The 2009 New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show
From February to March, Colorful Orchids Bloom in the Bronx
Mar 15, 2009
As in past years, the 2009 orchid show at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, New York City, is held in the Enid Haupt Conservatory, a capacious and stunning Victorian glass greenhouse, with rooms that move the visitor from the tropics to the desert, past lovely reflecting pools and under canopies of exotic plants from all corners of the globe. The conservatory also has a large outdoor terrace with ponds that are filled with aquatic plants and ornamental fish in the summertime.
2009 Orchid Show is Brazilian-Inspired
The 7th annual orchid show has a distinctly Latin flavor. The title of the show is "Brazilian Modern" and it features a recreation of a Brazilian garden created by landscape designer, Raymond Jungles, and inspired by the influential Brazilian artist and gardener, Roberto Burle Marx, whose brilliantly colored tile mosaic graces the reflecting pool at the entrance to the Conservatory. Marx was the first Brazilian horticulturist to break ranks with the European-influenced gardeners of his day and feature the vast range and richness of native Brazilian plants in his designs.
The curator of the show is Marc Hachadourian, and the orchids were selected from the Garden's own Nolen Greenhouses for Living Collections. The flowers are displayed with great artistry. Particularly striking is a long cascade of white orchids, resembling a waterfall, toward the end of the show. Delicate orchids in the Garden's permanent collection are housed in a protective glass case.
A Warm, Fragrant Respite from Winter
The annual orchid show at the Garden provides a fragrant, beautiful and warm respite from the cool, blustery days of late winter and early spring. In 2009, the show runs from February 28 until April 12. The best time to go is on a weekday, well before the last week of the show when attendance is likely to be great and the lines long. The Garden can be reached by car or by public transportation. For hours, directions and entrance fees, visit the Garden's Web site.
Events for Children and Adults
The Garden also has orchid-related events for children, most notably "Chocolate and Vanilla Adventures" at the Everett Children's Adventure Garden. For adults, there are home gardening talks and demonstrations. Orchid classes are given by the Garden's Continuing Education Department.
Orchid Blog Provides Interactive Information
A particularly interesting online interactive feature of the show is the Garden's Orchid Show blog, where a wealth of detailed information and videos about the care of orchids and the show are available.
The Garden's Shop Is a Valuable Resource
Visitors who want to take some of these lovely specimens home or learn more about them will find hundreds of orchid plants and an authoritative collection of books on orchids and orchid-growing for sale in the Garden's shop.
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