You won’t have to hop on a plane this spring to experience the rare and captivating plant life of the tropics. On March 23, Galleria Edina will bloom to life with the lush greenery and exotic florals of an island escape, as the sixth iteration of its annual floral experience—“Escape to Paradise”— colors its walkways.
A 15-day experience orchestrated in partnership with Bachman’s, the exhibit will lean heavily into bold prints and vibrant colors, melding live florals with largescale art installations (like a 15-foot giraffe) and fashion-forward garments and headdresses.
“Bachman’s is really bringing the theme to life this year with their florals—incorporating tropical plants from as far as California, Florida, and South America,” shares Rachel Oelke, Galleria’s Director of Marketing.
Leading up to the event, the Bachman’s team will spend five overnight shifts installing the gardens, which will encompass more than 100 species of trees, shrubs, plants, and flowers. After opening, florists will return each night to water and refresh before shoppers fill the mall the next day.
“Paradise is an effortless place of beauty and total escape, and we’ll be working behind the scenes to make sure that visitors…feel transported and exhilarated,” Bachman’s CEO Susan Bachman West said in a press release.
The theme itself is a concept dreamt up by landscape architect Bryan Kramer, who drew up renderings of the gardens and installations months in advance. As the creative visionary behind the project, Kramer works closely with Bachman’s floral artists and fabricator Marc Scamp—the artist behind the infrastructure and sculptures—to ensure their creations bring the theme to life.
provided by Galleria Edina
“In everything I do as a designer, I feel my role is to put beauty into the world,” says Kramer. “It’s an interesting time of year in Minnesota—people are so excited about spring, but it can be pretty drab here in March, and even April. To have these amazing colors and sculptures, that’s a gift that Galleria is giving to the community.”
Kramer, who has been involved in the experience for several years, feels that “Escape to Paradise” is one of his strongest concepts, set apart by its overarching ode to fashion. This sartorial theme will shine through in the wearable florals constructed by Scamp, which will range from largescale headpieces to floral dresses adorning mannequins. The exhibit’s consistent use of animal print is a strategic motif as well—tying the experience to both the vibrant wildlife of the tropics and one of the season’s top fashion trends.
“That was one of the goals Galleria had, was to tie the theme back to spring fashion and resort collections,” says Kramer. “To me, it’s Galleria striving to make that retail connection a bit more prominent than in previous shows.”
This “retail connection” presents prime opportunity for Galleria’s store owners to capitalize on the event as well, like Lili Salon Spa’s owner Haley Benjamin, who plans to get creative this year. For the 15 days that Bachman’s exotic gardens brighten the commons, Benjamin will be offering a paradisiacal experience of her own, incorporating tropical-infused drinks and a floral nail decal station into her salon experience.
“It’s been a hit every year with the nail station we create out front,” says Benjamin. “This year, we’re going to offer floral nail decals, chair massages, floral-infused water, and a selfie station.”
As in past years, additional shops will likely join in on the fun through immersive window displays and floral-themed food and drink offerings, enveloping the Galleria in an all-encompassing tropical world.
“We all work together to create an experience that pulls people out of the ordinary,” says Kramer. “It’s a nice reminder that life doesn’t have to be so serious all the time.”
The Galleria’s “Escape to Paradise” floral experience will be open to the public March 23- April 6, viewable during regular mall hours. Free valet parking will be available throughout the experience at the mall’s east entrance.
