SPRING … a Spectacular Time of Year at the Botanical Gardens!

Buffalo, NY - Spring is a very busy season at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens with something for all ages.  Opening March 28, the Spring Exhibit will indulge visitors in the beautiful colors and fragrances of spring and a chance to see bunnies, chicks and ducklings as part of a 4-H Mini Farm.  During the spring season, the Easter Bunny will also make a special appearance on April 4, 10 and 11 at the Botanical Gardens. The traditional Easter season would not be complete without the annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 4 and a Wegmans Family Day Spring Celebration on April 11.

Beginning March 28 and running daily through April 26, the Spring Exhibit, Western New York’s favorite Easter tradition, will return. The Botanical Gardens will be dripping with color and spring fragrance; over 21,000 bulbs will be on display as well as fragrant shrubs and flowers of various kinds!  The Horticulture team at the Botanical Gardens has chosen a few favorites from the upcoming exhibit and encourage visitors to look for them during the Spring Exhibit.  A classic annual feature is Narcissus and, this year, the variety ‘Yellow Cheerfulness’ will make visitors smile from ear to ear.  It has a creamy-yellow frilly double flower that has a heavenly aroma. Tulip ‘Spryng Break’ is an added new variety this year.  It has an amazing color changing process that starts white with intense fuchsia-red flames and slowly turns to mostly fuchsia-red with exterior pink to white flames and interior yellow flames.  All the spring bulbs will be complemented by some extraordinary and unusual plants.  Featured this year will be Bok Choy ‘Purple Lady’.  It has fantastic foliage with striking deep-purple leaves and bright-green stems. Another show stopper will be Shirley Poppy ‘Amazing Grey’.  It has beautiful lavender-grey tissue paper petals that fade to leave adorable, chocolate-colored cap seed pods behind. Dandelions are not always thought of as being beautiful, but visitors will be amazed with the Pink Dandelion.  This rare and ornamental dandelion has a bright-yellow center with creamy-pink delicate petals. It will definitely upstage its “weedy” cousin. These are just a few of the thousands of plants that can be enjoyed at this year’s Spring Exhibit.

A 4-H Mini Farm will also be part of the fun and will be included with the exhibit.  The 4-H Mini Farm will feature live bunnies, chicks and ducklings and will be located inside the Botanical Gardens.  The animals will be among the spring plants giving visitors a true sense of spring!  The iconic Easter Bunny will also visit the Botanical Gardens from 10:00am-4:00pm on April 4, 10 and 11. 

The Spring Exhibit will be open daily from 10:00am-4:30pm and is included with admission to the Botanical Gardens.  Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.  Prices are: $12.50 for adults, $11 for seniors 62 and over, $11 for students 13 and over with ID, $7 for kids 3-12 and Botanical Gardens’ Members and kids two and under are free.  The Spring Exhibit is sponsored by: M&T Bank, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County, 4-H, Buffalo Spree, Star 102.5 and Backyard Party Supply.

The Easter Egg Hunt is one of the most popular events at the Botanical Gardens as it sells out every year. Kids ages seven and under are eligible to participate. The hunt begins at 11:00am, and this is a pre-registration only event, so organizers suggest registering early to ensure a spot. The Botanical Gardens will be full of activity the day of the hunt as the visitors can explore the Spring Exhibit, enjoy a scavenger hunt and win prizes. Register online at buffalogardens.com.  Ticket prices are: $8 for Botanical Gardens’ Members, $10 for the general public and after March 23, all Easter Egg Hunt tickets are $12.  Pre-registered hunters are also admitted free to the Botanical Gardens this day.  The Easter Egg Hunt is sponsored by M&T Bank, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County 4-H, Buffalo Spree, Star 102.5 and Backyard Party Supply.

Wegmans Family Day Spring Celebration will be held on April 11 from 10:00am-4:00pm.  Celebrate all things spring at this fun family event.  Smell the scents of beautiful blooming bulbs while creating spring-inspired crafts.  Fun activity stations will be located throughout the Botanical Gardens. While activities are best aligned for children ages 5-12, caregivers of the youngest learners are encouraged to assist with the creations.  The Easter Bunny will also attend this event from 10:00am-4:00pm, and pictures with the Bunny are available for $5 each.  This event provides a safe learning environment for children and all activities are peanut-allergy friendly.  The Wegmans Family Garden and this event are sponsored by Wegmans.  The Spring Celebration is included with admission and tickets can be purchased online or at the door.  Prices are: $12.50 for adults, $11 for seniors 62 and over, $11 for students 13 and over with ID, $7 for kids 3-12 and Botanical Gardens’ Members and kids two and under are free.

Exhibit and event organizers would like to make a special note to the public that the Botanical Gardens will be closed March 26-27 in preparation for the Spring Exhibit.

Use @Buffalogardens when posting and tagging on social media. Proceeds benefit the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens Society Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with a mission to inspire curiosity and connect people to the natural world through its historic living museum.