Claude Thompson

It took only 40 days for the European Parliament to give its final nod to a legal package simplifying farm subsidies – a record for reforming a such major policy area.

The plan was presented to EU lawmakers in mid-March by the European Commission, in a bid to cut red tape and reduce certain green conditions in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Officials hoped that would appease farmers who have protested across Europe since the end of last year, complaining about red tape and poor incomes.

A majority of the parliament backed the package in a vote in Strasbourg on Wednesday (24 April), during the last plenary session of the legislative mandate – despite left-wing opposition from lawmakers including the Greens and some socialist MEPs.

The streamlined procedure that made that record speed possible was agreed on by Belgium, currently leading talks among governments in the EU Council, and Norbert Lins (Germany/European People’s Party), chair of the Parliament’s agriculture committee.

That fast-tracking has also generated criticism – as it didn’t allow time for any debate either in Parliament’s committee or plenary session.

In a move that some see as still more problematic, to save time, lawmakers ceded their prerogative of tabling amendments, meaning they had to swallow the Commission’s proposal whole.

Given the rush, the EU executive presented its proposal after just one week of public consultation, and with no formal analysis of the economic impact it would have.

“What’s outrageous from a legal perspective is the blatant incompatibility of the revision with the CAP’s own rules, as well as other EU laws – like the European Climate Law,” said Sarah Martin, lawyer for the environmental organisation ClientEarth.

A legal analysis by ClientEarth says the lack of climate assessment automatically puts the proposal in breach of EU law, and the lobby group says it’s considering a complaint to the EU ombudsman Emily O’Reilly, who’s responsible for probing maladministration in EU institutions.

In a confidential legal opinion obtained by the food and farming platform ARC2020 and seen by Euronews, the Parliament’s legal services defended the choice of not carrying out an impact assessment “given the intensity of the recent farmers’ protests” which constitutes “an urgent situation”.

Killing the CAP’s green architecture

The package gives further flexibility to farmers, for instance providing exemptions from on-the-spot checks for farms under 10 hectares – a carveout that will affect around two thirds of beneficiaries.

But the new rules will also make it voluntary to comply with many of the green measures previously deemed mandatory for those receiving EU money.

This means in practice a partial dismantling of the CAP’s green architecture – particularly the measures on soil cover, leaving a small percentage of land to nature, and crop rotation.

It also raises a question mark over how much the EU’s emergency response to protesting farmers will cost the climate – something many green lobby groups are exercised about.

“Today, the European Parliament has given in to the fake narrative that opposes the environment to agriculture, when evidence shows that they depend on each other,” said Marta Messa, secretary general for Slow Food.

“Farmers cannot produce food without thriving nature, and profit cannot be made when crops are lost in floods, droughts, or fires aggravated by climate change,” said Marilda Dhaskali from BirdLife Europe.

EU’s farmers association Copa Cogeca – one of the main proponents of the reform – said in a statement that the new rules will provide more leeway in implementing the CAP while safeguarding the transition towards more sustainable agriculture.

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The lobby group hailed the reform as a positive signal to urgently address concerns raised by farmers in recent months, citing the need for immediately applicable solutions.

PHILADELPHIA — The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is excited to share its forecast for the top trends emerging from the 2024 Philadelphia Flower Show, “United by Flowers.” 

The Flower Show has a long history as a globally recognized stage on which innovative floral designers, garden designers, and gardeners can showcase breathtaking and risk-taking creations. In its long history, the Flower Show has been credited with being the platform to show the newest plant introductions and the birthplace of global industry trends. A prime example is the first American showing of the now much beloved poinsettia in 1829 during the inaugural Flower Show.

In its 195th year, “United by Flowers” highlighted a variety of new trends in flowers, houseplants, landscapes, and floral event design, which PHS is sure will dominate in the coming years across the gardening and floral industries.

“The Philadelphia Flower Show provides a platform for some of the world’s most renowned designers and growers to highlight the best and newest ideas in the industry. This serves as a source of inspiration and joy for our visitors. These displays often reflect up-and-coming industry trends that are then incorporated by gardeners, landscapers, and florists of all levels, around the globe,” said PHS VP and Creative Director of the Flower Show, Seth Pearsoll.

For the full list of trends identified at the 2024 Flower Show, please see below. 

2024 Flower Show Trends 

Trending House Plants: Aroids, Begonias, Gesneriads, and Terrariums 

The 2024 Philadelphia Flower Show displays thousands of plants each year in its plant competition housed at the PHS Hamilton Horticourt – the competitive plant and flower area within the event. Among them, these 3 types of plants and terrariums reigned supreme in addition to being incorporated into many of the large-scale exhibits.

