WEST WINDSOR, NJ – Students in Mercer County Community College’s (MCCC) Horticulture Program are going for gold again this year at the Philadelphia Flower Show. With eight medals over nine years – three of them gold – MCCC is looking to keep the winning streak alive this March at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Now in its 195th year, the Philadelphia Flower Show – the oldest and largest indoor flower show in the world – is known for its exquisitely crafted floral exhibits, plant competitions, educational offerings and more. Attracting over 250,000 people annually, the show is a multisensory experience that features immersive creations by premier landscape architects, garden designers, horticulturists, and florists from around the globe. “We are honored to be among the many extraordinarily talented artists who present their designs at the Philadelphia Flower Show,” said Dr. Deborah E. Preston, President. “We love watching our students transfer the skills they learn in the classroom/greenhouse into real-life professional opportunities, especially experiences of this magnitude. The fact that they are educating the community while doing so makes it even more special.”

This year’s Philadelphia Flower Show theme is “United By Flowers,” and will showcase dozens of breathtaking exhibits that celebrate bringing community together through the transformative power of gardening. “We are thrilled to be returning for our 11th year at the Philadelphia Flower Show,” said MCCC Horticulture and Plant Science Professor, Amy Ricco. “It has been wonderful to see students not only from the horticulture program put their heart and souls into our display, but also volunteers from other degree programs who want to be a part of something big. We have really come together as a unified community.”

Students in the award-winning Ornamental Horticulture Program prepare for the show through hands-on classes conducted in two greenhouses and surrounding gardens that teach them aesthetic design, how to care for at least 300 different woody and herbaceous plant specimens, produce and manage greenhouse crops, and practice pest management.

Since November, students have been preparing the 700-square-foot display that includes a variety of vegetables, education about bees and pollinator gardens, and incorporates the concept of food safety as inspired by gardens in the previously industrial cities of Trenton, NJ and North Philadelphia, PA. “We are hoping visitors can visualize what a community garden looks like in an urban environment,” said MCCC Ornamental Horticulture student, Vicky Vega. “It is important to educate the community and encourage them that gardening is achievable and available to everyone all the time. It is not just for suburban or farm land areas.”

Last year, MCCC took home the gold medal in the “Education” category for its “Majestic” display as well as two additional medals and an honorable mention – breaking the College’s previous record. In 2024, as the only major exhibitor from a community college as well as the only school from New Jersey in the major exhibitor category, MCCC aims to beat that record. “The $5,000 donation from the Foundation will help ensure our success,” said Ricco. “The students and I remain eternally grateful for the support from Mercer County Community College, all the Foundation donors, and the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society who make it possible for us to participate.”

The Philadelphia Flower Show will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center from March 2-10, 2024. Tickets can be purchased here. Learn more about the Ornamental Horticulture degree here.

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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MCCC students transferring seedlings in preparation for the show

Amy Ricco, MCCC Horticulture and Plant Science Professor and David DeFrange, MCCC Adjunct Professor