Friday Fun with Flowers in Freezing Weather

Almost two decades ago I first learned of Omaha’s Cathedral Arts Project annual Flower Show.  It’s occurs about the last weekend in January (close to Super Bowl time), because Nebraskans need a reminder that Spring WILL arrive … eventually!  And it draws 10,000 people over its two-day run!

One of the things that so striking about it is that it’s held at St. Cecilia Cathedral, one of the nation’s ten largest cathedrals – and it’s gorgeous!  Another is that they utilize about 30 local florists to develop arrangements based on a yearly Theme (somewhat similar to what the Rose Parade does) that are placed at different stations in the cathedral.  This year’s theme was “A Night at the Movies”.  Other ones have been Quilts, Garments, South Pacific, Harvests, Art from the Joslyn Museum, etc.

But to be honest, it’s frequently hard to tell how the flowers actually reflect or interpret the Theme – it’s pretty loosey-goosey.  The displays are mainly arranged along the Aisles where there are small chapels, altars and shrines, as well as along the Ambulatory in the part of the Apse behind the Sanctuary.  Other than a fairly large arrangement in the Crossing of the Nave (between the North and South Transepts) and a few in the Sanctuary, the Nave and Sanctuary are not a major area where arrangements are displayed..

It was their 31^st Year last weekend, and I’ve been fortunate enough to have gone to at least six.  This year I took my “aunt” and “uncle”.  (They’re actually the brother [a retired Lutheran minister] and sister of my real aunt in Illinois.  But my real aunt is my aunt by marriage, so they’re not my “blood” aunt and uncle.)   I’ve taken them separately at least three other times, but they’re 10-15 years older than I am, and don’t like to drive.  It’s a great day-trip, as Omaha is only about 200 miles north of KCMO.

[But I got to tell you that one time when I took my “pseudo” aunt and sister-in-law it was so cold (well, it IS Omaha) my window washer fluid froze!  I always carry a refill-jug with me – which also froze!  So we stopped at a convenience store, and I put the jug in their microwave to thaw it out, and then added it to the reservoir.  It worked!  But to be fair to Omaha, last weekend it got up to ~ 50 degrees for our trip.]

I’ll share lots of photos of the floral displays.  I know there are quite a few, but it was actually difficult to winnow them down.  Some are my photos, some are from friends I’ve taken, and some are ones I found online. 

And I’ve got to say that the fragrance when you first enter the Cathedral … well, it’s heavenly!

It may be good to begin by orienting you to the layout of the Cathedral.

EXTERIOR

DIAGRAM

Fish-Eye View Of The Sanctuary & About One-Quarter Of The Nave From The North Transept

The Organ Balcony

Small Clerestory Stained Glass Window

(Large Stained Glass Wikndows Are Gorgeous, But Without a Telephoto Lens, It’s Hard To Get A Photo Of Them – But You Can See Them in Several of the Other Photos)

Sampling of Center Arrangements Throughout the Years in the Crossing Part of the Nave, Between the North & South Transepts

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DCF 1.0[/caption]

 

With 10,000 visitors there’s always a wait before you can actually begin the tour.  But they have constant musical programs of choirs, string quartets, pianists, vocal soloists, etc. perform in the sanctuary.  (It’s lost on me, but the friends & family I’ve taken always enjoy being entertained while we wait.)

This “Theme” Was Interpretations Of Paintings From Omaha’s Joslyn Museum

This “Theme” Was Interpretations Of Clothing

The  Ambulatory in the Apse behind the Santuary has quite a bit of already installed artwork (as does the Cathedral as a whole) – but since it’s a relatively small area it’s usually pretty “free-form”

This “Theme” Was Interpretations of Quilts

This “Theme” Was Interpretations Of Paintings From Local Artists

This One Below Is a Painting of St. Cecilia Cathedral

And SOMETIMES They Actully Look Almost Like the Artwork

Of course I wish you could view them in real-life – but this will have to do … unless you make it to Omaha in late January!