Visitors to San Francisco's Botanical Garden have received a musical treat with a series of pianos scattered among the flowers. It's part of an open-air public music project giving garden-goers the chance to tickle the ivories.

Musical arrangements join flower arrangements, transforming nature into an outdoor concert hall.
San Francisco Botanical Garden, in conjunction with Sunset Piano, call the event "Flower Piano" which spans over 12 days in July.

"We have brought twelve pianos to the botanical garden for everybody to enjoy."

Twelve pianos have been brought in and placed in various nooks and crannies throughout the 55-acre garden.

Visitors to San Francisco's Botanical Garden have received a musical treat with a series of pianos scattered among the flowers. It's part of an open-air public music project giving garden-goers the chance to tickle the ivories.

"It's a beautiful setting. It's a beautiful instrument. It kind of takes you to a whole different place," said Brendan Lange, Marketing manager, San Francisco Botanical Gardens.

Professional pianists put on impromptu performances throughout the duration of the event for often-times surprised nature lovers.

But organizers say the heart of Flower Piano are the novices who show up, often with sheet music in hand, to play simply for the sheer delight of it.

More than 50,000 guests enjoyed the oasis of music and natural beauty, often drawn into little explored corners of the park by the music.

"There's gorgeous little pockets, nooks and crannies, all over this garden. When you get to put a piano in a really impactful place in one of those areas and draw people there, it's amazing," said Brendan Lange.

Musician Freddie Price says that the whole effect is magical.

"To be able to come upon something that is normally so rarified and in a controlled environment outside in danger is a magical thing," said Freddie Price, musician.

And best of all it brings out musicality in the public.

"Besides us performers who are officially here, anyone can come up and play piano and that's a wonderful thing," said Freddie Price.

The performances included a wide variety of musical genres - even a sing-along was on the schedule.

"The plants seem very happy about the whole thing. So far we haven't got any complaints from a single plant."

Now in its second year, "Flower Piano" ran from July 7 until July 18.