The Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore?s Spring Flower Show is a horticulturist?s dream.
“We have about 6,000 tulips, 5,000 daffodils, 3,000 hyacinths and some smaller numbers for the other shrubbier plants,” said Kate Blom, Conservatory Supervisor. “We also have several different types of lilies, and hydrangea, ranunculus and azaleas.”
The name of this year?s show is “Spring into Wonderland,” a playful theme based on Alice in Wonderland. Blom planned the show with Melissa Grim, the Greenhouse Supervisor of the Cylburn Arboretum.
“We were gifted with some little figurines, which we used in the show last year, of Alice and the Mad Hatter, and they were cute, so we decided to use them again,” Blom said. “We?ve had a lot of fun planning the show.”
Numerous staff members and volunteers made gigantic, colorful butterflies.
“We have over 40 butterflies ranging in size from eight inches to about 30 inches,” Grim said. “In ?Alice in Wonderland,? a lot of the story is about different perspectives and changing sizes. For visitors to feel small in relation to the props leads perfectly into it.”
In keeping with the theme of exaggerated perspectives, nine oversized pocket watches dangle from the ceiling. Visitors can search for the often-elusive Cheshire Cat, or imagine what it would be like to step through the door that leads into Wonderland.
The bulbs for the show are ordered over the summer, potted up in November and go into a large cooler for six weeks. Then the bulbs are transported to Cylburn, where they are cared for and grown in a climate-controlled setting until it’s time to take them back to the Conservatory for the show.
“The bulbs don’t have a lot of longevity, and most of them will be replaced in about ten days, so the color palette changes slightly throughout the show,” Grim said. “We always have fresh materials.”
IF YOU GO
Spring Into Wonderland
WHERE: Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore, Druid Hill Park, Gwynns Falls Parkway at McCullough Street, Baltimore
WHEN: Noon to 4 p.m. through March 30
TICKETS: Free
INFO: 410-396-0008
