INHALE A DEEP BREATH OF FRESH AIR AT THE 36th ANNUAL MACY’S FLOWER SHOW Herald Square is Full of Hot Air as an Old-Fashioned Hot Air Balloon Greets Customers as they enter the Springtime Oasis
Clouds are drifting, kites are soaring, flowers are blooming and the spirit of Spring is in the Air at the 36th annual Macy’s Flower Show®. Escape the blistering cold and enter the best of the four seasons as the Main Floor of Herald Square is transformed from a retail landscape to a very unexpected floral wonderland complete with palm trees and Loch Ness Monster topiaries. Visitors from all five boroughs and across the globe are invited to leave reality behind and take a journey into the world of imagination, as this floral fantasy goes on display to the public from Sunday, March 28 through Sunday, April 11, 2010. The show opens on Sunday at 11am with a fitting salute by the cast members of the Broadway show Come Fly Away.
A break from the norm, the Macy’s Flower Show allows New Yorkers to step out of the hustle and bustle of everyday life in the Big Apple, into a serene, floral sanctuary worlds away from the sirens and chatter. There is no other indoor garden that compares - the vibrant plants and flowers envelope the entire Main Floor of the Broadway Building and spill out into the world-famous windows. Some species will be easily recognizable to the untrained eye while others that have been transported from around the globe will keep visitors guessing. Nonetheless, with the overwhelming aroma of blooming flowers and the breathtaking spectrum of colors, there is no question about it… Spring is in the Air.
Working with the trusted Ireland Gannon Associates, Macy’s spends an entire year developing one idea into a huge production that is only on display for two fleeting weeks. It takes one week, hundreds of designers and supporters working endlessly around the clock and over 100,000 plants and flowers to bring the Macy’s Flower Show to life. It is with hard work and a handful of green thumbs that this visually stunning, floral fantasy seems to magically appear.
"Each year, Macy's signals the optimism and renewal that is the promise of a new season with its Spring Flower Show; an epic event that transforms the store into a vast, floral landscape of breathtaking color," said Robin Hall, the executive producer of the annual extravaganza. "Macy's Flower Show is a massive undertaking involving a year of planning and preparation, and an army of talented people who lovingly gather, transport and plant hundreds of thousands of brilliant plants and exotic trees to bring the spring season into full flower."
This year, each detail of the show directly complements the theme of Spring is in the Air. From the perennial fan favorite Bouquet of the Day centerpieces and world famous windows to the giant hot air balloon floating overhead, the Macy’s Flower Show encourages imaginations to run wild.
Special Attractions:
Centerpiece
Visitors entering the 2010 Flower Show via Macy’s Broadway entrance will literally be swept away as they encounter a life-size hot hair balloon hovering above their heads. The balloon is complete with an old-fashioned wicker basket, exploding with a cornucopia of floral exotics from all around the world. This dramatic display spans twelve feet in diameter and is over sixteen feet tall.
Windows
Soar through glorious skies in a hot air balloon, while gathering loads of beautiful, exotic flowers on the way to the Macy’s Flower Show. These extraordinary scenarios designed by award-winning Director of Herald Square Windows Paul Olszewski, portray a large hot air balloon traveling through a range of settings, gathering flowers along the way and finally landing in the middle of the Flower Show in Herald Square.
Bouquet of the Day
A returning favorite to the show, six larger-than-life bouquets (aka Bouquet of the Day) will be on display down the Main Aisle throughout the entire show. These super creative, sky-high creations will be on rotating display every 2 days for fans to admire. Each year, the designers go above and beyond with their 10-foot tall floral masterpieces; each a dramatic showpiece of aesthetics and artistic skill. This year’s featured Bouquet of the Day designers include Jeff Leatham, Artistic Director of the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris, Rene Hofstede, owner of Mille Fiori Floral and Event Design Ltd., Preston Baily, a world-renowned design guru who has produced events for Donald Trump and Oprah Winfrey, Hannah Ling, owner of Gardenia Organic, Jerry Sibal of Design Fusion and Jorge Cazzorla, President and Creative Director of Celebrate Flowers.
Hours and Events
Visitors craving a more in depth excursion through the springtime setting can participate in a complimentary tour, guided by one of the Macy’s Flower Show docents. Also, there are numerous special events and festivities taking place throughout the two-week long show, from cooking demonstrations to floral arrangements, which are sure to keep visitors entertained for hours.
The 36th annual Macy’s Flower Show can be experienced during regular store hours (10AM – 9:30PM Monday through Saturday and 11AM – 8:30PM on Sunday), and the show is free to the public. For additional information, contact the Macy’s Flower Show hotline at (212) 494-4495, or for guided tours call (212) 494-2922.
