Monday, November 10, 2025
48 ° Cloudy
48 ° Cloudy
The Trevose Horticultural Society (THS) transformed St. Ephrem Catholic Church in Bensalem into a fragrant celebration of Italy during this year’s annual flower show, “La Dolce Vita”, held August 22 – 23. More than 500 horticultural, artistic, and educational entries filled the space, creating an immersive experience that captured the beauty, history, and cuisine of Italy.
“This flower show has taken place as long as the garden club has been in existence, 102 years,” said Karen Wychock, THS president and longtime chair of the flower show. “It started in 1923, and we’ve had a show every year except one year during World War II and one year because of the pandemic.”
Guests entered the flower show through a staging area designed like a rustic trattoria, complete with a table setting with a large portion of spaghetti.
From there, the exhibits carried visitors on a tour of Italy’s cultural landmarks. Towering pedestal arrangements reimagined the “Leaning Tower of Pisa”. Designers angled massive floral displays to mimic the tower’s famous tilt, while still maintaining balance and elegance. “Those designs needed to have height, a thrust, and that five-degree lean,” Wychock said. “They were massive but striking, just like the real tower.”
In another corner, the glamour of Venice came alive through the “Venetian Carnival” exhibit. Designers crafted ornate masks adorned with dried and fresh plant material, echoing the centuries-old tradition of Venetian masquerades. “Mask-making and mask-wearing are such a big part of Venice’s history,” Wychock said. “This category was very popular; people loved seeing the creativity.”
The still life exhibits brought Italy’s agricultural riches to the forefront. Wychock herself designed a display featuring tomatoes, complete with canning jars and kitchen tools to highlight their culinary role. Other still lifes featured lemons, olives, and grapes, arranged in ways that evoked farm tables in the Italian countryside.
Florists also turned to Rome for inspiration. A class entitled “When in Rome” invited designers to create table settings in the style of a casual Roman trattoria. Wooden chairs, checkered cloths, and simple floral arrangements captured the charm of family-style outdoor dining. “Spectators loved the table designs,” Wychock said. A table setting on dining in Tuscany, connected spectators with the idea of sharing a meal in that setting.
The artistry of Venetian glassmakers inspired the novice class, “Murano Glass”. Using the pavé technique, closely setting plant materials in patterns, designers created displays that shimmered with the same jewel-toned intricacy as Murano’s famous glasswork.
The educational exhibits added depth to the Italian theme. The display, “You Say Tomayto, I Say Tomahto!”, told the story of how tomatoes, though not native to Italy, became central to its cuisine after their introduction in the 16th century. It showcased four tomato varieties beloved in Italian cooking, particularly on pizza.
Another exhibit, “Bel Paese – Beautiful Country,” guided visitors on a gastronomic and horticultural tour of Italy. With maps, flowers, and regional foods, it highlighted the Amalfi Coast’s lemon groves, Florence’s Renaissance gardens, and Rome’s bustling piazzas, tying each place back to the nation’s horticultural and culinary heritage.
In the horticultural competition, members cultivated challenge plants that reflected Italy’s fields and gardens. Sunflowers, basil, and tomatoes, grown from seeds by participants, were judged on vigor and beauty. “Our big theme this year with Italy was the sunflowers,” said Wychock. “Every year we have a challenge class, and this year we picked sunflowers, basil, and tomatoes.”
The show made sure to include young and senior artists as well. Inspired by Italy’s love of pasta, Wychock organized a project using dyed noodles as art supplies. Children and seniors were invited to create floral-themed artwork from pasta shapes, which were displayed in two categories: “Petals and Pasta for Young Sprouts” and “Petals and Pasta for Mature Perennials.”
“We dyed pasta with food coloring and worked with seniors at the Bensalem Senior Center,” Wychock recalled. “The kids did the craft at home, often with their grandparents, and loved it. Some designs looked like flowers, some like snowflakes, and some became whole pictures with skies, houses, and suns.”
During the show, leftover pasta was offered at craft tables, where visitors of all ages strung necklaces or experimented with their own designs. “We had quite a few kids and adults sit down and create,” she said.
Behind the scenes, the event depended on the dedication of the society’s 65 members. Nearly everyone pitched in, from baking for the market table to donating raffle baskets. “In some aspect, about 95 percent of our members helped out,” Wychock said. “Some made gift baskets, some baked, some set up, and others took leadership roles.”
The 40 raffle baskets were especially popular and raised funds to finance THS’s scholarships. “This year we gave two $1,000 scholarships to college students studying horticulture and environmental related subjects,” said Wychock.
Visitors also browsed an expansive market filled with houseplants, perennials, floral arrangements, baked goods, and garden-related flea market items. Bargain hunters and plant lovers alike found treasures to take home.
Overall, the flower show brought the community together. “It’s a free event, and St. Ephrem’s has been very supportive,” Wychock noted. “We get lots of newcomers every year, so each year, we grow a little bit more and get new people involved.”
For Wychock, the theme “La Dolce Vita” reflected not only Italian culture but also the joy of gardening. “To me, ‘La Dolce Vita’, meaning ‘the good life,’ represents gardening, watching things grow, putting your computer down, and getting your hands dirty,” she said.
She hopes visitors left with a renewed appreciation for cultivating beauty, whether on a windowsill or in a backyard. “You can get so much enjoyment from growing something from seeds or nurturing a plant,” she said. “It’s very uplifting and therapeutic.”
Though this year celebrated Italy, next year’s flower show will return closer to home, marking America’s 250th anniversary with a patriotic theme. “You’re going to see a lot of red, white, and blue,” Wychock teased. “But I won’t give away the title just yet. Stay tuned!”
