When I realized we would be in CT for Easter weekend I just knew we would have to visit the New York Botanical Garden for their annual Orchid Show. I had gone previously with Emily and her mom in 2009. I loved the show then so I wanted to see it again and this time introduce Price to NYBG and the show. This is their 10th annual show and this time the design was from French botanist and artist Patrick Blanc. Blanc is known for his use of vertical space and how his plantings are on the vertical plan. It’s always a wonder to me how they stay up or how they are weeded. I had actually attended a Patrick Blanc lecture previously so I was very excited to see his work in person for the The Orchid Show: Patrick Blanc’s Vertical Gardens.
We enjoyed our walk to the exhibit through garden. On our way we snapped photos of the countless robins we saw on the sprawling lawns and of the numerous varieties of daffodils that edged the walkways.
Stunning, vivid, bright, fragrant.
It was such a beautiful day. The weather was nice, skies clear, and flowers were in various states of bloom on the property.
When you walk in the conservatory you are greeted in the Palms of the World area with a large structure in the middle of the fountain. It’s lush with greens and orchids. This is ‘classic’ Patrick Blanc style of design. Reminds me of his work on Musée du quai Branly.
NYBG transforms the historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory into lavish, excotic, tropical wonder that is filled with orchids for the show. However, the conservatory is a year round exhibit space so it is always filled with palms, flowers, and other plants from around the world showcasing the variety of plant species that are indigenous from different climate zones.
There is a lot of helpful signage to help you learn about Orchids. As a designer I found the presentation clear and that helps you process the information you are reading.
In this pot alone there were over a half dozen diffident kinds of orchids. The dark purple ones hanging off the tree very vary fragrant. I would have loved to have that scent bottled or put into a candle.
We moved throughout the conservatory following the way through to Lowland Tropical Rain Forest…
to the Aquatic Plants and Vines Area.
There flowers everywhere you looked in this room. Lilies in the fountain, potted flowering plants, and orchids hanging from overhead. The orchids hanging were so delicate looking and added a whimsical touch when walking through the space.
From there we continued to walk through the conservatory into the Upland Tropical Rain Forest. I was intrigued with a extensive palms and ferns species there were housed in the hall. From small potted pones to towering high ones that resembled trees- it was really quite amazing.
And that that point we were only halfway through the Conservatory! So much to see, smell, and experience!
Please check back tomorrow for Part 2 for my recap and photos of the Orchid Show.
The Orchid Show: Patrick Blanc’s Vertical Gardens is running at NYBG from March 3-April 22. While you are visiting be sure to tag your tweets on Twitter and photos on Instagram with #orchidshow. 🙂
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Awesome post! Thanks so much for sharing the love with us, your family, and everyone else! — Ann @nybg
we love NYBG. Wish we lived closer!
OH my! SO pretty. This reminds me of the pictures I’ve seen of the botanical gardens in MA (I forget where exactly). I remember wanting to get married there but something prevented me from looking into it seriously.
hmm i’ll have to see if I can find out where that is. I love gardens