Granted, flower art probably gets a bit of a bad rap, not the least because of the hysterical scene in "A Confederacy of Dunces" where Ignatius Reilly, dressed as a pirate and selling hot dogs from a cart, invades a women's floral art exhibition in an archly-critical mode. "Magnolias don't look like that," Ignatius says at one point. "You ladies need a course in botany." Worry not! "Gilding the Lily" is the Spirit Gallery Tattoo's very fine floral art show, opening with an artists' reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday.

The show is presented by photographer/artist Michael Dodd, who arranged the image here (above). Show runs through Saturday. Spirit Gallery Tattoo is at 207 Bank St., New London; (860) 443-0484, spiritgallerytattoo.com.