Memphis Botanic Garden’s spring BLOOM exhibition runs March–May 2026 with tulips, cherry blossoms, azaleas

A season-long spring exhibition in East Memphis

Memphis Botanic Garden has launched a spring exhibition titled “BLOOM: A Million Shades of Spring,” scheduled to run from March through May 2026 across the garden’s 96-acre campus at 750 Cherry Road in Audubon Park. The exhibition is designed as a multi-week visitor experience tied to peak spring bloom periods, including large-scale tulip plantings and the garden’s established cherry blossom areas.

The garden describes BLOOM as a season presented in three phases, structured around cherry blossoms, a tulip-focused display period, and later-spring flowering associated with Southern landscapes. The concept is to encourage repeat visits as plantings reach different peak windows rather than concentrating activity into a single weekend festival format.

What visitors can expect to see

The exhibition’s central claim is the presence of more than one million blooms over the course of the season. The garden’s programming frames the bloom progression in three “chapters”:

• Cherry blossoms, presented as a signature spring walking experience.
• A tulip showcase, promoted as the most visually concentrated portion of the season.
• Late-spring “Southern delights,” including azaleas, magnolias, hydrangeas, irises, and other regional spring flowering plants.

Beyond horticultural displays, the garden lists additional elements intended to shape visitor flow and on-site activity, including guided walks, workshops, family-oriented activities, and designated photo areas and botanical installations.

Programming highlights scheduled during the run

Event and program offerings are positioned as recurring features during the three-month span. The garden has identified a weekly Saturday component featuring cultural partners, along with ticketed or special-event experiences branded “Petals & Parasols” and “Tulips at Twilight.” The garden has also advertised ongoing guided activities and classes during the exhibition period, alongside general daily access to the specialty gardens.

The exhibition is structured to change week by week as different plantings peak, reflecting seasonal shifts rather than a fixed display.

Plan a visit: hours, tickets, and practical details

Memphis Botanic Garden operates daily admission with posted general entry prices of $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (62+), $7 for children ages 2–12, and free admission for children under 2. Members receive free general admission entry. The garden lists its standard warm-season hours as 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and winter hours as 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with winter hours ending March 7, 2026.

Parking is advertised as available on-site near the Visitors Center, with additional parking used for some special events. The garden also notes that it may close early on select concert days, which can affect afternoon visit planning during spring.

Why the Park and Cherry corridor is part of the story

The garden has emphasized the intersection of Park Avenue and Cherry Road as a focal point for spring visitation, highlighting the proximity of another major garden across Park Avenue. In practical terms, that concentration can influence traffic patterns and peak-day crowding, particularly during weekend bloom windows and during special programs scheduled during the March–May run.