Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Unveils Tropical-themed Pop Up Garden

When it comes to its Pop Up Garden projects, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society brings its A-game: Last year’s earthy, bucolic Pop Up Garden at 313 S. Broad Street garnered 28,000 visitors in the summer and early fall. And, if you can believe it, another 2,000 moseyed on over in their best sub-freezing, Polar Vortex fashion in February for a temporary re-opening leading up to the Flower Show.

For the 2014 summer months through October 12, PHS has transformed the Kenny Gamble-owned vacant lot at 1438-46 South St. into what it’s touting as an urban paradise –a refreshing oasis from Philly’s searing macadam. The design of the lot comes courtesy of David Fierabend and his landscaping connoisseurs at Groundswell Design Group, who also designed last year’s Pop Up Garden and are responsible for the green-‘em-up makeovers at Morgan’s Pier and CHOP, as well as the Rittenhouse Reclaimed and Spruce Street Harbor Park projects. This year’s green space is the fourth entry in the PHS Pop Up Garden series.

Here’s the 411: Visitors and passersby will be greeted with palm trees (yes, actual palm trees – no dollar-store plastic to be found here), hammocks and glittering lights, that combine to  transcend the surrounding concrete. Other perks: a list of beers and cocktails that run the tropical gamut, a rotating brigade of food trucks, live acoustic sets and a lineup of authentic authentic dishes served by Jamaican Jerk Hut.

Pop on by the garden on Tuesday, July 8 at 5:30pm for a special grand opening. The garden will be open seven days a week through October 12. All proceeds from the Pop Up Garden support PHS and its City Harvest program, which aims to bring together community-garden do-gooders, who raise crops for more than 1,200 families-in-need each week. Pop on over to PHSOnline.org  for hours and  activities happening in the months ahead.

July 8, 5:30pm, Garden admission free; food and beverages may be purchased on site, 15^th and South streets