The story of Robertson’s Flowers began with Taylor’s great-great-grandfather, a landscaper for estates in Chestnut Hill. After purchasing a property on Germantown Avenue to store equipment, Taylor’s great-grandmother started selling flowers during the Great Depression. It was during this time that she and her siblings truly established Robertson’s as a florist rather than a landscaper.
Robertson’s Flowers established strong relationships within the tight-knit Chestnut Hill community, receiving personal thank-you letters after delivering arrangements for special occasions. Generations later, customers will often come in for a wedding consultation and share how the flower shop played a role in their parents’ and even grandparents’ weddings, and what an honor it is to continue the tradition.
For Taylor, growing up in and around the floral shop felt like one big family. Of course, his family was always around working, but many employees had children or relatives of their own who were employed by Robertson’s Flowers.
Events Manager David Brinks began working with Robertson’s Flowers after graduating from college with a degree in psychology. His best friend’s mom worked at the flower shop for most of her life and mentioned there was a need for decorators. Seven years later, David is proud and passionate about the artistic work he gets to do, especially for events like the Philadelphia Flower Show.
Robertson’s Flowers was a part of the Philadelphia Flower Show over 100 years ago, when the largest states would have their gardeners propagate something special out of season to display at the show. Less about artistic ability, this show began as a way to prove how much of a green thumb you had by getting something to bloom at the perfect time.
While the people are the most cherished part of Robertson’s Flowers’ history, artifacts are physical representations of its rich story and success. For instance, Taylor admires a medalion from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society given to George Robertson on December 17, 1901. It’s not only a great piece of history, but also a beautiful connection to the community and the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show.
This year, for the Flower Show, David and the design team are constructing a love letter to the roots of Robertson’s Flowers, from the people working there to those familiar with the store in Chestnut Hill. Whether they are lifelong customers, employees, or community members who remember passing by the storefront as a child or an adult, everyone will feel a heartfelt sense of nostalgia. Onlookers will recognize the exhibit as a walk through time, with multiple generations and decades represented through the windowpanes of Robertson’s Flowers.
While the display will show the roots of Robertson’s Flowers and Chestnut Hill, it will also feature the roots of the designers and employees who have made the business what it is today. For David, his goal is to build a playground for all the designers to do their thing, highlight what makes them unique, experiment with their style, and be a genuine artist. It’s a testament to how Roberton’s Flowers operates: everyone brings something special to the table, is a valued part of the business, and has their own piece to share.
So much of what makes Robertson’s Flowers what it is today is who it is, which is all the incredible people who work at the shop, continuing the decades of success, quality, customer service, and community.
For Taylor, growing up in and around the floral shop felt like one big family. Of course, his family was always around working, but many employees had children or relatives of their own who were employed by Robertson’s Flowers.
Robertson’s Flowers was a part of the Philadelphia Flower Show over 100 years ago, when the largest states would have their gardeners propagate something special out of season to display at the show. Less about artistic ability, this show began as a way to prove how much of a green thumb you had by getting something to bloom at the perfect time.