BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- At the Buffalo and Erie Botanical Gardens, the spring flower exhibit is in full bloom. "It's really going to bring joy, we've seen such gray skies, especially the chilly weather," Botanical Gardens marketing manager Shaunna Mooney said. "The last couple weeks it might not feel like spring outside, but it feels like spring in here." From tulips to hydrangeas, there are more than 30,000 bulbs beginning to flourish for the season. "They bloomed just last night, so they're open for everybody to see," Mooney said. The gardens have welcomed visitors with the sights and smells of nature for 125 years. They've recently made some big changes, including their new family play space and the addition of a tropical orchard to help educate families about the importance of pollinators. When the community visits the gardens' exhibits and events, it's like a watering can full of support for the not-for-profit organization. "Just being here and visiting and providing admission supports us in more ways than you can know," Mooney said. "We have a small but mighty team of about 35 people. We also have incredible volunteers that are here every single day to help keep the plants healthy and looking beautiful for our visitors, so it's really a team effort." Those who would like to spend some time to stop and smell the flowers, you don't need a plane ticket to paradise. "There's no space like it in Buffalo, especially during these winters," Mooney said. "It's a great place to come and warm up, see some plants, get some oxygen. It's really like taking a trip to Florida, right here in the backyard of Buffalo." The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens are open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. every day, and the spring flower exhibit will be blossoming until April 28. The gardens also have a variety of events happening throughout the season, including a Botanical Artisan Market from 5 to 8 p.m. on April 4. For more information about the gardens and events, visit their website at this link. ...read more read less