Beautiful!

Yeah, Another Blogger

I tip my hat to the Philadelphia Horticultural Society (PHS), for it is the producer and director of the wonderful Philadelphia Flower Show, an event first staged in 1829 when PHS was two years old, and mounted almost every year since then. I’m very much into the show, something that wasn’t always the case. Pre-2016 I pooh-poohed it, certain that I’d have zero interest in its presentations were I to attend. Which only goes to prove I truly can be a dumb f*ck.

Anyway, in 2016 I woke up a little and decided to give the exhibition a shot. That year, I went with my wife Sandy to the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the show’s downtown-Philadelphia home, and was wowed. I’ve now been to seven editions of the extravaganza, most recently on the first Friday of this month. Though possibly not quite as enthralling as last year’s version, the 2026 flower show, which ran for nine days, damn well was more than good enough. Imaginative horticultural displays (from local, national and international exhibitors) abounded. Proof of the event’s high quality is that I more or less forgot I was inside a monstrously huge, cement-floored venue that in and of itself is completely devoid of charm. For two hours, Sandy and I wandered from one display to another, doubling back and circling around to re-examine the sights. And then, sated, we bade farewell to the show, exited the building, and disappeared into the fast-approaching night.

It’s too late in the game for PHS to change the name of the show. But theoretically it wouldn’t be a bad idea, because, for decades and decades probably, numerous displays have not been flower-centric. That is, other forms of flora (non-flowering trees, shrubs, vines, you name it) also have starred. And man-made elements, some as whimsical as can be, have raised the excitement and enticement levels of countless exhibits considerably.

Still, the display that grabbed me the most this year was all flowers: a wedge-shaped bed of, primarily, tulips. Its creator — Jacques Amand International, a British firm — arranged the tulips by color groups, all of them snazzy. Man, the energy radiated by this exhibit was palpable. The flowers were bursting with life, proud of their vibrant hues and eager to share their happiness with members of the human race. I soaked up the tulips’ good vibes and good will while hungrily looking them over. They were just so beautiful.

You never know when you’ll encounter beauty that takes your breath away. And in our troubled world, we need as much beauty of that sort as we can get. The tulips certainly did that to me. As did many passages in Baumgartner, a novel (by the late Paul Auster) that I read this year. A writing machine for decades, pumping out novels, memoirs, essays, poems and screenplays like there was no tomorrow, Auster passed away in 2024, about six months after Baumgartner was published. And so, strictly by chance, the first Auster novel I read turns out to have been his last.

I whole-heartedly recommend Baumgartner. It tells the tale of one Seymour (Sy) Baumgartner, a retired philosophy professor, age 70 when the book begins. Sy’s world was upended by the accidental death of his wife Anna, the utmost love of his life, some years earlier. At book’s start, he has yet to recover. As the next couple of years unfold, though, Sy begins to make headway as he thinks back upon his life, gaining not only insights into himself but also an expanded appreciation for Anna’s abilities and talents. Slowly, a meaningful future opens up.

Auster’s use of language is enviable. Throughout the novel, his word choices and their rhythms and flows often stunned me, the first time a book affected me this way since I don’t know when. Such as this passage from early on in the story:

It is the trope Baumgartner has been searching for ever since Anna’s sudden, unexpected death ten years ago, the most persuasive and compelling analogue to describe what has happened to him since that hot, windy afternoon in August 2008 when the gods saw fit to steal his wife from him in the full vigor of her still youthful self, and just like that, his limbs were ripped off his body, all four of them, arms and legs together at the same time, and if his head and heart were spared from the onslaught, it was only because the perverse, snickering gods had granted him the dubious right to go on living without her. He is a human stump now, a half man who has lost the half of himself that had made him whole, and yes, the missing limbs are still there, and they still hurt, hurt so much that he sometimes feels his body is about to catch fire and consume him on the spot.

See what I mean? Auster truly had a way with words. Beautiful!

93 thoughts on “Beautiful!”

