The Milwaukee Art Museum opened "Beauty in Bloom" today, a weekend-long event showcasing gardening, floral arranging and landscape design from over 45 renowned Midwest floral designers. 

In addition to the designs on display – inspired by MAM's feature exhibition "Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair" – "Beauty in Bloom" also includes lectures, seminars and activities for gardeners both young and old.

The festivities begin today with an opening reception tonight starting at 5:30 p.m. The reception serves as the first opportunity to see the gown-inspired floral arrangements shop at the Beauty Bazaar marketplaces set up through the weekend. Later, on Saturday night beginning at 6 p.m., "Beauty in Bloom" will also bring a fashion show debuting New York designer Katherine Feiner's 2015 spring designs, as well as local artist and florist gowns and accessories crafted out of blooms. 

The event will continue on through the weekend with the marketplaces, additional garden arrangements, a nail bar, beauty boutique, informative presentations on fashion and flowers, and a Stallion Station featuring a cigar bar, scotch tastings, shoe shining and barber services. Children's book author Lois Ehlert will also be at the event both Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.

"Beauty in Bloom" will be open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., as well as Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.