Bouquets

Parking: Plan to park in the Palm Lot or street parking on Estabrook Drive. Walk to the front doors of the Visitor Center for the event entrance and registration area.

Attire: Think semi-fancy date night when dressing for Bouquets. You’ll see a lot of sweaters and slacks, cute dresses, button-ups, jumpsuits, and dark denim at the event. There is a coat check to leave your jacket. Como Friends pro-tip is to wear boots to the event and change your shoes when you arrive! You can leave boots at coat check with your jacket if you so choose.

Plus Experience Tickets: If you a purchased tickets to the Plus Experience, plan to arrive at 6:00 p.m. There are not physical or electronic tickets to the event, rather your name will be on a list with a name tag at registration. Please have your ID ready.

General Admission Tickets: You should have electronic tickets on your phone from Eventbrite. Please have them up and ready, along with your ID when you arrive at the event at 7:00 p.m. Pro-tip – arrive at 7:15 p.m. and miss the line!

What to bring: Bring a fully charged phone for bidding on the auction, cash or check for the cork pull, and practical shoes for walking through the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory and Visitor Center all evening.

Covid-19: Como Friends and Como Park Zoo & Conservatory continue to follow state, local and venue guidance pertaining to Covid-19. Masks are welcome at Bouquets, but not required. Please stay home if you don’t feel well, if you have symptoms of Covid-19, or if you have been in recent contact with someone diagnosed with Covid-19. Thank you.

Event Festivities |

Welcome to Bouquets, Como Friends’ fabulous winter fundraiser for Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. Thank you for supporting the plants, animals, and free access you love at Como!

Enjoy music from accordionist Mark Stillman and all the activities this evening:

7:00–8:00 p.m. Visit Chloe the Sloth – Tropical Encounters

7:00–9:30 p.m. Como Education Stations

• Spin the Wheel Conservatory Trivia – 2nd Floor Visitor Center

• Carnivorous Plants – Exhibit Gallery Lobby

• Who’s the Daddy? – Fern Room Lobby

• Giraffes – The Ordway Gardens

• Big Cats – Tropical Encounters Exit, Visitor Center Lobby

7:00–9:30 p.m. Learn More about Como’s Plant Collections

• Sunken Garden Volunteer Interpreter – Sunken Garden

• Horticulturist in the Orchid House – Adjacent to the Fern Room

Wine, Beer, and Food Stations

10 Wine Sampling Stations; 7 Beer Sampling Stations; 14 Food Stations;
3 Spirit & Beverage Stations (Located on the 1st and 2nd Floors of the Visitor Center and in the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory)

Cash Bar is located on the 1st Floor of the Visitor Center outside Garden Safari Gifts

Silent Auction of Only Como Selections and
Items to Wine, Dine, and Do!
(Hallway between the Visitor Center and the Conservatory)  

Cork Pull
(Hallway between the Visitor Center and the Conservatory)

Don’t forget to stop by Garden Safari Gifts
(Open all night, 1st Floor of the Visitor Center)

You must be 21 years of age or older to attend Bouquets.

You will be able to bid on auction items using your smartphone or, if you prefer, there will be kiosks staffed by volunteers located at the silent auction.

The auction will open on Monday, February 19 and will close at 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 22. You will be sent the link to the auction site before it opens.

In order to place a bid, you will need to have a valid credit card on file. Credit cards will be run automatically when the auction closes.

If you are the winning bidder of an item, you will be notified on your phone or results will be available at the auction. Auction check-out will begin at 9:15 p.m. at the silent auction.

AUCTION RULES

• All bids must be placed through your smartphone or the kiosk.

• Opening minimum bids are listed online for each item and bids must be raised in the dollar increments listed for each item.

• Remember, a bid is a legal contract to buy.

• No items are to be removed prior to full settlement.

• Inspect all items and read all descriptions and limitations before purchasing.

• All items are sold as is.

• Every effort has been made to provide accurate information for each item.

• Como Friends and its volunteers are not responsible for descriptions, values, or authenticity of information supplied by donors.

• There are no refunds or exchanges unless noted.

• Auction items may be substituted, withdrawn or added prior to the event. Restrictions may apply.

• A portion of your purchase may be tax-deductible, but please consult your tax advisor before automatically deducting your purchase.

• You must be 21 years of age or older to bid on packages containing alcoholic beverages.

Garden Safari Gifts will be open for the duration of the event.