Orchid Show: Missouri Botanical Garden

One thing I loved about growing up in St. Louis (born & raised!) was the Missouri Botanical Garden, or “Mobot” as it’s known to locals. I have great memories of wandering the garden and collecting Osage Oranges, checking out the Climatron, visiting the amazing Japanese garden, and feeding the HUGE koi. What I don’t remember about Mobot is that they throw an annual Orchid Show—I’m not actually sure when they started doing it. This year’s Mayan-themed show began on January 29 and runs through March 27.

I wish I was in St. Louis right now so that I could go to this show! Fortunately, my mom (also an orchid lover/owner) is going to attend soon, so I’m sure I’ll get the full scoop, with photos, from her. Any readers out there in the St. Louis area—this is definitely something to check out!

To whet your appetite, Mobot has posted a video of last year’s Paris-themed Orchid Show:

Gorgeous!

NYBG Orchid Show 2011

Photo credit: nybg.org

It’s a new year, and I’m already thinking about the New York Botanical Garden‘s Orchid Show! I just looked at their website and found out that this year’s show runs from March 5 through April 25, and the theme is “On Broadway.”According to the site, “The lure and lore of orchids and the theater are melded by Tony award-winning set designer Scott Pask and image maker Drew Hodges to evoke the flair and excitement of Broadway.”

Sounds pretty different from the themes of the past two years, which were “Cuba in Flower” and “Brazilian Modern.” To be honest, I don’t really care what the theme is; I just want to go see thousands and thousands of amazing orchids!!

To Do This Weekend: Sakura Matsuri at BBG

Photo credit: kilgub on Flickr

Brooklyn Botanic Garden‘s Sakura Matsuri (aka Cherry Blossom Festival) is this weekend and you can bet that I’ll be there! The weather is supposed to be gorgeous all weekend, which gets me even more excited because it’s been wet, cold, and windy all week.

I went to the festival for the first time last year and loved it. Already this year the cherry blossom trees are past their peak bloom, but I’m sure it will still be a beautiful visit.

The festival is Saturday, May 1 from 10:00am to 6:00pm and Sunday, May 2 from 10:00am to 7:00pm. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and students. BBG members and children under 12 get in free.

One thing to note is that the 2/3 trains aren’t in service this weekend, but you can still get to the garden by taking the 4/5 train to the Eastern Parkway-Brooklyn Museum stop. Gotta love the MTA…especially on weekends.

Orchid Show: Cuba in Flower at New York Botanical Garden

[WARNING: Photo-heavy post ahead!]

Two weeks after the Orchid Show opened at the New York Botanical Garden, I made my way up to the Bronx to visit with my boyfriend and friend in tow. The weather was truly hideous; we happened to go on a day that had 60 mph winds and about a metric ton of rain. But once we set foot inside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory it was like tropical heaven with a beautiful display of orchids around the reflecting pool:

NYBG 2010 Orchid Show: Cuba in Flower

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Orchid Show, I’m coming for you!

Zygopetalum, NYBG Orchid Show ’09

Guess who just bought her ticket* for the New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show? Yep, that would be me…awwww yeah!

As I mentioned awhile back, the show opened on February 27. Unfortunately I haven’t had a chance to go yet, but this Saturday I’m all over it!

Last year’s Orchid Show at the NYBG is what really spurred this passion of mine and I’m so excited to go back to where it all started for me.

The temperature is supposed to be 49 degrees and rainy this Saturday, but you know what? I don’t care. It was a gray, rainy day when I attended last year but the crap weather made the indoor show that much lovelier. Note to self: make sure you FULLY charge your camera battery before you go this year so that you can capture as much as possible!

*Adult admission is $20, but there is an additional $3 processing fee for printable tickets (they email you a PDF). If you want to pick up your ticket at will call, you have to pay a $6 processing fee! What?!  Guess which option I went for.  🙂

The Orchid Show at NYBG

I am so incredibly excited to go to this year’s Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden when it opens. This year’s show is called Cuba in Flower. Last year’s theme was Brazil and it was also my first visit to the garden’s annual orchid show. I was so wowed by what I saw that it kicked off this fun obsession hobby of mine.

The 2010 show runs from February 27 through April 11. Admission is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors/students, $8 for children, and free for members and children under 2. I fully plan to go more than once and really explore.

The NYBG has posted some videos of their show preparations. The most recent video is below – and by the way, how adorable is the opening graphic?! Kudos to the graphic designer for that.

You can see my extensive photoset from the NYBG 2009 Orchid Show on Flickr here.  Lots of orchid photos  and more. The day that I went was so gloomy out, but inside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory was like orchid nerd heaven! I can’t wait for February 27!

Psychopsis Orchid, NYBG Orchid Show 2009
Psychopsis, NYBG Orchid Show 2009