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Please note: during Art in Bloom, March 18–22, paid timed tickets are required for admission to the collection galleries, NCMA Café, and Museum Store in West Building. East Building and its galleries and the Museum Park remain open and free to visitors. Admission is now SOLD OUT. 

What’s Blooming This Spring in the NCMA’s Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park

Spring is in full swing! Come celebrate with a tour of the flowers in bloom in the Museum Park.
A mix of white flowering bulbs in all shapes and sizes welcomes visitors at the main NCMA entrance; all photos: Rachel Woods

Begin your exploration of color in the formal landscape around East Building and West Building.

Saucer Magnolia, Magnolia x soulangeana, blooms every year in early spring along the walkway to East Building.

A variety of bulbs and Lenten Rose begin blooming in early spring in the landscape beds throughout the Plaza.

Lenten Rose blooming beneath the Saucer Magnolia along the entrance path between East Building and West Building
Tulip Madonna and Coral Bells

Take a short walk from the Plaza to the Carla McKinney Volunteer Garden to see beautiful, native flowering trees, including Redbud Trees and White Fringetrees.

Redbud Tree
White Fringetree

During your tour of blooms in the Carla McKinney Volunteer Garden, be sure not to miss the Catawba Rhododendron, Dwarf Fothergilla, Florida Anisetree, and Lenten Rose.

Catawba Rhododendron
Dwarf Fothergilla is a low-growing attractive shrub with white fluffy blooms appearing in early April.
Florida Anisetree
Lenten Rose

Head to Picture This to see the Crossvine and Carolina Jessamine blooming on the R letter form. These beautiful native vines are excellent nectar sources in early spring for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Crossvine
Carolina Jessamine

In April look for the Apple Serviceberry and Flowering Dogwood Tree blooming throughout the Museum Park.

Apple Serviceberry
Flowering Dogwood Tree

In April the woodlands in the Museum Park are full of native wildflowers, such as this Green and Gold, Perfoliate Bellwort, and Bloodroot:

Green and Gold
Perfoliate Bellwort
Bloodroot

The Parterre Garden and Wave Gardens surrounding the Ellipse provide a variety of floral displays throughout spring:

In late April and early May, the Wave Gardens surrounding the Ellipse come alive with a sea of blooming Bluestar. The little blue flowers on thousands of Bluestar form a ripple of color through the landscape.
Lilac Wonder Tulip in bloom in the Parterre Gardens
In May Adam’s Needle, Yucca filamentosa, produces abundant blooms in the Parterre Gardens.

Come visit the Park this spring and capture your own colorful pictures! Share them on social media at #ncartmuseum and #ArtNaturePeople.

Picture of Rachel Woods
Rachel Woods is director of the Museum Park at the North Carolina Museum of Art.

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2 thoughts on “What’s Blooming This Spring in the NCMA’s Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park”

  1. Melina

    Thank you for capturing these beautiful pictures and informing the public of the names of these beauties! Be well 🙂

    Reply
  2. Sandy Spiege

    So enjoyed your pictorial tour of spring flowing plants and trees in the museum garden. How about regular such pictorials following the seasons?
    The garden is a true treasure that is unique to this North Carolina Museum of Art.

    Reply

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