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ALBANY, NY – Spring will arrive early at the New York State Museum February 19-21 when visitors will find more than 110 thematic floral displays positioned throughout the galleries for the 19th annual “New York in Boom” fundraiser benefiting the Museum’s award-winning after-school programs.

GE is the presenting sponsor for the event. Garden club members, professional designers and floral enthusiasts from across the state will create unique floral arrangements that complement and interpret the museum’s permanent and temporary exhibitions. Table displays will also be provided by local interior designers and home furnishing stylists, florists and event specialists. The event also will feature demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday and children’s activities on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, “New York in Bloom” marks the only time during the year that admission is charged to enter the Museum. The “New York in Bloom” admission fee is $5 for adults on Friday. On Saturday and Sunday the fee will be $6, which also includes admission to the 17th annual “James Campbell Memorial Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show and Sale.” Admission is free for children 12 and under, accompanied by an adult. Tickets may be purchased at the door.

Eight floral arrangements, positioned in front of eight-foot high panels in primary colors, will form an octagon in the Museum lobby window space. A flower market will also be open in the lobby area on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5p.m., while supplies last.

Seagroatt Riccardi, LTD will create a lush, floral garden display in the Crossroads Gallery. In Bird Hall, visitors will see 10 table displays created by KatsEye Interior Design, Henry F. Clas Florist, Designs by Douglas, Renaissance Floral Design, W&P Enterprises, Experience and Creative Design, Stickley Audi & Co., In Bloom, Object Obscura and The Floral Garden. Demonstrations will be presented in the Huxley Theater and Adirondack Hall. Topics on Saturday will include “Homestyle Floral Arrangements," 10 to 11 a.m.; “How to Structure Larger Arrangements,” 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; “Butterfly Garden Basics,” noon to 1 p.m.; “Hand-tied Bouquets for All Occasions,” 1 to 2 p.m.; “Gardening in the 21st Century,” 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.; “Designs for the Home,” 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; “263,000 Bulbs,” 3 to 4 p.m. and “Cooking and Crafting with Fresh Flowers,” 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday demonstrations will include “Thinking Outside the Vase,” 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; “Floral Arranging for a Wedding,” noon to 1 p.m.; “Inside Out,” 1 to 2 p.m. and Michele’s Flower Hour,” 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

All children’s activities will take place in Kids’ Cove. They will include Face Painting on Saturday and Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m. On Friday, children can learn how to make “Duct Tape Flowers,” from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., and “Dried Flower Sachets” from 2 to 3 p.m.

One new addition to this year’s event will be a display of rare books, dating from1802 to 1921, from the New York State Library’s Manuscripts and Special Collections. Prominent among them is Pierre-Joseph Redoute’s eight-volume work, “Les Liliacees” (The Lilies), published in 1802. Redoute was a Belgian botanist and painter famous for his paintings of roses, lilies and other flowers. There also will be a floral arrangement interpreting the cover of the book.

Also, for the first time, a video created by the Museum’s after-school program will be shown at various locations in the Museum. Working with a Museum film educator, the students wrote their own scripts and interviewed visitors, curators and educators to enhance their knowledge of science, history and the arts.

On Friday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Classe′ Catering will offer soups, salads, sandwiches, desserts and beverages at the Sugar Maple Café in Adirondack Hall. Other food will also be available all three days at Subway, on the Museum’s fourth floor Terrace Gallery, and on Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Big Don’s Hot Dogs & More/ Losee’s Deli in the Museum’s first floor Student Center.

“New York in Bloom” is a primary funding source for the nationally recognized, educational after-school programs -- the Museum Club and Discovery Squads. Since 1987 the after-school program has provided tutoring and educational enrichment opportunities for youths from Albany’s underserved neighborhoods. Students receive homework help and reading support and participate in interactive projects involving Museum exhibitions. In the Discovery Squad, teens receive essential job training, academic and personal support, explore higher education opportunities and gain confidence as they serve the Museum in various work environments.

Supporters of the after-school program include KeyBank, Capital Bank, SEFCU, CDPHP, Paradigm Capital Management and SmileMonster.com. In addition to presenting sponsor GE, support for “New York in Bloom” was provided by the Times Union, Ambiance Florals and Events, Seagroatt-Riccardi, Ltd., Quality Retail Systems, The College of St. Rose, Dan Engwer Wholesale Florist and Bill Doran Company.

The New York State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Further information can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the museum website at www.nysm.nysed.gov.

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