Sometimes the first signs of spring are yellow daffodils pushing their faces through melting snow drifts.

“History in Full Bloom” at the Cayuga Museum of History and Art promises to be the local art scene's answer to daffodils seemingly shouting, “Snow, snow, go away!”

The long-standing show incorporates both artful floral arrangements from local florist shops and still-life, landscape and floral-themed works of art from regional artists.

“The bulk of the art is a herald of spring ... paying homage to that element of our charter,” said Carrie Barrett, the exhibit's curator.

“I think it's the best smelling art exhibit around,” said Auburn artist Tom Hussey, whose landscapes of downtown Auburn are well-known.

Hussey has submitted three oil paintings to the exhibit, including one of tulips in his garden and two still-lifes painted in his studio. He paints in his garden each spring because of “the fresh colors.”

Roscha Folger, of Liverpool, has submitted three pieces. One pastel painting is a close-up, “Eye to Eye with Daisies.”

Another is on a hard clay surface called scratchboard. To make this work, Folger used a scratching tool to sketch out a representation of the herb echinacea and then maximized the purple coneflower image with acrylic ink. The ink soaked into the clay, making something that “looks totally different from what anyone else does in oils or watercolors,” Folger said.

Like Hussey, Folger has participated in the show for several years. “It breaks the winter doldrums,” Folger said. “It gives artists the motivation to do something in the floral theme. It's a harbinger of spring. People want to look at something with color and think warm thoughts.”

Mattydale artist Louise Woodard has submitted a painting of a single rose, a cactus and monarch butterfly that all have an element of fantasy.

“I usually have an echo effect,” Woodard said. “The flower is moving toward the light. In the instance of the cactus, several blooms are hanging from the top of the picture. I get transparent colors so you can see (different) colors and mix them visually.”

On the florist end, Cosentino Florist, of Auburn, Fleur-De-Lis, of Skaneateles, Foley Florist, of Auburn and McEvoy Florist Shop, of Auburn, each will arrange a floral delight in keeping with a specific part of the museum.

“We're a very historically-minded family,” said Annemarie Cosentino, who will be the principal person arranging the Cosentino's contribution. “Anything that promotes our community, we are involved,”

Cosentino has a long-standing preference for adorning the Tiffany window nook of the museum with a couple floral arrangements dominated by blue irises and accenting house plants.

“It's synonymous with the Tiffany windows in Willard Chapel and Westminster Church. One of our community strengths is that history,” Cosentino said.

Auburn florist Chris McEvoy enjoys arranging flowers for any of the spaces in the museum, including the front foyer or the wood-paneled main gallery.

“What I like is it gives everyone the opportunity to go to the museum and see nice spring flower arrangements,” McEvoy said. “It's great for the community.”

Fleur-De-Lis is making an arrangement for the museum's pink-themed, southern-facing gallery.

“We're welcoming in spring,” Barrett said.

If you go

What: “History in Full Bloom”

When: Opening reception 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, and exhibit opens

Saturday; museum hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday; continues through March 26

Where: Cayuga Museum of

History and Art, 203 Genesee St., Auburn

Cost: Donations are accepted

For details: Call

253-8051