The holiday season and the winter months in general have their own unique flavor when it comes to flowers, gardening and natural decorations. While the spring and summer have their vibrant flowers and bright greens and the autumn brings the beautiful colors of changing leaves, the winter months sport evergreen boughs, holly leaves and perhaps most recognizably, poinsettia flowers. Glick’s Greenhouse in Oley, PA runs an annual poinsettia show celebrating these gorgeous blooms, and this year, we got the chance to speak with them about the process!
History at Glick’s Greenhouse
Glick’s Greenhouse is located in Oley Valley. It started out as a business with two small greenhouses in 1973 and has since blossomed over the years into a thriving local staple with 15 greenhouses, a seasonal perennial area and a mum field. Dave Glick and his nephew Joe Glick own and operate the business, and we were able to speak to supervisor Anna Glick about the history of the poinsettia show.
“We’ve been doing the poinsettia show for 45 years now,” she said.
Dave started it as an open house so people could come and look at large quantities of the poinsettias. The event has grown year over year, thanks to attendees from previous events returning with friends and family. Last year, the poinsettia show welcomed over 14,000 people!
The December show is an event that’s a full year in the making. Growing the flowers starts in June, with summer starting the event’s advertisement planning and display development. In October, the team is already working on building the displays in the greenhouses. Each year has a different theme, and the displays have grown in number, size and complexity since the beginning of the poinsettia show. For the team at Glick’s Greenhouse, it’s a constantly evolving affair!
Visiting the Poinsettia Show
This year’s annual poinsettia show will take place on Thursday, Nov. 30; Friday, Dec. 1; Saturday, Dec. 2; Monday, Dec. 4; Tuesday, Dec. 5; and Wednesday, Dec. 6 from noon to 8 p.m. each day. The theme for the 2023 show is the 12 Days of Christmas, with a display to represent each different theme.
“We’ve been thinking of themes the whole year, and planning out displays so everything goes smoothly,” Anna said.
This year’s show will feature an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 poinsettia flowers! It’s also the show’s third year in one of the location’s new buildings. While taking advantage of the larger space, the team has worked hard to ensure that the setup still provides the same intimate feeling and experience as years past.
There’s no admission fee for the Glick’s Greenhouse Annual Poinsettia Show– just stop by! Anna estimates that it will take about 30 minutes for visitors to make their way through the poinsettia displays, winding through the setup and enjoying the vibrant blossoms. Once you’ve finished, you’ll find food, live music, complimentary treats, an additional wreath competition and much more to enjoy! The greenhouse will also be offering a full selection of winter plants for purchase, including herbs, houseplants, succulents, wreaths, and garlands, plus holiday ornaments, toys and other seasonal items that would make excellent gifts this December. It’s the perfect outing to spend some time with family, friends, and other loved ones, or to attend solo so you can appreciate these fabulous seasonal flowers.
Building Your Holiday Table
With garlands, wreaths, flowers and other seasonal flora easy to find at Glick’s Greenhouse, you’re ready to turn your attention to the many other things you need for your holiday celebrations this December. From main course dishes like ham and vegetables to pies and specialty cocktails, the list of supplies you need is extensive, even if you aren’t hosting yourself. Luckily, in Berks County, you’re surrounded by excellent local vendors where you can find just about everything you need!
Finding local small businesses to shop at this holiday season is easy with our local food map directory. It’s easy to use—just use the filter options to narrow down what you’re looking for and find a list of farms, greenhouses, farmers markets and more, all right in your area and packed with the products you need to make this holiday beautiful and delicious!
Whether you’re heading out to Glick’s Greenhouse to take in the poinsettia show or you’re visiting another local business in search of your holiday treats, we hope that you find just what you’re looking for and that you and your loved ones enjoy a safe and happy holiday season this year!