Mt. Holyoke Bulb Show - March 11, 2020 @goldenoakfarm

We live in the 5 college area surrounded by Smith College, Amherst College, Hampshire College, the University of Massachusetts, and Mt. Holyoke College. The hysteria had hit Smith College first and we were supremely lucky to get to see their Bulb Show on Friday night, as they closed it the next day.

This was followed by Amherst College announcing the school was closed for the rest of the semester. We were on tenterhooks this week, wondering if my trip with my friend to Mt Holyoke College’s Bulb Show would be closed, and my husband’s and son’s Steve Hackett concert cancelled.

But Wednesday noon rolled around, the Mt. Holyoke website said it was still open, so we set off. The first thing we noticed was the parking lot as full. Odd. But I hazarded a guess that as it was the last Bulb Show open, maybe everyone flocked here, as unlikely as that seemed.

I noticed the greenhouse was empty as we drove by. We went to go in, and there was a notice, saying it was closed. Just then 2 students came by and they said it had been a sudden announcement, Mt Holyoke was evacuating all students. The cars were parents picking up kids.

There the flowers were, on the other side of the glass, so tantalizingly close. It looked to be an amazing display, the scent HAD to be heavenly.

Masses and masses of fully opened blooms, we were so disappointed. And we just could not get to that heavenly scent I had waited all week for.

So one last longing photo and we set off to see if they had closed the Art Museum, part of this trip we’d planned.

At the end of the greenhouse, we found these aconites and snow crocuses.

Nearby my friend found this Iris reticulata .

Just past the iris she found this little fuzzy plant. I just missed getting the tag in the photo, so I don’t know what it is. Neither of us had ever seen one before.

Sure enough, the Museum was closed, so we headed home. Wednesday evening the Steve Hackett concert was listed as still on so my husband and son headed out. It was a birthday present for my son. I was asleep when they got home so I hope it went well.

Thursday my helper friend is here and it’s to be cold and cloudy outside. So we will work inside setting up the old plant lights and shelves in the kitchen.
Sunday is to be the next seed starting.