Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Fitzpatrick Conservatory becomes a harbinger of spring starting March 1, when the public is invited to enjoy hundreds of flowering bulbs in an annual exhibition featuring New England springtime favorites along with some striking, lesser-known varieties hand-picked by BBG’s horticulturists. Visitors to the greenhouse will see an evolving collection of 1,400 blooming bulbs over a two-week period.
Some of the standouts from last year’s show will be back, including the diminutive Muscari armeniacum ‘Big Smile’ Grape Hyacinth and the enchanting Fritillaria meleagris, or Guinea Hen Flower, with its nodding, bell-shaped blooms in a variety of showy colors and faintly checkered patterns. Alongside these will be some new inclusions: ‘Vincent Van Gogh,’ a striking, dark purple tulip with fringed petals; a diminutive, pink-orange tulip called ‘Salmon Gem’; a trio of new daffodils; and two exquisite dwarf irises, ‘Harmony’ and ‘Pauline,’ with flowers of brilliant blue and deep purple, respectively.
“The horticulture department at BBG is excited to open our doors to the public to showcase the colors and fragrances of spring at the Bulb Show,” said Director of Horticulture Matthew Turnbull. “By March, we all need a remedy to ward off the winter blues.”
As in previous years, the bulbs will be exhibited amongst the Garden’s collection of succulents housed year-round in the Fitzpatrick Conservatory, a period building replete with curved glass. The soft grays and greens of the succulents’ foliage provide a contrasting backdrop for the bright colors of tulips, narcissus, hyacinths, irises and other New England springtime bulbs.
“Last year’s Bulb Show had to be cut short because of the sudden onset of COVID restrictions and concerns,”said BBG Executive Director Mike Beck. “We had a greenhouse full of beautiful color and scent, and hardly anyone to enjoy that. This year, I am very excited to bring this taste of spring back to the hundreds of visitors who routinely come for a quick escape from winter.”
Those interested in learning the behind-the-scenes story of how the Bulb Show comes together each year are invited to read, “The Dirt on the Bulb Show” in this year’s Winter/Spring issue of Berkshire Botanical Garden’s free magazine, Cuttings, available in print throughout the Berkshires region and online at https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/cuttings-magazine. A gallery of images from last year’s Bulb Show is available as well, at: https://photos.app.goo.gl/1tCkdnvCeE6UKmLd9
The Bulb Show runs March 1- 14, daily from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Considered the Garden’s gift to the community, Bulb Show admission is free; however, for safety in compliance with current state guidelines, advance reservations are required, as are masks. Visitors are asked to plan ahead, as all other buildings at the Garden remain closed for the season, and restrooms will not be available. Visit http://berkshirebotanical.org for reservations.
