New York in Bloom, day two

This bold arrangement by Pamela Nagengast of Emil J. Nagengast Florist sits in the State Museum's lobby. It consists of ginger, anthurium, protea, gerbera daisies, hypericum, dendrobium orchids, leucadendron, heather, Italian ruscus, and curly willow.

I got back to New York in Bloom, the New York State Museum's annual fundraiser for its after-school programs, late this afternoon and checked out the floral arrangements in the Adirondack Wilderness gallery and adjacent exhibit spaces. I hope you enjoy the images below as much as I enjoyed capturing them.

This unusual arrangement of amaryllis, French tulips, and foliage arranged atop a tree trunk, was created by Tammy D'Elia of Renaissance Floral Design. It's one of my favorites. It sits at the entrance to Seeing Ourselves: Masterpieces of American Photography from the George Eastman House Collection, a traveling exhibit that will be at the State Museum until 9 May 2010. I haven't yet had the chance to see this exhibit, but I have visited the George Eastman House and can attest to the astounding depth and breadth of its collections. If you get a chance to see this exhibit -- or to visit the George Eastman House -- by all means do so.

This arrangement by Holly A. Hemming of Felthausen's Florist sits in the Research Gallery, which currently features recent archaeological finds in the City of Albany. It consists of snapdragons, sunflowers, delphinium, aistro maria, miniature gerbera daisies, deago, lemon leaves, bear grass, pittosporum, bamboo, sheet moss, and river rocks. In the background, you can see the arrangement created by Louise Kavanaugh of the Bethlehem Garden Club. Kavanaugh's work complement an exhibit case of pottery shards, and it features roses, snapdragons, wax flowers, moon lagoon, pittosporum, English ivy, and "peaces of pottery" (i.e., potsherds and peace signs).

This arrangement, which is one of my favorites, is located in an entrance to the Adirondack Wilderness gallery. Elizabeth Thai of Surroundings used bear grass, Casablanca lilies, sunflowers, galax, hala, and Ti leaf to create it.

This arrangement of Maine blue, caspia, double tulips, golden asters, thistle, eucalyptus, hypericum, curly willow, trachilium, daisies, and leucadendron nicely complements a panoramic photograph of the Adirondacks in autumn. It was created by Josh Wallbank and Jamie Cohen of Dan Engwer Wholesale Florist.

Children love the Adirondack Wilderness gallery's Elk Pond, and this arrangement complements it beautifully. Created by Marilyn Cederoth of Cedar Farms Wholesale, it consists of copper beech, honey myrtle, fuzzy sumac, leaucadendron, silver dollar eucalyptus, bear grass, japanese cedar, raintree pods, and mimosa.

This mammoth, beguiling installation transforms the logging section of the Adirondack Wilderness gallery. It was created by Dan Killion Driftwood Designs/Drops of Jupiter and features Ti leaves, white bird of paradise leaves, monstera leaves, Ecuadorian roses, purple kale, asparagus fern, curly willow, sheet and reindeer moss, and hydrangea. Natural Hudson River driftwood was used to build this installation, and Japanese lanterns illuminate it.

Another view of the Dan Killion Driftwood Designs/Drops of Jupiter installation. The lumberjacks may not have been impressed by it, but all of the visitors to New York in Bloom were completely blown away.

A section of another large installation in the logging section of the Adirondack Wilderness gallery. Jeanne Futerko of Floreat used gladiolas, roses, lilies, curly willow, bear grass, Scotch broom, six types of fern, flexi grass, sheet moss, and taxidermy specimens to create it.

Another view of the large installation that Jeanne Futerko of Floreat created for the logging section of the Adirondack Wilderness gallery.

Cathy Kodra of Classica Florist and Gifts created a series of small arrangements for the fishing/camping section of the Adirondack Wilderness gallery. Unfortunately, detailed information about the composition of each arrangement wasn't available.

One of the arrangements Cathy Codra of Classica Florist and Gifts created for the fishing/camping section. My first thought upon seeing this arrangement was, "this is funny!" My second thought was, "this is horrible!" I'm still alternating between these two thoughts.

Indpendent arranger Emily Shook created this sweet and understated arrangement for the fishing/camping section of the Adirondack Wilderness gallery. Information about its composition wasn't available.

Everyone loves the State Museum's friendly-looking moose, and Donna Vincent of the Schenectady ARC uses gerbera daisies, roses, lilies, forsythia, ranunculus, trachelium, cedar, and daffodils to complement his habitat.

The State Museum closed before I got the chance to see much more, so this last photo features another arrangement located in the State Museum's lobby. Cheryl Knott of Maloney's Flower Shop created it, and it features bird of paradise, gerbera daisies, roses, orchids, leucadendron, alstromeria, bear grass, spray roses, equisetium, monstera leaves, moss, and curly willow.

Amazing as it might seem, I haven't seen everything that New York in Bloom: I have yet to make my way through the Fire Engine Hall, the World Trade Center exhibit, the Bird Hall, and the areas devoted to Ancient Life in New York and the Native Peoples of New York. I'll be heading back over to the State Museum tomorrow to catch the rest of New York in Bloom. And if you're in New York's Capital District and are looking for something to do tomorrow, please consider checking out New York in Bloom. It's a wonderful event and supports a great cause.