New York in Bloom runs all weekend, February 24 – 26, at the New York State Museum. All funds collected from tickets and floral sales support the Museum Club Program. This after school program is in its 25th year of offering children and young adults, ages 8 to 18, a place to go after school between 3:00 pm until 5:00 pm when parents usually arrive home. The program puts young people in a creative and educational atmosphere.

My involvement began in 1996 when Mrs. Jesse Cogswell asked me if I would consider creating an arrangement for the event. I agreed to do it at her invitation but really had no idea what she was talking about. During the planning stages, I quickly realized that this was a great chance to be creative as well as help a very good cause. My Renaissance Floral Design team and I have been honored to be a returning contributor to this event and good cause.

Normally we just take the space over and do our own thing. This year we are honored to be working with the Museum and to be using some of the very-rarely shown elements from their archives.

We will be creating a party … Victorian style, to showcase our talents and to feature a spectacular collection of furnishings from the estate of Robert A. Kelly of New York City, as well as the original pieces made by the skilled craftsmanship of Alexander Roux also from New York City.