philadelphia Flower Show, the nation’s largest and longest-running. The show will be held from June 5 through 13 in FDR Park. It's the first time the show will be held in an outside venue.
South Street Pop Up Garden - opens April 1
1438 South Street
Monday - Thursday from 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday - Sunday from 12 noon - 10 p.m.
Manayunk Pop Up Garden - opens mid-May
106 Jamestown Avenue
Monday - Thursday from 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday 12 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
The Pop Up Gardens will follow CDC-recommended guidelines. The health and safety requirements will evolve and adapt to the changing needs of guests, staff, and community. The most current information on hours, menu, safety guidelines, inclement weather plans, and more, click here.
Suburbanites looking for gardens closer to home can find them in Norristown and Abington Township. PHS will open the Green Resource Center in Norristown’s Farm Park. The 2.5 acre area along Germantown Pike will be filled with newly-planted trees, shrubs, pollinating gardens and more than 900 herbaceous plants, as well as plots for community gardening. Neighbors are encouraged to use the park to walk, jog, and socialize. Programs about growing and sharing healthy food will be held in the Park when it’s safe to do so. Meadowbrook Farm, a 25-acre garden in Abington Township, will re-open on April 14. Free, timed tickets are available starting on April 1 at https://phsonline.org/locations/phs-meadowbrook-farm.
Proceeds from the gardens help fund PHS programs that impact 250 neighborhoods such as LandCare, which creates healthier living environments through vacant lot cleanup and Harvest, which combats food insecurity by providing access to fresh, healthy food. By coming to the gardens or becoming a member of PHS, visitors facilitate the work PHS does throughout the Philadelphia region.
By Irene Levy Baker, author, 100 Things To Do In Philadelphia and Unique Eats & Eateries of Philadelphia. 100 Things includes well-known sights and hidden gems that even long-time locals may not know about, and tips. Unique Eats tells the sweet and spicy stories behind Philadelphia area restaurants. Both books include the city, surrounding suburbs and South Jersey. Planning a staycation? Get signed copies of books at www.100ThingsToDoInPhiladelphia.com. For free shipping, use promo code TheCityPulse. Click here for more blog postings by Irene Levy Baker including articles about fun and safe things we CAN do in the Philadelphia region.