The George Eastman Museum’s annual Dutch Connection floral display will be on view February 7 through 23 throughout the historic mansion. A favorite drawing thousands of visitors yearly, the display serves as a sweet reminder that spring is on its way.
Every year between 1905 and 1932, George Eastman ordered tens of thousands of bulbs from Holland. The orders were mostly for tulips, narcissus, and hyacinths for his gardens, and some for indoor forcing (tricking bulbs to bloom out of season). Eastman’s annual bulb orders were inspired by the flower fields he saw while bicycling through the countryside during a trip to Holland in 1895. A nod to those original orders, the annual display features thousands of colorful tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, amaryllis, and spring annuals, filling the historic mansion. Tropical orchids, courtesy of the Genesee Regional Orchid Society, are displayed as well.
In addition to enjoying the array of bulb flowers, visitors have the opportunity to take part in related events and activities, including:
•Plant Sale: Take a piece of Dutch Connection home with you by purchasing a plant at the Lipson Welcome Center.
•Dutch Connection Coffee Talks: Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look into the making of the annual Dutch Connection floral display. Join Landscape Manager Byron Smith over coffee as he discusses the various aspects of what it takes to design and implement a large flower show. There will be a guided tour of the display following the talk. Held in the Multipurpose Room on Sunday, February 16 at 10 a.m. and Saturday, February 22 at 9 a.m. Cost is $10 for members and $30 for nonmembers. Registration is required and can be made at https://www.eastman.org/events/talks.
•Create, Draw, Learn, and Plant: Throughout Dutch Connection in the Donna Fielding Discovery Room, read about bulb flowers and draw your own. View the root system of bulb flowers and try your hand at building a Lego daffodil.
•Free Bulb Kits for Kids: Available for children, free with museum admission. Kits include a pot, soil, and a forced bulb to take home, plant, and watch grow and flower. While supplies last.
Dutch Connection is generously supported by Gerald and Karen Kral. In-kind support provided by Monroe County Parks Department and Pike’s Greenhouse, Avon, NY.
Visit https://www.eastman.org/dutchconnection for additional information, tickets, and at-home activities.
Provided information
