The 2017 Orchid Extravaganza at Longwood Gardens is certainly the most outstanding display I’ve seen here since we started this exhibition! There are more orchids in more places than you could hope to enjoy in one morning. The Longwood team has scoured the orchid world to bring you some of the most dynamic selections available to gardeners! The careful composition of colors and textures is what really makes this extravaganza so special. Let’s take a brief look at a few of the highlights of this year’s display.
Phalaenopsis arch in the East Conservatory.
In our largest indoor garden, you are greeted with a flowing archway of purple Phalaenopsis emerging from the watery basin below. Encephalartos woodii (the rarest plant in the East Conservatory) is perfectly framed in this view.
Mixed orchids in the East Conservatory, including Stenorrhynchos in the foreground.
As you make your way to the other end of the palatial Conservatory, a new exhibit is showcased—towers of mixed orchid genera! These look like tropical tree trunks covered in epiphytic marvels. My favorite gem is the red Stenorrhynchos at the base of one of the mossy islands. These terrestrial beauties hail from South America and are somewhat unusual for the novice grower. I’m taking notes as I look at all these orchids, because these actual plants (and hundreds of others) will be available at the orchid sale starting April 5 in our GardenShop.
Our orchid curtain in Exhibition Hall provides the perfect backdrop for baskets of Phalaenopsis adorning the center walk of the Orangery.
As you continue your adventure through the warm glasshouses, a familiar sight greets you in the Exhibition Hall. Our traditional orbs and curtain are filled to the brim with popular moth orchids again this year. Something that is certainly new are the softly spinning baskets of massive Phalaenopsis over the center walk of the Orangery. Huge flowers on very long stems are what make these specimens a knockout. The color harmony of these baskets in lavender, pink, and white flows so softly to the Exhibition Hall floor and orchid curtain beyond. It’s our iconic view in the glasshouses.
Baskets of Paphiopedilum line the Acacia Passage.
As you depart the high ceilings of the historic Orangery, the intimacy of the Acacia Passage surrounds you. Elevated baskets of Paphiopedilum repeat down the hallway on each side of you. Each window offers a unique experience through the soft backdrop of foggy glass. Shadows of adjacent plants either outdoors or in the Silver Garden add mystery.
Vanda orchids overhang the Silver Garden
When you round the corner into the beautifully designed Silver Garden, look overhead for a very unique orchid display! The soft gray roots of Vanda orchids hang down as you meander through them. The multicolored flowers erupt from plants that are about 6 years old and produced in Thailand. Vanda love the heat and humidity of the tropics, so how amazing is it that we can display them in a cool, arid environment here at Longwood!
Oncidium orchids contrast with colorful foliage in the Tropical Terrace.
If you can tear yourself away from our historic Orchid House with hundreds of plants in bloom throughout the year, our tropical gardens just beyond are filled with fantastic foliage! The Tropical Terrace is my favorite spot. This leafy wonderland is dotted with delights as you discover the wonders of the warm climates of the world. Fragrant Oncidium Sharry Baby ‘Sweet Fragrance’ is mixed with the freshly colored Oncidium Irish Mist ‘Wintergreen’ with a backdrop of Calathea. It’s pretty dynamic to mix bicolored leaves and flowers together when creating an exciting exposition such as this!
Phalaenopsis in the Fern Passage.
One of the more quiet and contemplative spots to take in the beauty of orchids is the tropical Fern Passage. What’s normally a placid sea of green is now bursting with elevated containers overflowing with vibrant blossoms! I spotted this unusual Phalaenopsis in a cluster of similar tangerine-colored ones. Something like this is a cloning mutation and can pop up where you least expect it, but it’s also one of the ways that new selections are discovered!
As you explore the Conservatory at Longwood, you’ll find so many unusual plants in places you’ve never seen them before. Be sure to visit our Palm House, North Passage, and Peirce-du Pont House for even more orchid delights! It’s a journey you’ll want to take slowly and in multiple directions so that nothing is missed. Even then, you’ll always discover something new when you make a return visit!
Photos by Karl Gercens.
