An Evening with Orchids
Last Friday, my husband and I attended an evening event at the U.S. Botanic Garden called the “Champagne Orchid Soirée,” hosted by the nonprofit organization Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden. The USBG is currently hosting an annual orchid exhibit in conjunction with Smithsonian Gardens; the 2025 exhibit’s theme is Masters of Deception. We hadn’t seen the exhibit yet, so this soirée was a great opportunity to do so—and the perfect excuse for a date night.
I learned about the event via Instagram and bought tickets pretty much right away. 🙂 If you ever have the chance to visit the USBG in the evening, do it! It’s nice to see the space during the daytime, but it’s also cool to enjoy it after hours.
The event tickets included one drink ticket per person, with additional drinks and snacks available for purchase. We headed for the bar upon arrival and decided we had to try the seasonal cocktails.
I got the Lavender Fields because it came with an orchid garnish (a cute white Epidendrum!). Not only was this purple drink pretty, it was delicious too.
Drinks secured, we began to wander the space. The Smithsonian Gardens had this beautiful display of orchids from their collection set up in the main hall of the conservatory:
There are gorgeous orchids to admire everywhere you turn in the USBG’s main hall. I did not catch the tag on the below orchid, but I believe it’s some type of Vanda. Those blooms are so chunky and waxy!
I had to photograph this bright fuchsia Dendrobium while in line for the bar:
I always love a big, beautiful Lady Slipper orchid:
This year’s exhibit has a number of educational display cases scattered throughout the main hall of the conservatory. The below case shows off orchids (with TEENY TINY blooms) that use sexual deception in order to attract specific pollinators.
Of course, we had to go check out the orchid room to see what was blooming. We were greeted by this fragrant Acineta superba when we entered the room:
I love this unique, almost furry Dendrobium polysema:
This beautiful white Vanda barnesii captured my attention:
As did the small, nearly-neon pink blooms of this Vanda ampullacea:
I’m still drooling over this velvety purple orchid. I didn’t see the tag on this plant, but I believe it’s some type of Brassia?
Another drool-worthy orchid that is probably Brassia-related:
Last but not least, my favorite orchid: a Zygopetalum (specifically, this one is tagged Debbie De Mello ‘Honolulu Baby’). I will never not love these purple and brown beauties.
We had a really nice time wandering the conservatory and checking out the orchids. To be honest, the orchid exhibit seems a little muted this year; there isn’t much to it outside of the main hall and the orchid room. If I remember correctly, past years’ exhibits at the USBG had more orchids scattered throughout other areas of the conservatory. I do need to go back and visit during the daytime, though, and I know that they switch out some of the orchids throughout the exhibit’s duration.
This year’s orchid exhibit is on display through April 27, 2025, so it’s not too late to visit! And regular daytime admission to the USBG is always free. 🙂
