February 6-22 at George Eastman Museum
The George Eastman Museum’s annual Dutch Connection floral display will be on view February 6 through 22 throughout the historic mansion at 900 East Avenue, Rochester. 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 by purchasing a plant at the Lipson Welcome Center.
•In Focus: Dutch Connection: Join Landscape Manager Byron Smith for a virtual lecture that takes you behind the scenes of Dutch Connection on Friday, February 6, at 2 p.m., online. Free to all; advance registration required.
•Dutch Connection Coffee Talks: Join Landscape Manager Byron Smith over a hot drink as he discusses the various aspects of what it takes to design and implement a large flower show. An Ugly Duck coffee cart will be presented by Van Putte Gardens, and there will be a guided tour of the display following the talk. The cost is $10 for members, $30 for nonmembers, and registration is required. Talks will be held Sunday, February 8, at 10 a.m. and Saturday, February 14, at 9 a.m., in the 7Crest Financial Partners Hall.
•Family-friendly activities: Throughout Dutch Connection, try your hand at building LEGO® flower sets, read about bulb flowers, and draw your own in the Donna Fielding Discovery Room. A scavenger hunt will also be available for participation throughout the bulb show.
•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.
•Open Face: During Dutch Connection, Open Face will feature floral teas and baked goods, along with the usual favorites.
•Music in the Mansion: Organ music will be performed on weekends throughout the run of the floral display.
Dutch Connection is generously sponsored by Karen Kral in memory of Gerald “Jerry” Kral. In-kind support provided by Monroe County Parks Department and Pike’s Greenhouse (Avon, NY). Ugly Duck coffee cart presented by Van Putte Gardens.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.eastman.org/dutchconnection.
Provided information. Photos by Erich Camping.
