By Corrie Dosh, photos by Eric Wong

"April showers bring May flowers," as the saying goes, but residents of the Big Apple don't need to wait a whole month before experiencing the bloom of spring. One of the first signs of warmer weather in New York City is the annual Macy's flower show.

For two weeks from March 24 to April 7, visitors delighted in millions of vibrant blooms and organic displays outside the flagship department store in Macy's Herald Square.

The display, titled "The Painted Garden," took inspiration from India and Middle Asia. The vast display reflects the elaborate architecture, lavish formal gardens, intense jewel tones and lively spice market colors so typical of that part of the world.

The flower show sprouted at five Macy's flagship locations across the U.S. including Philadelphia, Chicago, Minneapolis and San Francisco. It has been an American tradition for 40 years, drawing visitors with over-the-top presentations of live flowers, plants and trees.

The display windows of the department store are also transformed into a "magical celebration" of Middle Asia. Each window features its own color scheme set in a vibrantly floral and jewel-toned fantasy world.

The romantic show has led to sweet moments for many couples, and especially for Santina Bowers and Moise Naolo.

The couple met two years ago at the show and their relationship blossomed into love. Naolo, 26, a New York City police officer, proposed in front of the Macy's window where they first met and the two were wed on opening day of this year's show.

"With their back story, their amazing meeting, the proposal -- it made sense to close the loop on this love story here where it all began," Macy's spokeswoman Marissa Nicolaescu said.

(Reporting from New York City)