2018 New York Orchid Show

Hundreds of orchids hand from a translucent display at the 2018 New York Orchid Show

The New York Orchid Show is my favorite annual event in the city.  This joyous celebration of orchid beauty is a yearly signal that another cold, dark winter is nearly over.  The show opened today, at the New York Botanical garden.
It's possibly one of the most popular events at the New York botanical garden, and by midday the conservatory is packed with crowds.  This year, I woke up early to be one of the first people to enter the show on opening day.

Get to the conservatory before 10 AM to avoid the crowds

The Orchid Show features hundreds of orchid species and hybrids, presented in intricate displays.  This year's production is designed by Belgian floral artist Daniel Ost.

Phalaenopsis King's Caroline and Phalaenopsis Black Pearl

Phalaenopsis Taida Pearl Diamond

Phalaenopsis KV Charmer

Orchid terrarium

Cattleya and Dendrobium display

2018 New York Orchid Show

Each year, the displays follow a different theme.  This year, the recurrent element was these meshes of clear plastic tubing high up in the conservatory canopy.  These clear loops certainly catch and scatter the sunlight onto the orchid blossoms.  They also reminded me of a tangled garden hose....

Orchid display by Daniel Ost

A ribbon of orchids wraps around a bamboo structure

Cymbidium Golden Boy 'Nevada'

Dendrobium spectabile

Epidendrum Max Valley 'Shiranui'

This is just a small fraction of the orchids on display today.  The show runs until April 22, and is absolutely worth a visit.

New York Orchid Show: Cymbidiums

Cymbidiums are colorful and showy orchids native to much of Tropical and Subtropical Asia.  The New York Orchid show often features lush displays of Cymbidium orchids, and this year is no exception.

Cymbidium Purple Haze

Cymbidium Sweetheart 'Sensation'

Cymbidium Sweetheart 'Sensation' closeup

Peloric Cymbidium Vanguard

Closeup of Peloric Cymbidium

Cymbidium Half Moon 'Wonderland'

Cymbidium Via Irish-Elf

Cymbidium Via Nogales 'Louise'

Cymbidium Yellow Submarine

2017 New York Orchid Show: Phalaenopsis

New York may be stuck in winter, but the New York Botanical Gardens are in full bloom with the 2017 Orchid show. The Phalaenopsis is the flower that first comes to my mind when I think 'orchid'.  Phalaenopsis were the first orchids I ever owned, and the first orchids I managed to flower. Often taking center stage at this year's show, the gorgeous displays of phalaenopsis blooms create the quintessentially 'orchid' atmosphere at the Conservatory this month.

Phalaenopsis Surf Song

Phalaenospsis Surf Song

Phalaenopsis Surf Song

Phalaenopsis Fuller's Sunset

Phalaenopsis equestris

Phalaenopsis I-Hsin Spot Leopard

Phalaenopsis I-Hsin Spot Leopard

Phalaenopsis Kimono

Phalaenopsis Reyoung Corona

2017 New York Orchid Show: Vandas

The "Thailand" themed orchid show features rainbow-colored displays of vandas

Colorful blooming orchids take over the conservatory at the New York Botanical Garden every spring.  I posted about this year's orchid show in February, when I attended the show opening.  There are so many orchids on display, that it is nearly impossible to really take in everything in one trip.  So I went back again next week.  

For this post, I want to take a closer look at the genus of South Asian orchids, which were beautifully featured in this year's show: Vandas.  Although vandas are a small genus (containing only 80 species), their flowers have the widest color range.  The orchid show displayed dazzling arrays of blue, yellow, red, and even brown vanda blossoms.

I only wish I could associate names with more of these gorgeous flowers.

Ascocenda Crownfox Red

Vanda Ben's Delight

Vanda Pachara Delight

Vanda Pachara Delight (different lighting angle)

Vanda Somsri Glory

Vanda Ratchaburi Fuchs-Katsura

Vanda Betty Baderman

Rhynvandopsis Memoria Mary Nattrass