NEW YORK—Orchids of all colors, shapes, and sizes have taken center stage at the ninth annual orchid exhibition at the New York Botanical Garden over the weekend. The display, which will remain open until April 25, is the largest and the only curated orchid presentation in the United States.
The exhibit has been designed by Tony-award-wining set designer Scott Pask, image-maker Drew Hodges, and the Botanical Garden curators. Thousands of different orchids are used to portray architectural techniques inspired by Broadway landmark theaters, including the Walter Kerr Theatre, the Eltinge Theater, and the New Amsterdam Theater.
Vice president of site operations for the New York Botanical Garden, Robert Heinisch, who has been working at the garden for 21 years, said that the orchid show was launched in 2003. “Each year, my experience has been that it [the exhibit] gets better and better. The staff we have here is incredibly talented,” he said.
The garden features a different orchid theme each year. Associate director of public relations for the Botanical Garden, Nick Leshi, noted that returning visitors will enjoy something new. “For first-time visitors, this will be something very spectacular to encourage them to visit again,” he added.
The exhibit has been designed by Tony-award-wining set designer Scott Pask, image-maker Drew Hodges, and the Botanical Garden curators. Thousands of different orchids are used to portray architectural techniques inspired by Broadway landmark theaters, including the Walter Kerr Theatre, the Eltinge Theater, and the New Amsterdam Theater.
Vice president of site operations for the New York Botanical Garden, Robert Heinisch, who has been working at the garden for 21 years, said that the orchid show was launched in 2003. “Each year, my experience has been that it [the exhibit] gets better and better. The staff we have here is incredibly talented,” he said.
The garden features a different orchid theme each year. Associate director of public relations for the Botanical Garden, Nick Leshi, noted that returning visitors will enjoy something new. “For first-time visitors, this will be something very spectacular to encourage them to visit again,” he added.
The impressive display is arranged in three creative segments. Visitors walking through the entrance are greeted by the spectacular orchid-filled construction of the proscenium of the Walter Kerr Theatre in the Palm Dome. When people first walk into the conservatory, they may feel like they are attending a Broadway show, Heinisch said.
Next, visitors are led through a pathway with a glorious overhead display of orchids and lights inspired by the promenade of the New Amsterdam Theater. The promenade ends with the orchid-bedecked chandelier suspended over a reflecting pool—a floral re-creation of the chandelier hanging above the Eltinge Theater auditorium.
It took about two weeks to assemble and arrange the orchids on the hanging chandelier. “You have to remember that these things have to go in at the last minute because they are alive. Throughout the show, they’ll be replaced as they will eventually die off,” Heinisch said.
The name of this year’s display, “The Orchid Show on Broadway,” was slightly confusing for some visitors over the weekend. “At first, I didn’t understand the theme, but now I do,” said Diane Hough, 40, a letter carrier, who came with a group of friends. “The way they have it set, the arrangement is unique. We were here yesterday. We came back today,” she added.
“[Since] they refer to the orchid as the diva flower, the Broadway theme is a good idea,” remarked 17-year-old high school senior Angelica Morales.
The hanging chandelier made of orchids proved to be the most striking display for jewelry designer Catherine Chung. “I thought it’s really good. I have never seen anything like it. And I didn’t know there are so many different types of orchids,” Chung said.
Professional photographer Frank Justo, 69, said that he could spend the whole day at the exhibit. “I’m having a good time. Some of the displays are spectacular. They have taken a lot of care in putting everything together. And there’s an amazing variety of plant life,” he said.
For wholesale travel product director Sandra Robbins, 44, this year’s show is not as spectacular as past years’ exhibits. “There are fewer orchids this year,” Robbins said, adding that she liked “the effect of lights on the different orchids.” Her 67-year-old mother, Anna Robbins, shared a different viewpoint. “It’s spectacular. I think each display is concentrated in a mass, and so it [just] looks like there are less orchids,” she said.
Another visitor, physician Vadim Barg, commented that it was a beautiful way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon. “We don’t see such a variety of orchids anywhere except here. It reminds me a little bit of Broadway,” Barg said.
Some of the showcased orchids are locally grown at the New York Botanical Garden, while others have been purchased from Hawaii, Florida, and California
It took about two weeks to assemble and arrange the orchids on the hanging chandelier. “You have to remember that these things have to go in at the last minute because they are alive. Throughout the show, they’ll be replaced as they will eventually die off,” Heinisch said.
The name of this year’s display, “The Orchid Show on Broadway,” was slightly confusing for some visitors over the weekend. “At first, I didn’t understand the theme, but now I do,” said Diane Hough, 40, a letter carrier, who came with a group of friends. “The way they have it set, the arrangement is unique. We were here yesterday. We came back today,” she added.
“[Since] they refer to the orchid as the diva flower, the Broadway theme is a good idea,” remarked 17-year-old high school senior Angelica Morales.
The hanging chandelier made of orchids proved to be the most striking display for jewelry designer Catherine Chung. “I thought it’s really good. I have never seen anything like it. And I didn’t know there are so many different types of orchids,” Chung said.
Professional photographer Frank Justo, 69, said that he could spend the whole day at the exhibit. “I’m having a good time. Some of the displays are spectacular. They have taken a lot of care in putting everything together. And there’s an amazing variety of plant life,” he said.
For wholesale travel product director Sandra Robbins, 44, this year’s show is not as spectacular as past years’ exhibits. “There are fewer orchids this year,” Robbins said, adding that she liked “the effect of lights on the different orchids.” Her 67-year-old mother, Anna Robbins, shared a different viewpoint. “It’s spectacular. I think each display is concentrated in a mass, and so it [just] looks like there are less orchids,” she said.
Another visitor, physician Vadim Barg, commented that it was a beautiful way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon. “We don’t see such a variety of orchids anywhere except here. It reminds me a little bit of Broadway,” Barg said.
Some of the showcased orchids are locally grown at the New York Botanical Garden, while others have been purchased from Hawaii, Florida, and California
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