Art in Bloom

After beating off late-season snowfall and threats of snow, spring has finally and mercifully honored us with its presence. At the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the season's being welcomed as it has for the past 24 springs with the 25th edition of Art in Bloom, a celebration of art and flowers. The four-day binge of all things beautiful and decadent is chock-full of tours, formal gourmet meals, wine tastings, demonstrations, and lectures given by the world's foremost experts on flowers and arrangements. Highlights include Thursday's lecture on Monet and impressionism by English photographer Derek Fell, and the museum-wide Flowers After Hours, a free party with a scavenger hunt, guided tours, and pub quiz with prizes. Friday features a French wine tasting and a lecture by Belgian-born flower designer and artist Nico De Swert, whose credits include work for Martha Stewart Living and O, the Oprah magazine. Be sure to check www.artsmia.org for a full schedule and registration forms for ticketed events, many are sure to sell out.
May 1-4, 2008