The Flowers Are coming!
By the end of February, when the snow is dirty and everything outside is cold and gray, a few days above 40 degrees can feel like a gift. To a New Englander, that’s warm enough to venture outside without a jacket and catch the first, faint scent of spring in the air. This is when I start craving bulb shows and looking forward to all the flower-related events on the horizon.
Anyone local knows about the Smith College Spring Bulb Show, a beloved tradition that sparks conversations of anticipation—"When are you going?"—as soon as March approaches. This year’s show runs from March 1 through March 16. In recent years, Smith has expanded the event to include multidisciplinary collaborations. The 2024 show, for example, coincided with an exhibit on Sylvia Plath’s time at Smith, showcasing her observations from a yearlong botanical course, her writings, and other archival material. It made the show feel even more special. This year, the tradition continues with commissioned artwork by two Smith students: Ada Comstock Scholar Jamie Biagiarelli and first-year student Ella Wang ’28.
Smith Bulb Show photos from previous years by Jenny Boas
Smith isn’t the only place celebrating bulbs this season. Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley will host its 53st Annual Bulb Show from March 1 through March 8. If you’ve never visited, this is a perfect opportunity to explore Mount Holyoke’s beautiful greenhouses.
My favorite spring event is the Springfield Museums’ Festival of Flowers. This year marks its 12th anniversary, running from April 3–6. For just four days, fresh floral arrangements and installations will be scattered throughout the galleries of all the museums on the Quadrangle. Floral artists from across the valley select a piece of art or a gallery space and create fresh floral arrangements in conversation with it. In the Natural History Museum, you might find a giant dragonfly sculpted from leaves, twigs, and flowers. The Fine Art Museum could feature a bold, abstract arrangement mimicking a contemporary painting, while the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum might showcase a formal arrangement inspired by a classic still life. Check their website in a couple weeks for more information and to get gala tickets.
Springfield Festival of Flower photos by me. The daffodil arrangement and vessel I made for the 2024 festival. The top of the ceramic pot is made of woven dried iris leaves. The 3 following arrangements are by other local floral artists. The last photo is of me during a live design challenge at the 2023 gala.
Beyond the flowers, the festival is packed with programming, including family-friendly art activities, special lectures, and—on opening night—a gala with cocktails and fresh floral fashion! I’ve had the opportunity to participate for the past two years and will be back again this year. If you visit, look for an arrangement in the Van Gogh exhibit by Flowerwork Farm!
