Spring Blooms will feature more than 100,000 planted bulbs beautifying the campus at Newfields, home of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. The horticulture exhibition runs from March 20 to May 11.
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY NEWFIELDS
INDIANAPOLIS — Buds haven’t appeared on the trees, the grass is still brown and gardens around central Indiana remain bare.
But Newfields is ready to show off its flower power.
One of the area’s most delightful outdoor experiences can be found at the home of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Acres of carefully maintained gardens showcase nature’s artistry starting in the spring, when hundreds of thousands of colorful blooms emerge from the ground, much to the delight of visitors.
From late March until Mother’s Day, Spring Blooms showcases the wonder of horticulture, both inside the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s galleries and outdoors. Enjoy curated arrangements by floral artists alongside your favorite IMA artwork, and take in Newfields’ award-winning orchid collection in galleries, the Lilly House and Madeline F. Elder Greenhouse.
At the center of this year’s Spring Blooms festivities is the debut of the renovated Glick Fountain on the Oldfields Allée, increasing the amount of fully accessible pathways in The Garden.
“This year, with the support of the Glick family, Newfields staff and so many others, we are making quite the splash with the unveiling of the newly restored Glick Fountain. Fascinating technological capabilities combined with odes to its historical Oldfields aesthetic are sure to make it a spectacular garden destination,” said Jonathan Wright, The Ruth Lilly Director of The Garden and Fairbanks Park.
Spring Blooms has a staple of Newfields’ yearly calendar for years, as leaders focused on the best way to showcase the stunning natural spaces surrounding the IMA and the Lilly House.
The colorful celebration kicks off with Art in Bloom from Thursday to March 23, featuring floral artists displaying their talents alongside the museum’s art collections. Fifty-five flower arrangements by top designers from around the region and beyond will fill the museum, with each one inspired by a work on view in the IMA galleries.
Gardening enthusiasts can enjoy free daily demonstrations covering topics from arranging grocery store flowers to how to incorporate edible flowers into dishes.
The Art in Bloom Market will feature local artists Earth + Fire, Sav J. Art and Kassie Woodworth Art, as well as a plant shop hosted by Serendipity Plants.
“The floral displays set in conversation with artworks on view in the galleries are a striking and sensational representation of our mission to enrich lives through exceptional experiences with art and nature,” Wright said. “The designers, whether local or traveling in from as far as Puerto Rico, pour so much passion into their displays, and that passion shines through on each day of the festival.”
After Art in Blooms closes on March 23, the celebration moves outdoors. Hundreds of thousands of flowers will poke through the soil in the coming weeks, adding to the natural beauty of the carefully designed gardens, pathways and greenspaces around the campus.
Beautifully created displays from Newfields horticulture staff will be set against the backdrop of The Garden’s towering trees and inspirational Living Collection.
“The beauty of The Garden and Fairbanks Park in springtime places them among the most serene and uplifting destinations in Indianapolis,” Wright said.
This year, the exhibition will highlight springtime celebrations — from maple sugaring to water festivals to the colorful pigments of Holi and the multi-generational tradition of observing nature’s change across a season. Each encourages guests to reflect on their own beloved springtime traditions.
In between exploring, guests are invited to stop at the Beer Garden at Garden Terrace, which offers a curated beer, wine and cider menu designed by Lindsay Jo Whirley, Newfields’ Certified Cicerone, or beer expert. The menu features best-in-style beers from Germany, Belgium as well as here in Indianapolis.
Newfields Executive Chef Patrick Russ has put together a selection of seasonally curated items such as sandwiches and salads alongside favorites like the giant Bavarian pretzel with house-made cheese. Non-alcoholic offerings include the guest favorite lemonade and berries, orchid green tea, nitro cold brew coffee and craft root beer.
There will also be an active recipe exchange stationed during The Beer Garden’s open hours throughout the season. Guests will be able to snap a photo of new bites to try at home or leave one of their own family favorites to share.
If you go
What: Spring Blooms, a special exhibition showcasing the wonder of horticulture inside the Indianapolis Museum of Art galleries and throughout the outdoor campus.
When: Thursday through May 11
Where: Newfields, 4000 Michigan Road, Indianapolis
Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thurday through Saturday. Closed Monday
Information: DiscoverNewfields.org
Special events
Garden tour: March 22–October 26 / Saturdays 12:30 and 3:30 p.m., Sundays 12:30 p.m. March 22-Oct. 26; free for members and public, meet at The Garden Entry Pavilion.
Spring Blooms Garden tour: 3 p.m. March 27, April 10, 17 and 24, May 8 and 15; free for members and public, meet at The Garden Entry Pavilion.
Winter Tree ID: 10 a.m.-noon March 22, The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park; free for members and public, advance registration required.
Greenhouse Class — Orchid Basics: 10-11:30 a.m. March 29, 6-7:45 p.m. April 10, Madeline F. Elder Greenhouse; $55 members and $65 public, advance registration required.
Greenhouse Class — Mini Orchid Bowls: 6-7:45 p.m. April 3, 1-3 p.m. April 12, Madeline F. Elder Greenhouse; $75 members and $85 public, advance registration required.
Orchid Terrarium Workshop: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 5, 6-7:4 p.m. April 17, Madeline F. Elder Greenhouse; $50 members and $65 public, advance registration required.
Container Trees & Spring ID Walk: 10 a.m.-noon April 8 and 16, Madeline F. Elder Greenhouse; $35 members and $40 public, advance registration required.
“Wake Up, Woods” Story Walk Opening: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. April 19, The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park; free for members and public.
Family Day — Spring Blooms & Green Dreams: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. April 19, IMA Galleries and The Garden; included with general admission and free for members.
Arbor Day at Newfields: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. April 25, The Garden and The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park; free for members and public.
Macramé Air Plant Holder Workshop: 1-3 p.m. April 26, Lilly House; $30 members and $35 public
