When I’m at the information desk, I’m often asked about the flower arrangements that greet visitors entering the museum. Since 1997, Smithsonian Horticulturalist Cheyenne Kim has arranged the flowers in the Sackler’s lobby. The vivid blooms are a continuing gift from Else Sackler, Arthur M. Sackler’s first wife.
Inspired by visitors’ frequent questions about the arrangements, I created this family activity for our in-person and online visitors. It’s designed to be a conversation between adults and children ages 4–8. Try it in the museum or at home with one of our many flower-filled artworks.
Pick one word to describe how the flowers make you feel.
What colors do you see?
Are the lines straight? Squiggly? Slanted? Curved?
Think about the smells. Are they sweet? Fresh? Spicy?
Draw your own arrangement. Choose flowers that have the colors, lines, and shapes that you want to see together!
Think about where you would want to display your flower creation.
