From the May 11, 2005 edition of the Northeast News Gleaner Colors bloom at the Northeast’s first annual Flower Show Hundreds visit displays at Deer Meadows By Lauren Fritsky Correspondent A bouquet of color greeted the residents of the Deer Meadows Retirement Community as the complex unveiled a display for their first annual Northeast Philadelphia Flower Show. The show, at 8301 Roosevelt Blvd, opened in the community last week and is open to the public for free until May 12. A conference room was transformed into an enchanted garden to coincide with show’s “Alice in Wonderland” theme. Residents, employees, and volunteers helped work a gift shop, flower sale, and refreshment stand. Children participated in a scavenger hunt and took pictures with costumed characters. Some children even came dressed as Alice, with one child winning a prize for best costume. Liz Harbison, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Deer Meadows, said last Friday, around 500 people had visited the event. Deer Meadows Executive Director Mike Jacobs saw the “Alice I Wonderland” flower show exhibit at a retirement community in Harleysville and quickly set to work on bringing it to Deer Meadows. “We wanted to make a statement to the Northeast community that this is a great community,” he said. “People have certain opinions about retirement communities. This is not some place you come to die” Creative Art Designer Colleen Hart created the sketches for the backdrop, which were then projected onto large canvases. Hart guided employees and residents in painting portions of the sketches, teaching certain brush strokes, but allowing creative leeway. Deer Meadows got the flowers from local produce junctions and shops. Harbison said there was an estimated 50,000 blooms in place that weekend. While the flowers were beautiful, the depictions of Alice and her adventure as well as the careful placement of props related to the story were placed around the exhibit, while live rabbits, guinea pigs and birds scurried in cages. It provided an interesting mix of fantasy and reality. There was also a fishpond where water spouted from a picture of Alice crying. Candles and soft music added a peaceful ambiance to the event. The combination of art with the array of flowers provided an explosion of colors and scents that captivated young and old alike. “I’ve been through here four times already” said resident Olivia Densten. “It’s unbelievable. I was absolutely stunned. Every time I go in there, I see something different.” Resident Mary Stoneback said the show was beautiful, I like it better than the one downtown because it was made with human hands,” she said. Keaira Faulks, 10, walked through the exhibit with her siblings, grandmother, and mother who works at Deer Meadows. “I like the paintings,” she said after posing for a picture with Alice. “It looks like the movie.” “This is really nice,” said her grandmother, Sheila Smith, “It’s giving me ideas for my home garden.” “They’ve been having some pretty good things around here,” said employee Lindita Braimillari, “but this is amazing.” Resident Grace Ellison worked in the gift shop, which sold flowers and plants as well as “Alice in Wonderland” items. “It’s wonderful,” she said of the show. “It was lots of hard work. I now Colleen is great.” Northeast High School junior and drama student Ryann Tisdale played Alice for the show. “They asked me to do it because I have a perky personality,” she said. Tisdale enjoyed her time at Deer Meadows so much that she applied to be a volunteer. Students from all grades in area schools also participated in an “Alice in Wonderland” drawing contest. Their artwork was displayed in the hallways throughout the building. “This was an event that came from the heart,” said Harbison. “We opened our hearts to the community and we will continue to do so.” The event truly was a community effort, combining resources and talents from area schools and businesses, as well as Deer Meadows residents employees and their friends and family members. Students from Northeast, Lincoln, and Franklin Town Charter high schools, J. Hampton Moore and Thomas Holme elementary schools, and Valley Christian School helped create the display. Deer Meadow Executive Administrative Assistant Debra Murphy was responsible for getting the schools to participate. She contacted the art, drama, and horticulture departments at Northeast and Lincoln high schools, who then brought dozens of students to help set up the show. “They were happy to do it,” she said. “They know exactly what I was telling them to do. They did a good job. Hopefully next year we’ll get more.” Both Harbison and Murphy agreed that deciding who to ask for help with the flower show was difficult, because it was hard to explain what they needed. “A lot of phone calls were made,” said Murphy. “It was a learning experience.” Many of the supplies were donated and much of the work was volunteered. According to Harbison, transforming the bland conference room into colorful and detailed display took five weeks, during which the team worked everyday. “We wanted to get it done in time for Mother’s Day,” she said. Jacobs said the flower show committee will begin planning for next year’s show in June. They are keeping the future theme a secret. The flower show coincides with Deer Meadows’ Eden concept, which involves bringing the outside world into the community. The animals in the exhibit are usually kept in a designated area where residents can enjoy them. Deer Meadow was originally founded in 1869 as The Baptist Home of Philadelphia. For more information call 215-624-7575.