The Amazon Garden, designed by Brian Robinson, featured a real waterfall!

A pineapple plant!

The theme of the 2012 Macy’s Flower Show was Brasil: Gardens in Paradise, and master horticulturalists and display artists transformed the inside of a temporary white tent into a South American wonderland that lives up to the name. Each section of the interior reflected the style and indigenous plantlife of a different region of Brazil, from Copacabana to Ipanema. The working indoor waterfall and 8 foot tall flower-clad toucan topiary were the obvious crowdpleasers but we were especially fond of the “Rio Rooftop Garden” featuring a roof planted with bromeliads and the elegant “Conservatory Garden” encased in glass. We’re not gonna lie though – the topiary monkey hiding out in the trees was up there on our list too.

The Rio Rooftop Garden, designed by Sandra Waddacor and Nicola Stone-Chang, offers showgoers a simulated experience of what Rio de Janeiro might look like from a gorgeous elevated vantage point. The highlight of this display was the rustic “lean-to” roof planted with grass, sedum, moss, and bromeliads.

We couldn’t help but feel some pangs of jealousy when we came upon the Jardim Botanico/Conservatory Garden, the last stop in the Flower Show. Designed by James Morgan, the greenhouse-like nook is an intimate floral retreat that looks like the perfect place to curl up with a cup of tea and a good book.

The Macy’s Flower Show ends on Saturday, April 7th, so if you haven’t checked it out yet, don’t miss it!

+ Macy’s Flower Show 2012

1 Comment

berwynbobby April 2, 2012 at 1:56 pm

Loved the display in Philadelphia the day after we saw the tent in New York City. You tube pictures of the Chicago display showed a more formal room-like presentation. We’d love to see Minneapolis and San Francisco in person during the displays, but hope someone will be kind enough to show us more You Tube views. GREAT CONCEPT! –Rob & Roy, Philadelphia