  1. Lynette d'Arty-Cross's avatar Lynette d'Arty-Cross March 17, 2026 / 12:40 am

    Thanks for the review of Baumgartner. I hadn’t heard of it before but am now interested. You probably know that in English the German “baum gartner” means “tree gardener” which fits in perfectly with your visit to the flower show that also includes “other forms of flora.” What a marvellous segue from flowers to books, Neil.

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger March 17, 2026 / 3:51 pm

      Hi there. I’d never read anything by Auster before. However, years ago I saw two movies he wrote the screenplays for: Smoke; Blue In The Face. I liked them a lot.

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  2. Audrey Driscoll's avatar Audrey Driscoll March 17, 2026 / 12:43 am

    I like those tulip displays too, Neil. Can’t say the same for the ones with non-plant material and coloured lighting. But the whole show sounds like a treat for the eyes.

    Agree with you about the paragraph you quote from Baumgartner.

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  3. gabychops's avatar gabychops March 17, 2026 / 1:19 am

    Wonderful, Neil, that you have discovered the profound truth in the words of the last gardener of Aleppo: “Flowers are the essence of the world.” The tulips are beautiful! Thank you for the recommendation of the book. I certainly will look it up!

    Joanna

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger March 17, 2026 / 3:58 pm

      Flowers definitely make the world a better place. I’m looking forward to flowering trees opening up in my area in spring.

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  4. swabby429's avatar swabby429 March 17, 2026 / 3:48 am

    Thank you for sharing pictures of the stunning displays. I’m especially fond of tulips, so I’m glad you included them. I’m intrigued by the artistic uses of man-made media to add variety.

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  6. Paddy Tobin's avatar Paddy Tobin March 17, 2026 / 5:06 am

    Oh, I envy you the visit to the Philadelphia Flower Show and we are half contemplating a run across to Amsterdam to visit the Keukenhof for the annual display of bulbs, mainly tulips. On a rather more note, Baumgartner’s book is one which would interest me though it strikes me as being more than a little sad. At our age, it is something which has crossed my mind regularly, the thought and fear of losing my loved one.

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      • Paddy Tobin's avatar Paddy Tobin March 17, 2026 / 4:46 pm

        Believe it or not, we’ve done it as a day trip!

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  7. richardbist's avatar richardbist March 17, 2026 / 6:19 am

    Thanks for the great write up of the PHS. I’ve never attended one (or had the opportunity to attend one), so this was the next best thing! Some great photos, as well.

    I haven’t read Auster, but your brief review has piqued my interest. Thanks for the recommendation.

    Have a great day, my friend.

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  9. Helen Devries's avatar Helen Devries March 17, 2026 / 6:21 am

    I’ll order the book.

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  10. Yvonne Beumkes's avatar Yvonne Beumkes March 17, 2026 / 6:42 am

    Auster’s words are not only beautiful but so confronting, so intense. Thanks for recommending his work.
    The flower show seems wonderful .Tulips are such gorgeous flowers. Keep well.

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  11. Emma's avatar Emma March 17, 2026 / 6:51 am

    Beautiful, both the flowers and the extract (which is stunningly powerful).

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  12. debscarey's avatar debscarey March 17, 2026 / 6:58 am

    I just love tulips, having fallen in love with them when visiting the gardens at Keukenhof in Holland with a party of clients. Prior to that visit, I’d paid gardens and all things floral absolutely no mind. I’d still rather have a bunch of tulips than roses any day.

    I’ve not read any Auster and that book does sound beautiful. I’ve read some mixed reviews, but I wonder how many of those who did not “get” the book were too young to understand the practice of remembering and reminiscing for those of us in later years.

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  13. The Introverted Bookworm's avatar The Introverted Bookworm March 17, 2026 / 7:26 am

    Wow, what spectacular photos! I haven’t read any Auster, but after reading your post, I’m very curious. That wedge-shaped bed of tulips is stunning! Thanks for sharing🌷

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger March 17, 2026 / 4:23 pm

      We found the tulip display at the show not long before exiting. I’m really glad we found it. It was the best thing there.

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  15. JOYCE HAMILTON's avatar JOYCE HAMILTON March 17, 2026 / 7:57 am

    Beautiful shots of the gorgeous flowers! I haven’t gone in a few years but with your description l must attend again. Good review of book.

