Video: Saul students create Hawaiian ‘Canoe Garden’ for Philadelphia Flower Show

Students from Roxborough’s W.B. Saul High School are showing off their Hawaiian spirit at the Philadelphia International Flower Show this week. The exhibit, which sits among 10 acres of exotic plant and flower display space at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, revolves around this year’s theme, “Hawaii: Islands of Aloha”. 

Juniors and seniors from the Henry Avenue school participate annually. This year, students built a “Canoe Garden” depicting different species of plants that the Polynesians settlers brought to the island.

Saul’s landscape design class researched Hawaiian history, the construction class built the structures within the exhibit and the greenhouse class took care of the plants, but all three participating classes spent the week before opening day putting it together.

Landscape design teacher Barbara Brown says she’s proud of the work they’ve done. 

“This is different for us,” said Brown. “I’m thrilled. These are plants that we’re not used to, in a part of the world that none of us have even seen before.” 

Last year, Saul students made a visual connection between Philadelphia and Paris in their “Springtime in Paris” display. 

The Philadelphia International Flower Show runs through March 11 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Tickets range from $15 to $27.