What do cigarettes, the Bronx and orchids have in common? (Part 2 of 2)

With the arrival of Spring weather, a visit to see the New York Botanical Garden's annual orchid exhibition.was timely. 

"Orchidelirium" is an apt name for the exhibition.  Countless varieties of orchids are displayed in the conservatory's controlled environment.  We already know that orchids are beautiful.  We learned that they are rare and fragile and have been highly prized for centuries.  Orchid hunting was (and still can be) a dangerous, challenging endeavor   Thanks to the NYBG, we did not have to travel to the wilds of South America and tropical Asia.  Instead, we schlepped to the Bronx to see orchids, orchids and more orchids.  Please enjoy the photos from our visit.

When did "orchidelirium" begin?  A long time ago.  One early orchidelirious person was the 6th Duke of Devonshire.  The Duke seems to have had a lot of free time not to mention a lot of shekels.  He became orchidelirious and, with the help of master gardener Joseph Paxton, created an orchid collection that continues today.  You can read more about orchidelirium and the challenges of orchid hunting below. 

The spartan jungle hut of an orchid hunter.  Not the Waldorf-Astoria.

A Wardian case for transporting fragile orchids across land and sea

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit.  We plan on visiting again during Summer to see the NYBG at its greenest and warmest and to see the Rockefeller Rose Garden in full bloom.  You are welcome to join us.