More than 125 of the Bay Area’s most sought after floral designers created an array of floral arrangements in the de Young Museum for Bouquets to Art 2013. In creating their arrangements, these designers paid tribute to and drew their inspiration from the art in the de Young’s permanent collections.

The week-long exhibition features floral demonstrations by both local and nationally acclaimed floral designers, elegant seated luncheons by McCalls on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday—and for the first time this year, a champagne brunch on Saturday—that complement the flower-bedecked galleries and public spaces in the museum. Bouquets to Art 2013 concludes on Saturday afternoon, March 23, with a raffle drawing of deluxe prizes that include jewelry, travel packages and other luxury items. All proceeds from the event benefit the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

In the 29 years since its inception, this event presented by the volunteer members of the San Francisco Auxiliary of the Fine Arts Museums, has drawn nearly 642,000 visitors and as of this year, its projected total net proceeds are $5.5 million. Funds from Bouquets to Art have been used to help underwrite special exhibitions, art acquisitions, educational programs and special projects at the Legion of Honor and the de Young Museum. 

Proceeds from Bouquets to Art 2012 were used to fund, in part, the exhibition Royal Treasures from the Louvre: Louis XIV to Marie-Antoinette, on view at the Legion of Honor through March 17, 2013. This exhibition provides visitors the opportunity to view some examples from former royal collections housed in the Musée du Louvre’s Département des Objets d’art.

Other recent exhibitions supported by Bouquets to Art include Masters of Venice: Renaissance Painters of Passion and Power from the Kunsthistoriches Museum, Vienna, 2012; Balenciaga and Spain, 2011; the two Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay exhibitions in 2010; The State Museums of Berlin and the Legacy of James Simon, 2008; Marie-Antoinette and the Petit Trianon at Versailles, 2007; and International Arts and Crafts: William Morris to Frank Lloyd Wright, 2005.

Bouquets to Art 2013 Schedule of Events

Monday, March 18

“The Golden Age,” opening night gala and preview

6:30–9:30 pm, with 5:30 entry for Patron ticket holders

Advance tickets are required. Call 415-750-3504

Tuesday, March 19

9:30 am–5:15 pm: Floral exhibits

10 am: Floral demonstration by Bill Taylor, “The History of Flower Arranging from the Egyptians to the Present”

Noon: Luncheon in Piazzoni Murals Room

1:30 pm: Floral demonstration by Talmage McLaurin, publisher, Florists’ Review Magazine

Wednesday, March 20

9:30 am–5:15 pm: Floral exhibits

10 am: Floral demonstration by Cort Schwanabeck, owner of Acres House and Garden, St. Helena

Noon: Luncheon in Piazzoni Murals Room

1:30 pm: Floral demonstration by Laura Dowling, floral artist and chief floral designer,

the White House

6–8 pm: Fine Arts Museums members’ viewing hours

Thursday, March 21

9:30 am–5:15 pm: Floral exhibits

10 am: Floral demonstration by Danielle Rollins, author of Soirée: Entertaining with Style and contributing editor to Veranda and Southern Living magazines

Noon: Luncheon in Piazzoni Murals Room

6–8 pm: Fine Arts Museums members’ viewing hours

Friday, March 22

9:30 am–5:15 pm: Floral exhibits

Saturday, March 23

9:30 am–5:15 pm: Floral exhibits, raffle drawing

11 am: Champagne brunch in Piazzoni Murals Room

General admission allows access to all floral exhibits located in the permanent collection galleries. Tickets go on sale Friday, January 22, 2013. $20 Adults; $17 Seniors (65 and above); $16 Youths 6–17; Members and children 5 and under are free. General admission tickets may be purchased in advance either online or in person at the museum box office during regular museum hours. Advance tickets are required for the luncheons, champagne brunch, and floral demonstrations. For more information and to order tickets, go to deyoungmuseum.org/bouquets.