WEST WINDSOR, NJ – Mercer County Community College (MCCC) continues to triumph at the Philadelphia Flower Show -- the oldest and largest flower show in the world -- once again taking home the gold medal in the “Education” category for its “Two Cities, One Garden” display at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

MCCC Horticulture students also earned the prestigious Chicago Horticultural Society Flower Show Medal, awarded to an educational exhibit showing outstanding horticultural skill and knowledge in a nationally recognized flower show, and a Special Achievement from the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania which is awarded, if merited, to exhibits of unusual excellence in the education category.

“This is our fourth gold medal since 2017,” said Professor Amy Ricco, coordinator of the college’s Horticulture, Plant Science and Sustainability program. “I am so proud of the hard work, skill and dedication our students have put into this competition. We were up against some very talented schools.”

The challenge given to this year’s “Education” category participants – MCCC’s 11th – was to create gardens that evoke a particular neighborhood in a city or town in the region. “Our inspiration was the vibrant community gardens of both Trenton and Philadelphia,” said Ricco. “We chose to incorporate elements of both cities including an array of vegetables, pollinator plants, and educational features, such as a tool library, that emphasize the importance and accessibility of urban gardening.”

Students began working on the 700-square-foot display, which includes an industrial shipping container, in November. “It is an enormous undertaking that I am happy to experience not only with MCCC students but horticulture adjunct professor David DeFrange as well,” said Ricco. “David’s knowledge and creativity really help bring everything together. It is definitely a team collaboration.”

The Philadelphia Flower Show is organized by the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society and has been in existence since 1892. This year’s show ran from March 2-10, 2024.

For more information about the Mercer County Community College horticulture program, visit mccc.edu/hort.

About Mercer County Community College
Established in 1966, Mercer County Community College is a publicly supported comprehensive institution that provides opportunities for higher education through an open-door admission policy. The scenic 292-acre West Windsor Campus was opened in 1972 to serve the needs of Mercer County residents. MCCC’s James Kerney Campus, located in downtown Trenton, serves as an educational and cultural hub for city residents that meets the changing needs of thousands of students and community members seeking educational fulfillment and personal and career growth. President: Deborah E. Preston, Ph.D.; www.mccc.edu


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