Aroids such as Philodendron, Amorphophallus, Monstera, and Anthurium continued in popularity. All these plants had individual categories in the Flower Show’s competitive classes and excellent participation, reflecting a still growing interest in this plant family.

Begonias saw a surge of public interest with more begonias displayed, along with a wide array of rare begonias such as Begonia pteridifolium and Begonia montaniformis.

Gesneriads, the flowering plant family most popularly known for including African violets, also saw a tremendous growth including Streptocarpus, Sinningia, Petrocosmia, Primulina, and Kohleria.

Terrariums saw an explosion in popularity at the 2024 Flower Show. This approach to growing plants can accommodate a wide array of plant groups including gesneriads, ferns, and carnivorous plants. They are prized for their eye-catching container designs and the wide variety of style options can make them low maintenance, eye catching, and approachable for all levels of gardening experience.

Landscape Trends

Rewilding of land is a gardening and landscape trend on the rise in 2024, especially the rewilding of urban areas. Rewilding helps to increase biodiversity and restore the natural processes of an ecosystem by reducing or ceasing human activity and reintroducing plant and animal species to take over a space naturally. This trend was well-represented at the 2024 Flower Show in Kelly Norris’ exhibit “A Beautiful Disturbance,” which featured a vacant lot overtaken by plants, as well as Apiary Studios’ exhibit, “Right of Way” which celebrated the plants and wildlife found on highway roadsides.

Floral Event Design Trends

Hyper-locally sourced cut-flowers are another trend identified at the 2024 Flower Show. Jennifer Designs’ exhibit, which depicted a breathtaking floral map of the United States and celebrated how we are all connected through flowers and gardens, utilized hyper-local cut flowers to color-code the floral map according to USDA hardiness zones. The use of locally sourced cut-flowers in this display has shed light on the carbon footprint of mass-grown imported flowers.

Virtual gardens use mixed media, projection, and photography depicting gardens, flowers, and plants, together with physical flowers. This connotes a rise in popularity of incorporating virtual mediums to create an immersive floral experience for guests. 

Table-top topiaries and arrangements provide pops of color, texture, and unique shape throughout an event space or floral display.

Floral Trends: Color, scale, shape, and structure

Monotone, bold neon colors (especially orange and pink) and color-blocking. This use of simplified yet striking and bold colors can already start to be seen across the floral industry and in many floral event settings.

Large scale, statement floral sculptures and arrangements that are focal points are taking place over the previous preference for many smaller clusters of florals.

Organic materials like fruits and vegetables will be included in arrangements and designs, providing a bit of whimsy.

Organic shapes, particularly from 3-D printers and the use of untraditional mediums such as concrete will allow designers to display stunning and organic shapes and masses, using natural materials such as moss, grass, and foliage, reflecting the idea of the “no flower-flower arrangement.”

Anthurium in unique, vibrant colors that are both natural and created will provide an eye-catching addition to arrangements, sculptures, and floral displays.

The Philadelphia Flower Show is one of Philadelphia’s greatest traditions and a harbinger of the spring season. The Show aims to provide joy, inspiration, and education to guests, and it showcases the unique design voices of some of the world’s most impressive, cutting-edge garden, landscape, and floral professionals. These stunning designs and plants reflect up-and-coming trends within the floral and horticultural industries, that all levels of gardener — from professional to plant-curious—can take inspiration from to inspire their own homes and gardens.

To stay up to date with the Philadelphia Flower Show, please sign up for updates on our website phsonline.org/the-flower-show.  

ABOUT THE PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW 
The award-winning PHS Philadelphia Flower Show is the nation’s largest, and the world’s longest-running horticultural event and features stunning displays by some of the world’s premier floral and landscape designers. Started in 1829 by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the Show introduces diverse and sustainable plant varieties and garden and design concepts. In addition to acres of garden displays, the Flower Show hosts world-renowned competitions in horticulture and artistic floral arranging, gardening presentations and demonstrations, and special events.  

ABOUT PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), an internationally recognized nonprofit organization founded in 1827, uses horticulture to advance the health and well-being of the Greater Philadelphia region. PHS programs create healthier living environments, increase access to fresh food, expand access to jobs and economic opportunity, and strengthen deeper social connections between people. PHS’s work spans 250 neighborhoods; an expansive network of public gardens and landscapes; year-round learning experiences; and the nation’s signature gardening event, the Philadelphia Flower Show. PHS provides everyone with opportunities to garden for the greater good as a participant, member, donor, or volunteer. 

–Philadelphia Flower Show
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society