Spring has sprung a bit earlier than expected in Memphis this year, and Dixon Gallery and Gardens is kicking off the season with a special garden party. Guests can celebrate the warming weather surrounded by tulips and other seasonal blooms.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Dixon being a must-see destination for rotating museum and garden exhibitions. The Golden Anniversary Garden Party invites Memphians to celebrate this milestone and experience the Dixon’s vast gardens in the same stylish fashion that co-founder Margaret Oates Dixon enjoyed hosting garden parties for her guests over 50 years ago.
As part of the evening’s festivities, a tulip naming ceremony will take place to honor Margaret Dixon, celebrating her legacy of bringing people together and inspiring a love of art and horticulture.
What is a tulip naming ceremony?
The tulip naming ceremony is a tradition that first originated in the Netherlands. Also called a “tulip baptism,” a unique tulip variety is officially named in honor of an individual, typically someone who has made a significant impact in their community. During the Dixon’s Golden Anniversary Garden Party, a yellow variety, registered under the Royal General Bulb Growers’ Association, will be named the Margaret Oates Dixon Tulip.
What else can I expect during the garden party?
The Golden Anniversary Garden Party commemorates the Dixon’s establishment 50 years ago, honoring the vision of Margaret and Hugo Dixon, who made plans before their passing in 1974 to open their 17-acre residence to the public to celebrate art, nature, and beauty and ensure a richer cultural life for Memphians and visitors.
In addition to experiencing the rare traditions of a tulip baptism, guests will enjoy festive picnic foods, beer and wine, live entertainment by Memphis band 3 Mississippi, and access to view the Dixon’s display of 650,000 tulips, specially planted for this milestone year.
The Dixon’s Golden Anniversary Garden Party takes place Saturday, March 28, from 4-7 p.m., on the Dixon’s South Lawn, with the tulip naming at 5:30 p.m. Tickets to attend are $76 and available at dixon.org. The Dixon is located at 4339 Park Ave. in East Memphis.
Bonus
Those unable to attend can still enjoy the Dixon’s 650,000 tulips before they’re gone for the season! Admission to the Dixon is “free for good” for all visitors. This means anyone can enjoy the colorful gardens and art-filled galleries with rotating exhibitions, including Mary Sims: A Retrospective, opening April 19, followed by Cafe Society: Art and Sociability in Paris, 1855 – 1914, on view later this summer.
Museum and garden hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Every third Thursday of the month, the property is open for extended hours until 8 p.m.
