Spring flowers bloom in Alexandria

A floral arrangement inspired by a painting at the Art League's Biennial Ikebana Show. (Erica Fortwengler/The Art League)

There might still be snow on the ground outside, but flowers are blooming in Alexandria at the Art League. The Torpedo Factory gallery is hosting its biennial ikebana show, in which a mix of orchids and lilies mingle with art. Twenty-two flower arrangers from the D.C.-based Sogetsu School show works from the Torpedo Factory to inspire Japanese-style floral arrangements, and the resulting installations will be shown alongside pieces that served as artistic muses. Curious how an ikebana springs to life? A flower-arranging demo takes place at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

If the blooming art isn't enough to warm you up, there is also a mock Japanese tea ceremony on Sunday at 1:30 p.m., during which the Portrait Gallery's Stephen di Girolamo discusses the art of tea preparation. To cap off the show's five-day run, musicians from the Washington Toho Koto Society perform on traditional Japanese stringed instruments on Sunday at 3 p.m.

-- Stephanie Merry