Botanic Garden show to spotlight wild orchids
The vanishing habitat of wild orchids is the theme of this spring’s orchid show at the Chicago Botanic Garden. On March 26 and 27, exhibitors, vendors and presenters will display orchid plants, photographs, artwork and educational exhibits that focus on the need for conservation of wild orchid habitats.
Displayed in the grand indoor space of Nichols Hall, with its Canadian hemlock walls and ceiling, the orchid show attracts thousands of visitors each year. Orchid vendors from throughout the United States vie for “best of class” ribbons in 22 orchid classes. Vendors and orchid societies will display rare species and cultivated hybrids in colorful floor exhibits, based on the theme “Wild Orchids: A Vanishing World.”
Visitors to the show, sponsored by the Illinois Orchid Society, will learn that orchids are more than just beautiful flowers — they are symbols of the earth’s health. In the wild, orchids grow from near the Arctic Circle to the Antarctic Circle. They are found from sea level to above the tree line. Visitors to the show will discover that there are more than 25,000 species of this spectacular flower and we need to help conserve the diverse wild places where orchids grow.
Orchids will be on display throughout the garden’s exhibit halls and Greenhouse Galleries. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 26 and Sunday, March 27. Photographers are welcome between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sunday. Admission to the show and to the garden is free. Parking is $20; parking is free for garden members.
More than 20 vendors will sell orchids, including exotic species and hybrids not readily available in the retail market. Growing supplies, pots and orchid-related art will be available for purchase, along with the society’s custom bark mix. The Illinois Orchid Society will provide repotting services for $5.
The Illinois Orchid Society holds its meetings at the Chicago Botanic Garden on the second Sunday of the month. Meetings are open to the public. For more information on orchid society meetings, visit www.iosoc.com. For more information about the Chicago Botanic Garden’s programs and events, call (847) 835-5440 or visit www.chicagobotanic.org.