EPA’s Educational Exhibit Recognized at Philadelphia Flower Show

PHILADELPHIA (March 8, 2016) - The E.P.A.'s exhibit at the 2016 Philadelphia Flower Show was acknowledged with 3 prestigious awards. The awards include a Gold Medal Award by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society for the use of Gold Medal plants in a major exhibit and the Alfred M. Campbell Memorial Trophy for a major educational exhibit that demonstrates the most successful use of a variety of plants in a unique fashion. In addition, the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania's Special Achievement Award acknowledged EPA's exhibit for the variety of native plants displayed, their unique use and for unusual excellence.

The theme of the 2016 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show is "Explore America." EPA's exhibit entitled, Preservation and Protection: Saving America's Natural Heritage aligns with the Flower Show theme, which celebrates our National Parks. E.P.A. and the National Park Service both have an important role in protecting habitats and natural resources. Increasing awareness of the significance of wetlands is an important part of EPA's mission. EPA's display highlights the role of wetlands and headwater streams to maintain healthy watersheds and the benefits of native plants.

Wetlands and native plants play a valuable role in not only our National Parks, but in the environment as a whole. For example, they help enhance water quality and reduce shoreline erosion. Wetlands are home to numerous plant species, turtles, frogs, snakes, alligators, and crocodiles, and they provide habitat for waterfowl, fish and mammals, including large animals such as moose and bear that forage wetlands for food. Migrating birds need wetlands to rest, feed and nest during their cross-continental migrations.

EPA's exhibit has splashes of colors, textures and fragrances. It includes pitcher plants, blueberries, larch and a host of other native species adorning a bog. Eastern redbuds, dogwoods, river birch, rhododendron, and azaleas form a buffer to protect the exhibit's stream. The native plants and resource conservation techniques help protect wetlands and valuable aquatic resources downstream.

EPA's Healthy Water's blog on the exhibit: https://blog.epa.gov/blog/category/healthywaters/.
To see photos of the exhibit on Facebook go to: https://www.facebook.com/EPAregion3.

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