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  16. Unknown's avatar Anonymous March 17, 2026 / 8:13 am

    Flowers have a magical ability to cut through our darkest moods…Thanks also for the book recommendation!

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger March 17, 2026 / 4:26 pm

      “Flowers have a magical ability to cut through our darkest moods.” — I totally agree.

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  17. J P's avatar J P March 17, 2026 / 8:20 am

    I tend to be more like your pre-2016 self. But I have decided that while I despise lawn and garden work, I do enjoy floral displays that others have labored on, so perhaps I should reconsider avoiding such shows in my area. Your photos are fabulous!

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  18. Robert Parker's avatar Robert Parker March 17, 2026 / 9:29 am

    Wow, looks spectacular. I can’t believe this is all indoors. It’s still snowing where I live, I’m traveling right now and skated out of Chicago right before they canceled 1,000 flights — this plant show would be a great respite. ( Do they allow overnight camping?)

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  19. Bitchy After 60's avatar Bitchy After 60 March 17, 2026 / 9:58 am

    The flower show looks lovely. A cheerful way to spend a day this time of the year.
    Also, I do love a well-written book and Baumgarter appears to be one. Thanks for the recommendation.

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  21. Rosaliene Bacchus's avatar Rosaliene Bacchus March 17, 2026 / 11:28 am

    Neil, I’m so glad that you and Sandy made it to the show again this year. Stunning! My kinda place to get lost for hours 😀

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  22. John W. Howell's avatar John W. Howell March 17, 2026 / 11:29 am

    A way with words, indeed. A lovely look at the show and Paul Auster’s book, Neil. Thank you.

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  23. liliannemilgrom's avatar liliannemilgrom March 17, 2026 / 12:05 pm

    Thanks for the daisies and the book review!

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  24. shoreacres's avatar shoreacres March 17, 2026 / 12:06 pm

    Some of the displays at shows like this are a bit much for me, but those tulips! I grew up about twenty-five miles from Pella, Iowa: a truly Dutch town that has it all, including windmills, canals, and an annual tulip festival that may be smaller than some of the grandest ones in Holland or Michigan, but that still has the ability to stun with its beauty.

    A different memory: our high school band always marched in their Tulip Time parade, and we sure enough wore wooden shoes! I still order sweets from a Pella bakery at Christmas time, and I still pause at grocery store tulips, since they’re almost impossible to grow here. We’re too warm for them.

    I really enjoyed your photos; I’m glad you’ve made visiting the show a new tradition!

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  25. mariezhuikov's avatar mariezhuikov March 17, 2026 / 12:22 pm

    It’s this time of year when we crave greenery. I’m glad you were able to see such special displays.

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  26. talebender's avatar talebender March 17, 2026 / 12:50 pm

    I love those long, long sentences that never stray off their subject, like both those in the Auster excerpt. As writers, I expect we both know how difficult they can be to pull off.

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  27. joylennick's avatar joylennick March 17, 2026 / 1:40 pm

    Hola Neil,

    Thank you for the eloquent words and photographs re the beautifiul flower display, and the tragedy of Baumgartner. I had the pleasure of witnessing the striking show of Dutch tulips many years ago. The right Words and flowers make good allies! Happy hunting! Take care. Best wishes. Joy xx

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  28. unionhomestead's avatar unionhomestead March 17, 2026 / 2:06 pm

    It’s nice to give a bit of space to the good stuff when there’s so much of the other lurking at the moment. Thanks

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  29. Paula B's avatar Paula B March 17, 2026 / 2:24 pm

    This post inspired me. For some reason I’ve never been compelled to go to a flower show, and I’m beginning to see that that’s remarkably close-minded. There are some incredibly beautiful (I hear) gardens near me and I need to start by visiting them! Thank you for the reminder.

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  31. Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter's avatar Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter March 17, 2026 / 2:46 pm

    I think our interests mellow as we grow older and we find that things we once despised actually have a lot of merit! I would have found something like this boring at one time but now enjoy visiting gardens and flower displays.

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger March 17, 2026 / 4:57 pm

      There’s a fabulous place in Philadelphia called the Morris Arboretum. i haven’t been there in nine or ten years. It’s time to go back!

