With spring finally here and the seasonal explosion of flowers everywhere, it’s time to yearn for fragrance. While we wait for the flowers to bloom outside, a trip to The Orchid Show should dazzle your senses. But soon the heydays of spring will be upon us, and two of my favorite fragrant outdoor plants will be filling the air with old-fashioned perfume; lilac and hyacinth.
Inside during The Orchid Show, one of my favorite orchids is Zygopetalum. This orchid doesn’t sport a common name so the only thing you will be able to do short of remembering its botanical name is to refer to it as a ‘zygo’. Everyone in the orchid world will know what you are talking about. ‘Zygo’s’ flower in winter and early spring so they add a delicious perfume to your home while there is still snow on the ground.
There are a number of orchids that seem to draw the crowds at The Orchid Show better than others: The pansy orchid (Miltonia) is one of them. This cheery flower–as the name suggests–has a broad open bloom that looks like a cross between a pansy and a butterfly, often bearing the etchings of a face or waterfall markings that cascade down its lip (Labellum).
Miltonias are actually two genera: Miltonia and Miltoniopsis. Don’t worry, I am not going to digress into a technical discussion; rather, I am raising the distinction so you understand that they can flourish in your home with the proper care. Miltonia and Miltoniopsis were once clumped together–now they are separated–but people still refer to all of them as Miltonia. In this day and age there are so many hybrids out there that, unless you are specifically searching for a species, you probably have a little bit of both in your orchid.
Cocktail umbrellas are kitschy. That slice of citrus rimming your highball glass–quaint. But there can be so much more to an imaginative drink, and that goes far beyond what’s poured into it! Returning for another year of glitzy, romantic nights on the town, Orchid Evenings in 2013 are prepped and ready to turn the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory into a hub of tropical escapism, complete with color, music, and just enough tasty tipple to set the tone for a perfect date.
During five Saturday evening gatherings throughout March and April, the Conservatory opens its doors for a few rare, after-dark viewings of our magnificent Orchid Show, sans daytime crowds. DJ Julio will be on hand to provide the ambiance with traditional world and electronic music, while bespoke cocktail creations from the likes of St. Germain, Tirado, Jack From Brooklyn, El Buho, and LiV cap each evening with a worldly spirit mixed right. Under tens of thousands of blooms from around the globe, lit with the soft glow of the Conservatory at night, we dare you to find a more romantic spot to ring in spring in New York.
Aficionados, botanists, greenthumbs, greenhorns, hobbyists, collectors, aesthetes, and everyone who simply can’t help but sate curiosity–all are welcome to join us today for the opening of The Orchid Show, running now through April 22 at The New York Botanical Garden. Keep an eye on Plant Talk for more information on the coming weeks’ events. And for daily eye candy and the everyday goings-on of the exhibition, check out our Instagram and Twitter feeds!
At long, long last, the wait ends this weekend! Just in time for the first arriving sights and sounds of spring (the crocuses are looking especially lovely), the crowned star of the season opens this weekend in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. Thousands upon thousands of orchids–cymbidiums, vandas, moth orchids and more–have been carefully arranged under our famous glasshouse roof, inviting the entire city to experience the return of warmth and color with what is undeniably the most flamboyant combination of the two: The Orchid Show.
Alongside the paradise of blooms our horticulturists have curated in the Conservatory, we’re offering tours, music, free advice for the casual home grower, or more in-depth workshops and lectures for those looking to take their orchid madness to the next level. This Sunday’s lecture in particular highlights the expertise of David Taft, Chair of the Conservation Committee of the Greater New York Orchid Society, whose knowledge of native orchids will make a believer of those who thought these florid beauties kept only to the tropics. Afterward, you can stop into our Shop in the Garden to peruse a collection of rare, delicate, or even easy-to-grow orchids for purchase.
With plenty of time until The Orchid Show comes to a close on April 22, we’ll be offering all sorts of future events and activities to keep your orchid cravings piqued, so stay tuned to Plant Talk in the coming weeks for more on our Orchid Evenings and other entertainments. And for now, think about picking up tickets for this opening weekend–the fanfare is through the roof, and for us, the startof this exhibition is something of a Garden holiday!
With spring finally here and the seasonal explosion of flowers everywhere, it’s time to yearn for fragrance. While we wait for the flowers to bloom outside, a trip to The Orchid Show should dazzle your senses. But soon the heydays of spring will be upon us, and two of my favorite fragrant outdoor plants will be filling the air with old-fashioned perfume; lilac and hyacinth.
