New Gardens, Animal Topiaries Coming To Philadelphia Zoo

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Zoo is teaming up with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to refresh, revitalize, and reimagine its 42-acre gardens.

This collaboration will start by recreating four garden areas to showcase the power of horticulture to create joy and inspire action to protect habitats.

These garden beds, blueprinted by Pennsylvania Horticultural Society designer and procurement manager Sam Keitch, will be filled with plants of different textures, colors and scents that will be unique to each garden to enhance the guest experience.

Work is underway to launch the first step in reimagining the Zoo's garden beds with help from Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is working with the zoo on the garden that is visible in front of the zoo’s elephant and calf statue near the zoo’s main entrance. This garden bed will feature bright and colorful pollinator plants like prairie coneflower and butterfly weed meant to attract and be a food source for bees, butterflies and birds.

Guests will also find a series of more than 18 large planters next to a brand-new surprise exhibit that will have the zoo's feathered fans lining up at rope drop. Look for these new installations to debut in time for Flamingo Cove, which is opening in late spring. The planters will be part of a new shaded space providing guests the chance to relax and recharge. The planters will feature small flowering or evergreen trees surrounded by plants like Plectranthus ‘mona lavender’, hydrangea, and begonia.

In the fall, guests will be able to enjoy the two other reimagined garden areas of the zoo. As guests enter, they’ll see new beds featuring a carefully selected mix of sun and shade species, with a strong emphasis on native plants that enhance ecological diversity while maintaining visual appeal.

As children take a ride in the PZ SEPTA Express Train next to Backyard Kitchen, they’ll be riding past fall blooms that have been selected to create a multi-season garden for all to enjoy. Parents can relax nearby with a snack and a beverage.

When finished, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society partnership for the Zoo gardens will include 8,150 square feet of planting, featuring 78 plant species.

And in April, the zoo will debut "ZOOtopiaries: Nature's Sculptures."

These new towering, three-dimensional mosaic topiaries, designed and fabricated by Santoline Mosaiculture, will be spread out throughout the campus and feature whimsical figures that highlight the interconnection of art, plants and animals.

Each living art piece is designed in meticulous patterns, creating the likeness of a giraffe, butterflies, peacock, snail and more.

The new ZOOtopiaries and garden beds in partnership with Pennsylvania Horticultural Society will join the already opened East Coast premiere of Wildlife Rescue by Little Ray’s Exhibitions that currently has 13 animal statues spread throughout the campus to share stories about wildlife conservation.

All three exhibits and enhancements will be included with admission and memberships, with no additional fee required to enjoy them.

When finished, ZOOtopiaries will include five animal scenes and 22 plant species, with the tallest mosaic topiary being the 21-foot tall giraffe weighing 9,400 pounds.

A launch date for the ZOOtopiaries has not been announced.

"Philadelphia Zoo is a destination where we invite all our guests to connect with all living things, not just the 1,900 animals in our care," Philadelphia Zoo President & CEO Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman said. "The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is renowned for the work they do to bring beautiful gardens to improve the health and well-being of communities, and we’re excited to add their expertise to our 42 acres. Plants are vital to a healthy ecosystem that supports all life on Earth, and we hope this garden refresh and the addition of these eye-catching mosaic topiaries will spark a curiosity about how we can all be better stewards for the planet."

The new garden partnership and the new ZOOtopiaries living sculptures will join the already opened East Coast premiere of Wildlife Rescue by Little Ray’s Exhibitions.

Wildlife Rescue by Little Ray’s Exhibitions features 13 animal statues spread throughout the campus to share stories about wildlife conservation, including:

• Atlantic Sturgeon
• Black footed ferret
• Bald eagle
• Burrowing owl
• Cane toad
• Crested gecko
• Flame-knee tarantula
• Leatherback sea turtle
• Northern leopard frog
• Red panda
• Rusty-patch bumblebee
• Snow leopard

Ottawa-based Little Ray's Exhibitions is a leading organization dedicated to fostering appreciation for the natural world through engaging and educational experiences. Founded by Paul "Little Ray" Goulet in 1995, the company has grown from the small reptile zoo/rescue and at-home birthday party service to being one of the largest outreach and exhibitions companies focusing on animals and the natural world in all of North America as well as one of the largest exotic animal rescues.