"We are not abandoning PHS," Mills said.
Drew Becher, president of the horticultural society, said he was exploring potential corporate partnerships across the region and nation and hoped to create attractive packages offering benefits to the companies and the horticultural society, which has produced the Flower Show since 1829. Becher knew when he took the job in 2010 that PNC's sponsorship was winding down.
"I don't ever think one size fits all. There are so many ways the Flower Show can work with companies," Becher said.
Three companies might share lead sponsorships, he said. Others might want to underwrite exhibits or appearances by celebrity gardeners, or support bringing exhibits to the Philadelphia show from the Royal Horticultural Society's famed Chelsea Flower Show in London.
Still other sponsors could be involved with Plant One Million, an ambitious plan to plant a million trees in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware over the next few years. At this year's show, which cost about $8 million to produce, Becher announced that the horticultural society would coordinate the effort, which is similar to a program he headed in New York City.
"I'm looking forward to having new partners to push us in new directions, to do something bigger and better," Becher said.
Pittsburgh-based PNC, which has been the Flower Show's primary, or presenting, sponsor since 1992, quietly told the horticultural society in June 2009 that 2011 would be its last year in that role, Mills said.
Around the same time, Jane Pepper, Becher's predecessor, announced that she would retire from the horticultural society in mid-2010 after 30 years, 25 as president.
