Kiku: The Art of the Japanese Garden, the acclaimed fall exhibition, is returning with magnificent to the New York Botanical Garden this October with displays of gorgeous chrysanthemums, according to a press release.
The exhibit will run from October 8-30, 2016 at the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. Guests can expect magnificent displays of chrysanthemums in awe-inspiring shapes and styles. Kiku, the Japanese word for “chrysanthemum,” is the most celebrated of all Japanese fall-flowering plants, and the exhibit will celebrate the flower’s rich history.
Botanical Garden experts work up to 11 months each year to grow, train and shape the kiku on display. Cultivated from tiny cuttings, the plants are pinched back, tied to frames and carefully nurtured. The display pays homage to hanami, the traditional Japanese custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers, and visitors will learn about the history of the chrysanthemum as it traveled from its native China to Japan and ultimately to the West.
There will be three traditional kiku styles displayed in the Haupt Conservatory:
Ozukuri (Thousand Bloom): In this highly complex technique, a single stem is trained to produce hundreds of simultaneous blossoms in a massive, dome-shaped array.
Kengai (Cascade): This technique features small-flowered chrysanthemums which are trained to conform to boat-shaped frameworks that cascade downward like waterfalls for lengths of up to six-and-a-half feet.
Ogiku (Double and Triple Stem): These plants feature enormous individual flowers perched at the ends of stems up to six feet tall.
In addition to the floral displays, there will be taiko drumming on weekends and daily roaming guides stationed throughout the exhibition. Other attractions include ikebana demonstrations, meditation walks, haiku workshops and more. On October 15 and 16, during the Aki Matsuri Japanese Fall Celebration, visitors can participate in extra activities throughout the Botanical Garden in conjunction with the opening of the Judy and Michael Steinhardt Maple Collection, which features prized Japanese maples.
Families are also encouraged to take a stroll along the Poetry Walk to view poems that highlight the Japanese art of haiku and tanka. Special poetry workshops will also be a part of the events on October 15 and 16. And on October 8 and 15, people can also listen to traditional Japanese music while sipping a complimentary sake cocktail.
For more information on the exhibits and other events at the Garden, visit nybg.org.
RELATED: Check Out Museums Near You
Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest updates on fun events and other family activities in your area.
