See if you can spot the artwork among the thousands of tulips.
Spring is finally here, and the legendary Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, New York, is celebrating in a big way: by planting 20,000 tulips. But they did it with a twist. To mark the resort's iconic Tulip Festival this year, the team had sculptures created especially for Mohonk by students from nearby SUNY Ulster's sculpture program.
Fourteen students were commissioned to create unique wire sculptures of insects, designed and installed to blend seamlessly into the gardens, creating a whimsical space for guests and visitors to tiptoe through the tulips and find joy in discovering each of the art pieces. In fact, the artwork—which includes bees, butterflies, and other insect sculptures—is hidden among the flowers, making it an exploratory experience for visitors and guests who try to find the hidden gems.
The students' assignments were to research and create an accurate model of an insect of their choice, but obviously at a larger scale. It was an exercise in proportion and structure, according to Joan Ffolliott, an instructor for the class. The result was sculptures ranging in size from just 10 inches to over two feet tall.
From April 25 to May 8, guests who attend Mohonk's annual Tulip Festival will be able to view the sculptures and enjoy a variety of themed programming. For example, there's a pressed flower bookmark-making class, a tai chi class among the tulips, and a buttercream flowers-making demonstration. That's in addition to flower-themed storytime, origami flower making, a beeswax candle-making workshop, a croquet garden party, and a class where you can make beaded chenille stem flowers for Mother's Day. There's also the opportunity to "tiptoe through the tulips" with a Greenhouse staff member who can explain how the varying shades of flowers came to be.
Of course, all of this is in addition to the regular programming offered at the historic hotel. Guests can go on hikes with Mohonk's onsite naturalist, take a boat out on the lake, go for a swim in the indoor pool, enjoy a spa service, or participate in one of the many non-tulip related activities like archery, tomahawk throwing, tennis, basketball, and more. The goal is to embrace the stunning local nature with the thousands of tulips acting as an added experiential bonus.
While day visitors are welcome to explore the grounds (including the tulip garden), overnight guests get three daily meals, yoga, meditation and fitness classes, afternoon tea and cookies in the historic Lake Lounge, nightly entertainment, and seasonal activities like tennis. Reservations are required for both day passes and overnight.
And if you're interested in other flower happenings in the state, the Albany Tulip Festival is taking place on May 7 and 8, featuring over 140,000 tulips in 150 different varieties. Or, head to the Rochester Lilac Festival for lots of fragrant lilacs. At the same time, Linwood Gardens hosts its Linwood Tree Peony Festival of Flowers, which includes over 114 varieties of Japanese and American tree peonies.
There's honestly no better time to stop and smell the flowers.
