Spring Bulb Show
The Botanic Garden’s Spring Bulb Show is a Smith College tradition that began in the early 1900s. Ordinarily blooming at different times during the spring, over 8,000 bulbs are coaxed into flowering simultaneously, providing an explosion of color against the backdrop of the departing winter. An impressive display of crocuses, hyacinths, narcissi, irises, lilies, tulips and non-hardy South African bulbs offer an early glimpse of spring. The growing process begins in October, when Smith students assist our horticulturists in potting the bulbs and putting them into cold storage.
The Spring Bulb Show always starts the first Saturday in March and runs for two weeks, including the third weekend.
Art in Bloom
In line with our mission to “facilitate collaboration” and encourage and train students to be “informed and impactful change agents,” the botanic garden was thrilled to implement a new collaborative approach to the 2023 Spring Bulb Show. The show boasted the visionary imagination and interpretation of three of Smith’s studio art majors: Wells Wells ’23, Anne (Annie) Uesugi ’23 and Benjamin (Benny) Kleinman-Eddy ’23. As a result of this installation's great success, the Spring Bulb Shows continue to showcase student art work.