Wednesday, March 13, was a lovely, mild spring day—perfect for taking a quick train ride out to New York Botantical Garden to see the 21st Annual Orchid Show in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

This year’s theme, Florals in Fashion, didn’t impress us. But the orchids and what we learned about them and NYBG certainly did. For example, did you know:

• According to NYBG, some 30,000 species of orchid exist in the wild in habitats ranging from rain forest to desert to jungle canopy, and many thousands more have been created through hybridization.

• NYBG maintains more than 6,000 specimens of 2,273 varieties in its permanent collection.

• NYBG also serves as a CITES-designated Plant Rescue Center for endangered species  confiscated from people trying to import them illegally.

• If you’ve ever owned an orchid plant, you know how temperamental they can be. Under the care of resident orchid expert Marc Hachadourian and staff, the Center has nursed hundreds of rescued species that arrived in poor condition back to blooming health.

Hachadourian was walking two visitors through the exhibit when we arrived. We considered trailing behind but were held transfixed for too long by too many orchids to keep pace. “Marc, look at this one.”  “Gini, did you see this?”

Following are images of some of the orchids and a few other interesting plants we saw, with names included where IDs were posted.

If a name begins with or contains an “x,” I learned, the plant is a hybrid. If not, it’s a natural species that on its own might grow only in some remote location not easily accessible to human beings.

I enjoyed thinking about that as we went from orchid to orchid: all this beauty in the natural world that, if it weren’t for exhibits like this one, most humans might never get to see. It may thrill us when when we do get to see it, but that’s not why it exists.

It was a comforting thought: Nature has her own agenda. It’s not all about us.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Spring!