A pair of beloved seasonal hangouts are back and ready to bloom once again.
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society has reopened its popular PHS Pop Up Gardens in Manayunk (106 Jamestown Avenue) and South Street (1438 South Street). Filled with green plants and seasonal blooms, the gardens invite guests to gather with friends and neighbors while enjoying food and drinks, hands-on workshops, and community programming all season long.
A soft opening took place on March 13, allowing both gardens to open (weather permitting) ahead of an official grand opening planned for March 27. Once fully underway, the pop-ups will remain open through late fall, offering Philadelphians a lush place to gather, relax, and enjoy the season.
Each year, the pop-up gardens transform their corners of the city into green retreats filled with flowers, leafy plants, and colorful seating areas. (Fun fact: Hundreds of plants and shrubs from the Philadelphia Flower Show are given a second home at the pop-up gardens.)
But the spaces also carry a deeper mission. Proceeds from the gardens support year-round greening work led by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society — from expanding access to fresh food to planting trees and improving public spaces throughout the Greater Philadelphia region.
Food and drink are a big part of the experience at both gardens, with menus designed to encourage sharing and casual gathering. Vegetarian, vegan, and meat-based dishes are all available, along with cocktails, craft beer, wine, and non-alcoholic options. Water bowls and treats are also available for four-legged friends.
At the Manayunk location, guests can snack on fried cauliflower, pretzel bites, onion rings, nachos, fried clams, and loaded Sidewinder fries before moving on to heartier options like fried shrimp baskets, fish and chips, or chicken kabobs.
Classic handhelds round out the menu, including the Jamestown Smash Burger, fried chicken sandwich, and fried fish sandwich. On the drink side, cocktails such as the Manayunk Mule, Gritty Margarita, and Red Wooder Ice join new creations like the Garden Gusher Gummy Shot, along with frozen drinks and alcohol-free options.
Over on South Street, the menu offers globally inspired flavors. New dishes include sticky chai pretzel bites, Jamaican jerk wings with pineapple and passionfruit chutney, and dips like tofu ricotta with lemon zest and pita or white bean with garlic and rosemary olive oil.
Other highlights include chimichurri chicken skewers, a fried chicken sandwich with chipotle mayo, plant-forward grain bowls, and seasonal salads. Frozen cocktails return as well, including tropical creations like Mango Crush, Guava Limeade, Wild Flower Spritz, and Passion Punch.
A lineup of workshops and activities will take place all season, including monthly Rooted Workshops inspired by the 2026 Flower Show theme, 'Rooted: Origins of American Gardening'. Each session highlights the history, stories, and traditions behind a different gardening practice, offering hands-on activities that range from kokedama and embroidery to pressed flowers, terrariums, and heirloom seed saving.
Another returning favorite is the free Plant Swap series hosted at both locations. Visitors are encouraged to bring plants to exchange or pick up something new for their home garden. At the South Street garden, the swaps are co-hosted by Solo Real Estate, which also provides plant giveaways ranging from houseplants and succulents to seasonal bulbs.
Throughout the season, the gardens will also host live music nights, free jazz performances twice monthly on South Street, and weekly karaoke in Manayunk. Special mixers, seasonal celebrations, and pop-up experiences will also appear throughout the summer.
New this year, the Manayunk garden will debut a Sunday Garden Market featuring local vendors and brunch items — another way for visitors to linger among the plants while supporting small businesses.
Both locations welcome guests throughout the week, though hours may shift depending on weather early in the season. Updates and announcements are shared on social media via @phspopupgardens.
