2013 Philadelphia Flower Show

"JACK" by Schaffer Designs

2013 Best in Show - Floral Design Award

and

Society of American Florists Award

The notorious legend unfolds.

Last week, I had the pleasure of working with the award-winning husband-wife team, Bill Schaffer and Kris Kratt, and an amazing group of nearly 30 talented volunteer floral designers from around the United States and England on their major exhibit at the 2013 Philadelphia Flower Show...JACK.
The show previewed on Friday, March 1st, with the theme "Brilliant", paying tribute to all things British. The Schaffer Designs team, known for presenting creatively imaginative displays, once again, does exactly that with their brilliantly cutting-edge depiction of the Jack the Ripper story.

The Bedroom...scene of the crime.

Not your great-grandmother's Victorian garden, this captivating walk-through exhibit takes spectators on an unexpected journey to the dark underground of the Whitechapel neighborhood of London where this notorious figure in British history reportedly killed and dissected his several prostitute-victims.

Eerily shocking...strikingly beautiful.

Damp and dank becomes delightful.

Following nearly a year of thoughtful research, the actual locations and facts surrounding the murders provide the inspiration for the series of rooms and vignettes where color and texture turn the macabre to magnificent.

So vibrant...you can feel it pulsing.

A wide range of innovative design techniques utilizing the latest in industry design products, (ie. Oasis Floral Products, Accent Decor, and FloraCraft) are combined with beautiful flowers, foliage and succulents to create what Bill Schaffer refers to as, "floral theater." Some of the most unique varieties come from growers as far away as Japan and Hawaii. These growers and wholesalers providing exceptional show-quality product include The Elite Bouquet, Rosaprima, Jet Fresh Flowers, Roseville Farms, Amy's Orchids, Green Point Nursery, Fern Trust, Naniwa Flower Auction Co.Naniwa Flower Auction Co., Ltd., Sunburst Farms, Mayesh Wholesale Florist, and DV Flora.