MNfusion: Macy's Showcases America's Beauty In Annual Flower Show
Spring has sprung, which means it's time for the annual Macy's Flower Show!
Each year, Bachman's transforms the 8th floor auditorium into a luscious garden, filled with bold plants, bright colors and big smells.
"It's hard to know when to begin counting in terms of flower shows," Bachman's CEO Dale Bachman said. "That's why we just say 'for more than 51 years.'"
So, it's only fitting that this year's theme celebrates those "more than 50 years" by celebrating the 50 states. The theme, "America the Beautiful," showcases landscapes found across the United States, featuring six different regions with an "All-American" garden in the center.
When entering the garden, guests are greeted by the Olympic torch in the center.
"Think of the entrance as the base to your map," Dale said. To the left lies the southwestern gardens, to the right the southeast.
The Vast Southwest garden features a number of different cacti, such as prickly pear cactus, fence post cactus and agave. Typical to Arizona and New Mexico landscape, the cacti sit in a bed of rocks in front of a pueblo style house. Succulents and yucca are also featured throughout.
As the southwest moves upward toward California and into the Pacific Northwest, bright orange and pink flowers pop from beds of grass. Slowly, the landscape turns to luscious pines and thick ferns. We're now in the Pacific Northwest Wonderland. A cabin peers out from behind the corner of the room, complete with a canoe and baby Redwood trees in front of it.
An upright Uncle Fogy Jack Pine acts as a bridge between the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountains, which ends in a field of tulips. It's now the Midwest.
A bright red barn looms behind the yellow tulips, with a picket fence and cast iron water pump off to the side. Assorted grass, azaleas and daffodils are also scattered to the right of the farm.
The tulips continue on into the Shining Northeast Shores, and the barn gives way to a fisherman's house. Beautiful hydrangeas, floral trees and rhododendron cover the group surrounding a fisherman's boat. Blush pink, violet and white flowers litter the pathways of the northeast gardens.
Finally, the Enchanting Southeast garden appears. Complete with mountain ranges, plains and marshes, the southeast is an eclectic garden that features the Spanish moss of the Bayou and carnivorous plants of the shoreline.
As guests turn to leave, the All-American garden faces them once again. With the torch in the middle, cherry trees and oncidium orchids wind their way around the torch and on to the ground below. A featured plant from each of the gardens also decorates the middle plot, bringing together all of America's landscapes.
"There are so many surprises in the garden, and it changes every day," Dale said. "We're so luck to have the opportunity to participate in this great tradition."
View more photos from the 2016 Macy's Flower Show - "America The Beautiful" here.
The Macy's Flower Show is open now through Sunday, April 3. The show is located in the 8th floor auditorium. It is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and 12 – 6 p.m. Sunday. The flower show is free to attend. For more information, visit Macy's online.
