Bloom!
Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor
Bloom! is a festival of horticulture which was launched as a way of celebrating 250 years of the Ancient Society of York Florists. Happily, it’s now an annual event focusing on floral displays and beautiful hidden gems in York that caters to both the green-fingered and those green behind the ears.
As befits York’s reputation as one of the North’s most picturesque cities, Bloom! sees the entire area bursting with colour. The festival itself varies each year, but you can expect at least a week of pop-up gardens, floral displays and everything flower-related. The entire programme takes in more than just pretty arrangements, however, you can also participate in workshops and community initiatives, not to mention a mixture of one-off small-scale events and larger, more ambitious installations. This includes talks, trails and guided tours and window-dressing all over the city.
Of course, this all goes back to the impressive fact that York’s Ancient Society of York Florists is the oldest floristry society in the world. Back in 2018, they marked their 250th anniversary with this celebration of floristry in locations throughout the city, which proved an instant hit with locals and visitors, meaning it has become a welcome recurring attraction.
While making York look prettier than ever, Bloom! is a particular treat for those creatively-minded folk who are interested in gardening and botany. Rare flowers from all over the world, artfully arranged into charming displays, will be on display in the Minster and at other key locations. Prepare to see York looking its best and taking its rightful place on the horticultural map.
