For Matt Rader, WG’11, leading the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society over the past decade has involved balancing evolution with storied legacy. That same idea carries through this year’s Philadelphia Flower Show — one of the first major public events in the city tied to the United States’ 250th anniversary. Produced by PHS, the show turns attention to the histories and influences that have defined American gardening — and how those practices are carried forward — through its theme, “Rooted: Origins of American Gardening.”
The timing is also significant for PHS, as the organization approaches a milestone of its own in 2027: 200 years since its founding in 1827. Ahead of opening day, Wharton Magazine joined Rader to discuss the Flower Show, the organization’s impact over two centuries, and his reflections on a decade at the helm of one of Philadelphia’s most beloved institutions.
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By Braden Kelner
Posted: February 27, 2026
