Held at the state museum in conjunction with the annual gem, mineral and fossil show, New York in Bloom features floral arrangements that are paired with and inspired by exhibits at the museum.
That just leads to some amazing creativity, said Joanne Guilmette, a state museum spokeswoman. `It’s always so fun to see what they come up with.`
One floral designer, for example, was assigned to an area in Adirondack Hall that had a lounge chair that was used outdoors in the winter by tuberculosis patients at a sanitarium in the Adirondacks. Back then, fresh air was considered to be a treatment for the disease. So, the designer crafted a floral `quilt` using leaves, flowers and other materials.
Another display in Adirondack Hall featured a table crafted from tree bark, complete with cups and utensils.
`It was really amazing,` Guilmette said.
All told, New York in Bloom, which runs Friday through Sunday, Feb. 20 to 22, will feature more than 110 floral displays put together by professional designers, garden club members and floral enthusiasts from across the state. That’s just a fraction of the offerings of the museum at the weekend.
Also on tap:
More than 20 vendors at the gem, fossil and mineral show will sell and display gems, jewelry, minerals, fossils, books, videos, stone carvings and bookends.
The Capital District Mineral Club will host a mineral dig for children.
Charles Merguerian, professor of geology at Hofstra University, will give a talk titled, `Ancient Till Discovered at the World Trade Center Site.`
John Skiba, the museum’s senior cartographer, will talk about map-making processes and methods for producing the museum’s new geologic quadrangle map.
Michael Hawkins, the museum’s mineralogy collections manager, will lead tours Saturday and Sunday of the Minerals of New York gallery, highlighting recent acquisitions. Guilmette explained that admission to the show helps buy new items for the collection, and Hawkins’ tour includes pieces that were purchased with proceeds from last year’s show.
Demonstrations will touch on topics such as how to grow healthy perennials; how to create edible arrangements and how to maintain an organic vegetable garden.
Artists will be on hand to offer face painting for kids, and New York in Bloom will offer `shrink art` and `flower button` activities.
`It’s really great for the whole family, no matter what you’re looking for,` Guilmette said. `There’s just a lot to do.`
New York in Bloom runs Friday to Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at the state museum. The admission fee is $5 for adults on Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, the fee is $6, which also includes admission to the 16th annual James Campbell Memorial Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show and Sale. Admission is free for children 12 and under, accompanied by an adult. Tickets may be purchased at the door.
The events mark the only time the museum charges admission. In addition to funding new mineral acquisitions, the proceeds help pay for the museum’s after-school programs.“