9th Annual Art in Bloom, August 30-September 1

Nothing lasts forever. This is especially true of fresh flowers, which grow pallid and mournful within days of being harvested. That’s part of what makes Art in Bloom, a floral ​​fête hosted at The Gallery at Flat Rock each summer, just so winsome. Now in its ninth iteration, the event pairs 20 professional floral designers with 20 pieces of juried visual art. The floral designers must then interpret the art using blooms and buds, creating temporary tributes that are displayed alongside the original works during Labor Day weekend. Last year, East Flat Rock creative Melanie Hopkins presented a mixed-media collage featuring cascading strips of ephemera. Hannah Hall, owner and designer at Fern and Flora Studios in Columbia, South Carolina, then crafted a bouquet that “incorporated colorful flowers, with orange being the dominant hue, and greenery varying in size and texture which echo the delicate patterns of the many pieces of paper used in the collage,” says Hopkins. This year’s festivities kick off with a preview reception on Friday evening ($75). The exhibit is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, with $5 admission at the door. Proceeds from the three-day event will benefit St. Gerard House, a Henderson County nonprofit serving individuals with autism.