Orchids at the Botanic Garden

Early Spring is Orchid Festival time in the US!  Large gardens and houses all hold their own events, showcasing the best that their orchid houses can produce.

In Washington DC we have visited Spring orchid exhibits in several places - the first ones that we saw were at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and last year at the Hirschorn Museum of Modern Art.  These exhibits are always put on in collaboration with the US Botanic Garden who have a wonderful group of conservatories near the Capitol building and also extensive greenhouses in Maryland where they bring plants on for display and keep the potted outdoor exhibits over the winter.



This year the US Botanic Garden is hosting the orchid festival and the main atrium is decorated with a multitude of different species and colours of orchid.  Some are conventionally displayed in their pots but there is also an eye-catching and unusual display overhead.

I am not sure how ‘happy’ orchids must be in this display - but perhaps the warm and moist environment and some after hours spraying with water keeps them going.

As well as the main display there were potted orchids on show throughout the indoor garden.  I have photographed just a few of those that caught my eye - with apologies to the real orchid fans who would have liked to see the identifying labels I am sure.. I have focused on the flowers themselves..