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Expressive orchids fill Botanical Garden
If orchids could talk
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case totally inaccessible to touch. “I seriously can’t believe there are moth orchids at this party,” said an housands of or- oberola, whose flowers span just one chids have arrived millimeter wide. “Why do I have to be next to a disfor their annual spring break at the gusting jewel orchid?” the oberola addNew York Botanical Garden (NYBG) ed in reference to a species known for to lounge, cavort and caper amid a dis- its detailed structure. In spite of some elitist undertones, play inspired by an award-winning garden in — where else — Key West, Fla. a democratic spirit ruled the event, one Attendees from packs of moth or- of the most popular of the year at the chids — the kind most commonly sold NYBG. The garden boasts a permanent in stores — to a clique of exotic Darwin star orchids are camped out in the collection of more than 6,000 orchids NYBG’s humid Enid A. Haupt Conser- from 2,273 different types, although vatory for the event, which has gained the NYBG did not provide the number of specimens at the current the dubious nickname show, which is in its 12th “Orchid Orgy ’14” since its yyear. What’s March 1 kickoff. This year’s event centers “I’m pretty shocked at online? aaround a display inspired by some of the things I’ve seen ow aarchitect Raymond Jungles’ from some of the other View a slide show of more photos at flowers,” a blushing sunset riverdalepress.com Jones and Eaton Garden, which includes an artificial orchid said. “Let’s just say pond, a wall and a large trelslipper orchids aren’t as inlis all covered in orchids. nocent as they look.” Nestled away from the show’s main Still, the plant’s dig at the species known for bifurcated petals that look display, which also has a small waterfall, like light footwear did not seem to faze a group of Darwin star orchids took a pulsating groups of slipper orchids. measured view of the raucous proceedThe soaked specimens declined to ings. “Some of us took thousands of years pause from a rave-style bacchanal concentrated in the Haupt Conservatory’s to evolve to get this way. Others are the product of fanatical botanists’ breedlong eastern corridor to comment. A group of dancing lady orchids, ing,” said a Darwin star orchid, named which smell like chocolate, took a lais- after the type of moth — discovered by the father of modern biology — that sez-faire attitude to the show. “What can I do? Everyone wants to pollinates the plant. “We deserve to let stick their nose in me,” one of them re- loose sometimes.” marked. Free love was the byword at the “The Orchid Show: Key West event bringing together orchids origi- Contemporary” runs at the New York nally from six different continents. But Botanical Garden’s Enid A. Haupt some of the flowers simply viewed the Conservatory until Monday, April 21. Admission costs $25 for adult nonevent as a chance to see and be seen. A variety of miniature orchids members, $22 for seniors and students seemed to take the idea to the ex- and $10 for children ages 2 to 10. treme, confining themselves to a glass Children under 2 enter for free.
By Shant Shahrigian
sshah@riverdalepress.com
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