Springfield Museums’ Festival of Flowers Heralds Arrival of Spring

SPRINGFIELD — The coming of spring also brings the return of the Springfield Museums’ annual Festival of Flowers. The year’s celebration, on April 7-10, will feature nearly 50 objects from the art, history, and science collections creatively interpreted by local florists, designers, and garden club members. More than 4,000 people flocked to the event last year.

The Festival of Flowers is free with museum admission. Associated festivities begin on Thursday, April 7 with a Museums à la Carte lecture at 12:15 p.m. titled “The English Garden: Perfection on Earth” by historian Curt DiCamillo. The cost to attend is $2 for members, $4 for non-members.

That evening, visitors can enjoy a Culture & Cocktails event from 5 to 8 p.m. Guests can view the colorful arrangements in all four museums and watch the popular Floral Fashion show as models stroll through the galleries wearing accessories created from flowers. The evening, which also includes music, specialty cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres by Log Rolling Catering, is sponsored by United Personnel. Admission is $5 for museum members and $15 for non-members (age 21 and over only). For reservations, call (413) 263-6800, ext. 379, or buy tickets online.

Following that is a presentation on Saturday, April 9 at 1 p.m. titled “Jaw-dropping, Traffic-stopping, Get-your-neighbors-talking Containers” by Deborah Trickett from the Captured Garden. Trickett’s work has been featured in the Boston Globe and on the TV show New England Dream Home. The talk is free with museum admission. Tours by museum docents highlighting many of the floral interpretations will also be available on April 8-10 (hourly, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., free with museum admission).

The Museum School will also offer courses related to the festival. On Friday, April 8, instructor Paul Leveille will teach a one-day class in creating “Floral Art with Pastels.” On Saturday, April 9, artist Annette Chittenden will lead a class titled “Zentangle Botancial Drawing.” To sign up, call (413) 263-6800, ext. 377 or 382, or register online.

Festival of Flowers is sponsored by Durocher Florist, with additional support from Dave DiRico’s Golf and Racquet, Gardeners on the Green in Longmeadow, Pat Parker and Sons Florists, Pennock Floral, Randall’s Farm and Greenhouse, and Springfield Florists Supply Inc. For more information about Festival of Flowers, visit springfieldmuseums.org or call (413) 263-6800, ext. 386.