This Weekend: Our First Orchid Evening!
Posted in Programs and Events on March 7 2014, by Lansing Moore
Tomorrow is our inaugural Orchid Evening! This special event series, now back for another season, gives guests the chance to admire The Orchid Show: Key West Contemporary in the romantic softness of evening light. There is still time to get tickets so you can spend tomorrow evening admiring dozens of rare varieties of orchids, while enjoying music and finely crafted cocktails with a botanical twist.
The very next afternoon is a special lecture on the history and lore of the orchid by Marc Hachadourian, Curator of the Orchid Collection at The New York Botanical Garden. From medicines to aphrodisiacs, generations from around the world have been captivated by these magical and mysterious flowers.
The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory is a much-loved part of the Garden because of how many environments it can encompass—desert on the right, rainforest on the left, you name it. This year we turned the dial to full-on Florida for The Orchid Show, and stepping into the languid humidity and fresh fragrances of the tropical South is as close as we New Yorkers can get to the Florida Keys right now—without any mosquitoes, either! Click through for this weekend’s full roster of exciting orchid programs.
Saturday, March 8
Roaming Orchid Guides – 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Meet in the Palms of the World Gallery of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
Garden guides highlight parts of the permanent collection and special exhibition to add insight to your experience of The Orchid Show. They will provide an in-depth look at rare and extraordinary orchid specimens on display.
Bird Walk – 11 a.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool at the Leon Levy Visitor Center
The diverse habitats of the Botanical Garden offer visitors a chance to see dozens of species of birds throughout the year. Bring your binoculars and walk the Garden grounds with an expert to learn about bird-friendly habitats, migrating species, and birds that make a permanent home at the Garden.
Escape to Paradise: The Music of Key West – 1 & 3 p.m.
In the Ross Hall
The sounds of tropical rock and island music transport you to Key West with lyrics that evoke a warm, lush locale and a laid-back lifestyle, plus rhythms of the acoustic guitar, congas, and percussion instruments.
About the Band: Jimmy Kenny and The Pirate Beach Band‘s musicians have over 20 years of live playing experience. They pride themselves on bringing the most authentic listening experience possible in a tribute to the music of Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney and the Zac Brown Band among others, including your favorite tropical hits, reggae, Top 40 Americana, and the best in New and Classic Country.
Orchid Care Q&A – 1:30–4:30 p.m.
In Shop in the Garden
Gardening and orchid experts share their best secrets and explain the simple steps to healthy plants as they help you choose the right plant for your home.
Orchid Care Demonstrations: Easy Orchid Care – 2 & 3 p.m.
In the Conservatory GreenSchool
Join us for a discussion of some of the easiest orchids to grow in your home. Discover the best varieties to grow and learn basic maintenance routines so that your orchids thrive and flower for years.
Orchid Evening – 7–9 p.m.
In the Conservatory
View The Orchid Show with a cocktail in hand. Music and unforgettable beauty make for one of New York City’s most romantic date destinations. Your ticket includes a complimentary cocktail and special dinner offers at our restaurant partners on Little Italy’s Arthur Avenue and beyond. DJ T MIC spinning tunes for the event.
Cocktail Partner: The Ariana is a cocktail named after one of Jack from Brooklyn’s favorite spirits buyers. Perfect for a relaxing evening, the Ariana is simple, beautiful, delicious, refreshing, and of course, best enjoyed with friends. Courtesy of Jack from Brooklyn.
Non-Member $30/Member $20 (Adults 21 and over) Advance tickets recommended; includes one specialty cocktail.
Start the night off with a champagne pre-party at Shop in the Garden from 6 to 7 p.m. Learn more at priceless.com/newyork.
Sunday, March 9
Roaming Orchid Guides – 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Meet in the Palms of the World Gallery of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
Garden guides highlight parts of the permanent collection and special exhibition to add insight to your experience of The Orchid Show. They will provide an in-depth look at rare and extraordinary orchid specimens on display.
Escape to Paradise: The Music of Key West – 1 & 3 p.m.
In the Ross Hall
The sounds of tropical rock and island music transport you to Key West with lyrics that evoke a warm, lush locale and a laid-back lifestyle, plus rhythms of the acoustic guitar, congas, and percussion instruments.
About the Band: Jimmy Kenny and The Pirate Beach Band‘s musicians have over 20 years of live playing experience. They pride themselves on bringing the most authentic listening experience possible in a tribute to the music of Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney and the Zac Brown Band among others, including your favorite tropical hits, reggae, Top 40 Americana, and the best in New and Classic Country.
Orchid Care Q&A – 1:30–4:30 p.m.
Meet in the Shop in the Garden
Gardening and orchid experts share their best secrets and explain the simple steps to healthy plants as they help you choose the right plant for your home.
Orchid Care Demonstrations: Easy Orchid Care – 2 & 3 p.m.
In the Conservatory GreenSchool
Join us for a discussion of some of the easiest orchids to grow in your home. Discover the best varieties to grow and learn basic maintenance routines so that your orchids thrive and flower for years.
Torrey Botanical Society Presentation: Cultivating Beauty: The Enthobotany and Biology of the Orchid Family – 4 p.m.
In the Ross Hall
“…there was an orchid there as beautiful as the seven deadly sins.” –Oscar Wilde
For centuries the orchid has held a special fascination in both horticulture and popular culture, perhaps unrivaled among cultivated plants. These charismatic and often enigmatic plants have fueled the minds and imaginations of scientists, horticulturists, and admirers alike—some even claiming to have been hypnotized and enslaved by their beauty. The diversity and distribution of the orchid family has allowed exposure to many cultures throughout history, providing orchids with unique and captivating roles as objects of legend and lore. Although well known for their horticultural popularity and intrigue, their use and interest by people for medicines, aphrodisiacs, and artistic muses is almost unparalleled in the floral kingdom. Join Marc Hachadourian, Curator of the Orchid Collection at The New York Botanical Garden, for a presentation of the extraordinary aura and mystery surrounding one of the world’s most celebrated plants. Learn more.
Ongoing Children’s Programs
Little Landscapes
In the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden
The plant world comes alive in a big way at the Discovery Center this winter. Take a step inside the world of plants and create your own terrarium to bring home. Be inspired to create a rocky, mossy, or floral world in a jar by looking closely at a wide array of artistic and scientific terrariums. While you are at it, use a microscope to take a closer look at some of the featured terrarium characters like moss, lichens, and rocks.
