RALEIGH, N.C. — Spring is in the air at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh with the annual Art In Bloom festival, which attracts people from all over. 

What You Need To Know 

Art In Bloom is on display from March 16-20 at the North Carolina Museum of Art 

Floral designers from across the state interpret works of art from the museum's collection 

Tickets are required to see the display 

All proceeds go to the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation Inc. 

The event returns Wednesday, March 16 and will be on display through March 20.

More than 40 florist from across North Carolina are tasked with creating floral displays that are interpretations of works of art in the museum's collection.  

This year, the theme reflects the multiculturalism of the museum's collection, featuring instillations from American, British, French, Indian, Dutch and Mexican cultures.

Christopher Pannesi-Fessler is a wedding florist based out of Wake Forest, displaying an interpretation of the Fragile 7 by Eddy Kamuagna Ilunga. 

"It's a tradition of mine. My aunt and I used to go every single year long before I was an actual florist, it sparks so much inspiration, it's an incredible journey to watch yourself grow and push yourself through leaps and bounds of becoming an artist and letting people see art through your eyes and how you interpret it," said Pannesi-Fessler. 

Pannesi-Fessler has been participating in Art In Bloom for several years. This year, Pannesi-Fessler's display took between 15 to 20 hours to prepare. 

"It's kind of validation that just because you don’t pick up a paint brush or pen and paper, this is my art, and I hope that that’s how people relate to my art," said Pannesi-Fessler. 

For Juno Wilder, a floral hobbyist out of Carrboro, this is her first time participating in Art In Bloom. 

“I grew up gardening and making flowers, I went to art school, I painted flowers, this feels like such an awesome combination of gardening and art, and I feel like I found my medium at last, which is thrilling,” Wilder said. 

Wilder is designing the French portrait of Louis XIV. 

"I am a hobbyist. This is me stepping out to do something that I feel compelled to do and inspired by, and I'm kind of hoping it will develop into something more," Wilder said. 

This year, the Art In Bloom collection also includes a special display from 26 teenagers, who are hospitalized at UNC. Wonder Connection is a non-profit organization that helps promote joy, well-being and self-confidence in hospitalized children and teens through nature and science. 

The teens were assigned Rodin's "Fallen Caryatid with a Stone." With their piece, they included an artist statement that reads: "Each of us has a burden we struggle to carry. We hold ourselves. We try to find strength.”

Katie Stoudemier, who is the Project Director for Wonder Connection, is bringing the teens' vision from the paper to the pedestal. 

“I have loved every part of this process working with the patients! The teens' insights into the artwork and their ability to relate to the art have been thought-provoking, inspiring and meaningful. They had fun creating new floral designs based on their observations, and I’ve loved having a chance to validate their thoughts and opinions by working with them to create a collaborative floral design for Art in Bloom," Stoudemier said.  

Art In Bloom is sponsored by PNC, and all proceeds will go to the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation Inc. 

Tickets are required and can be purchased on the museum's website.