TOPSFIELD -- As spring temperatures begin to melt winter's heavy frost, flowers are beginning to bud all over New England. Even inside the Topsfield Town Library, flowers -- as well as art -- will be in full bloom.
From the library's opening 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 19 until around 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 21, the town's three garden clubs will have their floral arrangements on display. Each design was created to mimic or complement a work of art hanging in the library. The Village Gardeners, the New Meadow Garden Club and the Topsfield Garden Club are behind the library's free exhibition. Many of the paintings translated into flora are on loan from the DeCordova Museum.
Topsfield Library Executive Director Jackie White said the event will be much like the Art in Bloom program at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. She also said it was the perfect way to usher in the new season.
"The whole place will be fragrant," White said. "It will smell like spring in here."
White, who used to design floral arrangements herself, jumped at the chance to host the event when the three garden clubs in town approached her with the idea.
"It's another nice way to connect with the community," she said.
The world of floral design can be a highly competitive one, says White, but this event will be about the appreciation of the natural beauty of the flowers.
"It's a great opportunity for people that want to get into floral design competitions," White said. "They can jump in without being judged."
But a few of the participants are no stranger to competition. Some are award-winning designers, she said.
In addition to celebrating spring, the Topsfield Library hopes that the event will also help highlight the very talented residents who call Topsfield home.
"They do a beautiful job," White said. "It's amazing the amount of talent we have in town."
Want to go?
Where: Topsfield Town Library
When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 19; noon to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 20; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 21
