On Saturday, May 16, members of the Garden Club of Cleveland (GCC) surprised visitors to Wade Oval with a joyful pop-up floral experience.
It was time for a Flower Flash. GCC members gathered donated and upcycled blooms, created installations, and transformed Wade Oval into a repurposed botanical wonderland.

Two happy Flower Flashers!The event was inspired by the Flower Flashes of New York floral designer Lewis Miller. The one-day installation was all about beauty, creativity, sustainability, and sharing flowers with the public.

“We started the Flower Flash early Saturday morning, installing hundreds of flowers to create a massive floral display,” says GCC member Elizabeth Sheeler, who adds that the Flower Flash is designed to be deconstructed by passersby as the day goes on.

“We were out there, inviting visitors to take pictures and then take flowers,” she recalls. “It was very popular, and the whole thing was pretty well picked apart by the public by about 2 p.m.”

Garden Club members were actively making bouquets on site and giving them away. Passersby were also encouraged to select flowers directly from the installation and make their own bouquets as well.

This was the Garden Club’s first Flower Flash, says Sheeler. It featured hot pink wooden letters spelling CLE adjacent to a large floral display anchored to the sign outside the Cleveland Botanical Garden.

The entire display was created by GCC volunteer members, “although we used donated and repurposed materials from many generous partners,” says Sheeler.

"There were many smiling faces around University Circle during the Flash, as Case Western Reserve University graduates, local families, and visitors alike stopped to take photos and bring a bundle of blooms home with them,” says Sheeler. “In addition to spreading the joyful power of flowers, we heard many comments about the impact of such a simple act of unexpected kindness."

The vibrant, grand-scale installations are designed for wandering, wonder, and unforgettable photo moments, Garden Club members say. Each immersive floral display invites the community to gather, celebrate creativity, and experience sustainability in full bloom.

Sheeler says the Garden Club has two additional Flower Flash events planned in University Circle—one later this summer and one on Oct. 17.

“Our May 16 Flower Flash transformed donated and upcycled flowers and plants into a grand‑scale pop‑up floral display for all to enjoy,” says Sheeler. “Hundreds of people came by to capture the moment, wander around the installation, and grab blooms.”

Sheeler also gives thanks to partners Cleveland Botanical Garden and University Circle, as well as Brown Dog Woodworks, which created the floral structure. The sponsors help support the Garden Club of Cleveland’s Seeding Growth Grants Program, funding projects that make Greater Cleveland greener and more beautiful.