Floriade V

Floriade V--a floral showcase that’s a kind of Rose Parade for the home--opens today at the Banning Residence Museum in Wilmington. The museum, a noted example of domestic Greek Revival architecture, was built as a residence in 1864 by Gen. Phineas Banning, founder of the Port of Los Angeles. With collections of decorative arts, textiles and furnishings, it offers a sampling of life in the formative period of the city of Los Angeles.

For this four-day event, named after a major garden festival in Holland, 20 florists have transformed each room into a floral fantasy aimed at inspiring visitors and raising money for the museum’s educational programs. Speakers during the event will include Chris Giftos, manager of special events for New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, and New York author, floral designer and former fashion designer Carolyne Roehm. Other floral designers and garden experts will offer demonstrations--including a pumpkin-cutting workshop on Sunday.

“This is truly a one-of-a-kind experience for anyone who loves flowers and gardens,” said Lynn Brengel, a co-chair of the event.

“The displays will give people some ideas and maybe a new way to look at flowers and floral material,” said Brentwood florist Wayne Woods.

Following the museum rules of no nails, tape or staples, the florists have transformed the rooms with flowers and foliage. Woods is using a black, orange and chartreuse color scheme for a front-porch Halloween party, with skeletons on cushions of marigolds, bells of Ireland and roses and a giant spider web filled with gold and orange roses.

Marc Byrd of Los Angeles is crowning the upper veranda’s pillars with gold and orange roses and festooning the railings with garlands of eggplant and squash. “We want to create an elegant feast,” he said of the Thanksgiving banquet table, which will be covered with runners of copper and red maple and oak leaves. Seat cushions will be covered with roses and hydrangeas.

In the family parlor, Hank Maarse of Pasadena is combining flowers, fruits and vegetables for centerpieces. “We’re using red and orange roses, ornamental pineapples, late hydrangeas, which are turning red, California maple foliage, ornamental kale and apples,” he said.

“It’s fun to see how far a florist will take something,” said Woods.

Floriade V at the Banning Residence Museum, 401 East M St., Wilmington. Today through Sunday; continuous tours, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is $15 daily, $10 Sunday; lectures priced separately. Toll-free information: (877) 422-6646. Online: https://www.banning.org.