This winter in Eastern Pennsylvania was a colder one than it has been for a few years and is having a lot of people looking forward to spring.

The Philadelphia Flower Show is a great way to get the taste of spring when it’s not quite ready outside. Every year it has a different theme, and this year’s is “Gardens of Tomorrow.”

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society annual show is located in the Philadelphia Convention Center, and there are many parking lots around to pay for parking that are within walking distance of it. The show closes Sunday.

As you enter the event space, a kaleidoscope of colors meets your eyes, the beautiful aromas fill the air, and people are walking around and just taking it in.

Being a photographer, visually it is just stunning.

The vibrant colors and how they are purposely matched together take you on a magical walk, but before I got in too far, I closed my eyes.

The floral scents of spring fill the air. hyacinths, daffodils, tulips, gladiolas, cherry trees and so many others delight the power of smell. As I reopened my eyes, I found myself smiling and was hearing others gasping at the beauty that the flower artists created.

People were posing for selfies, others were having them taken with their friends and families by a stranger to freeze that moment, and many were taking snapshots to enjoy later.

Some of the displays are vast in size, and as I’m enjoying, my brain is wondering how many hours and people it took to put them together. Then thinking of the thought process and sketches that happened to bring them to life as well as the flower choices.

I thought of the non-flower design elements and how they would be tied into the story that piece was going to tell is another aspect they had to think about.

Some displays are on a smaller scale, but thoughtful all the same. Then there were succulents, air plants, trees, pussy willows, bamboo — and the list goes on and on — used in displays and for sale.

There were plants for sale, speakers you can listen to, vendors selling all kinds of products, artists selling their creations and extras that you pay for in addition to the fee to get into the flower show.

Some of those extras were a butterfly encounter, designing a flower crown, and taking some classes. The event is family friendly and has an area for kids to play with Legos and be creative. You decide how long you want the experience to last, an hour or two, or a full day.

Want to take some of that color home with you? Fresh flower bouquets to take home are for sale. You can take as many photos and videos as you want so you can enjoy that experience any time you want.

This annual event has a different theme and is one of the oldest and largest in the country. It started in 1829 and is a week event. To find out more about the event or the society that organizes the event, check out www.phsonline.org or type Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

I never knew this many plants existed, and it’s amazing to see them under one roof.

Sometime, treat yourself to this stunning event.