Spring is arriving early at the Arboretum’s annual Spring Flower Show, opening Saturday, Feb. 1 and running through March 16.
The show’s dazzling floral and botanical vignettes will transform the Arboretum’s indoor spaces, offering an early taste of the season still just out of reach. Featuring lush tropical foliage, sublimely scented herbs, delicate mushrooms and fungi, bubbling fountains and whimsical fairy gardens and terrariums, this year’s displays explore the theme of enchanted spring gardens and delve into the interconnectedness of all plant life.
One of many unique orchids in the Conservatory. Photo by Lily Smith
Visitors will find four main areas to visit during the show, including floor-to-ceiling vignettes and gardens in the Oswald Visitor Center Great Hall, displays throughout the balcony and Rootstock, more floral decor in the Snyder Building and Andersen Horticultural Library and a finale featuring tropical plants in the balmy Meyer-Deats Conservatory!
Check out these highlights for a sneak preview of what visitors will see at this year’s show:
- An ever-changing display of floral exhibits by local florists and designers every week of the show.
- Birds and Botanicals — Discover birds in sculptural form among the blooms as part of a special art exhibit that intertwines the elegance of avian life with the lushness of plant forms. Featured artists are Fawzia Khan, Mindy Sisk and Patty Carmody Smith.
- Herb garden — Touch and smell plants in this aromatic garden to lift your spirits and calm your system.
- Mushrooms — Learn about sustainable harvesting and foraging practices, view mushrooms in all their stages of growth and experience the wonder of nature’s recyclers — breaking down plant matter into its most basic building blocks.
- Botanical weavings of branches, grasses and other plants collected from the Arboretum grounds will hang from the beams of Oswald Visitor Center.
- Enchanted woodland village — Imagine a world where elves and gnomes cavort.
- Woodland friends hunt — Find mischievous enchanted creatures hiding among the Flower Show blooms. They love to explore, so check back each week to see where their adventures take them.
- Uncover the subterranean realm of plants — Terrariums reveal the layers of healthy soil and roots in plain sight, giving you a chance to slow down and observe the smallest details.
- Rootstock — Enjoy a meal or snack while you soak up the sights and scents of spring. Choose from a variety of delicious house-made soups, salads and sandwiches at Rootstock, open from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. daily. Round out your meal or snack with a fresh pastry, muffin or cookie. Wine and beer are available as well.
Keen-eyed visitors will also spot birds of bronze and clay perched among the greenery — handcrafted by local artists and on display throughout the show.
Clay and mosaic birds created by Patty Carmody Smith are available in the Great Hall. Photo by Sarah Bednarek
The show runs daily from Feb. 1 through March 16 and is included with general daily admission. For those interested in a more curated experience, check out one of our special Spring Flower Show events, but please note that most of these events require a special ticket.