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  32. Laurie Graves's avatar Laurie Graves March 17, 2026 / 3:57 pm

    Only one word will do: Wowsah! Those tulips are dazzling. I was also taken with the roots display (sculpture?)and was moved by what Arana wrote about roots. Too often, those at the top have tried to deny minorities pride and joy in their own roots. It happened in Maine with Franco-Americans, where even language was denied. And it sure as shoot is still happening today. Maybe even worse. Finally, Paul Auster was a master writer.

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  34. Diana L Forsberg's avatar Diana L Forsberg March 17, 2026 / 4:44 pm

    It looked like a wonderful flower show–something I have always enjoyed. And I would have been drawn to the tulips too. They scream spring! We all need these types of things in life to survive the darkness right now. And I can understand how tastes change over time–probably due largely to a lifetime of experiences that push us in new and hopefully wonderful directions. For instance, I never liked poetry when I was younger, but now, I have a greater appreciation for it . . . not that I actually understand some of what I read. Anyhow, thanks for the book review and the wonderful photos!

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger March 17, 2026 / 5:40 pm

      Hi. Those tulips were full of energy. It was impossible not to like them. Thanks for adding your thoughts. Appreciated!

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  35. viviennelingard's avatar viviennelingard March 17, 2026 / 6:05 pm

    Good post on both subjects. Beautiful tulips. And a good intro to an author I’ve not read, yet. Thanks you.

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  36. Suzanne's avatar Suzanne March 17, 2026 / 6:20 pm

    Wonderful blooms to cheer us along. Well, as a side note, a few of our basketball team went to the USA on a short tour to watch a few NBA games, they were very positive about the trip, how friendly everyone was and never did they once feel unsafe. All in all, they loved the trip. Another positive thing.

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  37. Unknown's avatar Anonymous March 18, 2026 / 11:35 am

    Gorgeous tulips. That color!

    Glad you included the review too. Will check out “Baumgartner.” Really enjoyed Auster’s “Moon Palace” and “Brooklyn Follies.”

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  38. Geoff Stamper's avatar Geoff Stamper March 18, 2026 / 1:07 pm

    A flower show since 1829 impresses me. The territory of Washington came into existence in 1853 and the famous Skagit Valley Tulip Festival was inaugurated in 1984.

    Your Auster excerpt reminds me not to call myself a writer!

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  39. Joni's avatar Joni March 18, 2026 / 6:36 pm

    The tulips look lovely! And the book sounds interesting.

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  40. kegarland's avatar kegarland March 18, 2026 / 6:40 pm

    Sounds like Auster had some experience with the topic of losing one’s wife to death. Otherwise, I’m not sure how he could write with such vivid detail about this. Well, other than pure imagination, I suppose.

    The tulips are very pretty. Like one of your other subscribers, I’ve seen tulips in The Netherlands at the tail end of the season. It was really wondrous.

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  41. Alyson's avatar Alyson March 18, 2026 / 7:14 pm

    I do love a flower show and those tulips are gorgeous. Did my first spot of Spring gardening today and the leaves are through but no actual tulips yet – will be another month probably but eagerly await them and planted randomly so won’t be in block colour like those above, but will be a nice surprise!

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  42. Unknown's avatar Anonymous March 18, 2026 / 10:14 pm

    “Gather ye tulips while ye may,

    And read some Auster along the way.“

    —Cindy

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  43. Unknown's avatar Anonymous March 19, 2026 / 2:08 pm

    Both your flower pics and your reading recommendation are beautiful, Neil.

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  44. Michele Anderson's avatar Michele Anderson March 20, 2026 / 8:07 pm

    Aww, I love those flowers! I agree, we need all the beauty in this world we can get, and nature is it–especially in the form of flowers. Wow, what a writer Auster was. I’ll have to look into that book.

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  45. selizabryangmailcom's avatar selizabryangmailcom March 21, 2026 / 12:04 am

    A very raw and visceral way to describe grief. You’re right about Astor’s writing chops. I can read about water boiling, happily, as long as the writer has a flare for words, so this sounds like a winner!

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