Living Orchid Chandeliers and Wall Dazzle Visitors
Karl Lauby is Vice President for Communications.
Francisca Coelho has outdone herself this time.
The Senior Curator and Associate Vice President for Glasshouses and Exhibitions is principally responsible for the creation, implementation, and management of the exhibitions that have solidified The New York Botanical Garden’s reputation as an international leader in horticultural display.
But she’s taken her work to new heights with the sensationally popular Orchid Show: Brazilian Modern, which takes its final bow this weekend.
While the whole show is her handiwork, in particular she has created a set of four massive hanging baskets of tropical aroids and descending orchids that alone are worth the trip to The Orchid Show. The baskets or chandeliers—each containing a huge philodendron, six smaller philodendrons, six grape ivies, and 120 orchids overflowing and pouring down from high overhead—embody living art with hidden engineering, creative design, and clever construction.
Fran took designer Raymond Jungles’ illustration and executed it brilliantly, using pipes, cables, and four-foot metal baskets that, once arranged with flowers, became six-foot-wide creations. In rummaging through her storeroom, Fran saw just the right-sized tree baskets—baskets usually used for moving big trees in the nursery trade—and traced the manufacturer to McKenzie Nursery Supply in Perry, Ohio. She asked the company to make eight baskets to her design and placed one basket within another and tied them together to make four strong baskets that would hold the weight of the hanging plants. A smaller, 30-inch-wide basket holding the large philodendron was then placed within the large basket on a wire frame placed six inches above the basket bottom. Each large philodendron is flanked by six more philodendrons and six grape ivy vines.
To suspend the whole apparatus, Fran rigged up crossed galvanized pipes in a square formation from which the baskets are suspended. Then the whole planter was lifted—using two lifts, one for the basket and one for the person hanging the basket—and hung from the conservatory ceiling. It took four staff members working in unison to accomplish this.
The outside of the entire large basket was then wrapped in black chicken wire. The basket-within-a-basket design left enough room for Fran’s able gardening colleagues to create the chandelier effect by edging the baskets with two types of orchids, Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium, in the pink-lavender color range and hung upside down, defying gravity, 120 orchids to each basket.
But the chandeliers are only part of the fun.
Fran also built the Orchid Wall. While it looks spontaneous, whimsical, and picturesque, in fact, the wall is meticulously designed and executed with artifice, contrivance, and calculation. The wall, 8 feet tall by 25 feet wide, is covered with 800 orchids, all Phalaenopsis, each hand-tied one by one to create a wall of flowers that mesmerizes visitors. In the center of the wall is a giant staghorn fern, surrounded by the five varieties of Phalaenopsis. Fran herself tied each of the 800 orchids onto the wall and has great stories about how she arrived at that number, tied each one, and managed to keep the entire wall seemingly in subtle motion from top to bottom as well as appearing fresh for the six-week run of the show.
Come see for yourself these magnificent, unique orchid creations in this, the final weekend of The Orchid Show: Brazilian Modern. Meanwhile, take one last chance to vote for your favorite type of orchid in our poll at right. So far, Vandas are in the lead by a large margin.
As we say goodbye to the orchids, we say hello to the Auricula Theater, a display in the Herb Garden of two types of alpine primroses in a presentation based on a centuries-old tradition.
And, of course, it’s spring all over the Garden. Walk around and see what’s in bloom, look for seasonal birds that are arriving and the recently born baby owls, participate in waking up the Family Garden, and more. Click on the daily highlights below.
Jessica Blohm is Interpretive Specialist for Public Education.
The Orchid Show: Brazilian Modern in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory features a plethora of interesting interpretive signs that offer a chance to learn about a range of topics concerning orchids: their diversity (the most diverse species of flower on Earth), their preservation, and the ongoing research and conservation efforts by Botanical Garden scientists in Brazil, the theme of this year’s show.
But the savvy visitor knows that the Conservatory is just one place at the Garden that visitors can brush up on their orchid knowledge. This year, the Orchid Rotunda display on the second floor of the Library building features not only beautiful orchids from the Oncidium group, but also highlights botanical researchers at The New York Botanical Garden such as Douglas Daly, Ph.D., Scott Mori, Ph.D., and Wayt Thomas, Ph.D., who have embarked on programs to preserve Brazil’s unique habitats and rich plant life.
In the Rotunda you can also find out about the diversity of orchids throughout the world and how in 1990 The New York Botanical Garden was designated a Plant Rescue Center by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
No Orchid Show visit is complete without a visit to see the beautiful orchids behind glass in the Orchid Rotunda.
Gregory Long is President and CEO of The New York Botanical Garden.
You owe it to yourself to join the plant, nature, and orchid enthusiasts arriving in record numbers to see the Garden’s absolutely world-class Orchid Show: Brazilian Modern.
The combination of creative talents Raymond Jungles, the designer, and Fran Coelho, who creates all of our Conservatory exhibitions, is mind boggling. This is something you could see nowhere else in the world—the design and execution are tropical horticulture at its most perfect. Notice in the photograph the huge hanging basket of tropical aroids and descending orchids—there is a matched set of four of these huge hanging baskets created by Fran Coelho. These baskets alone are worth the trip to the Garden, and they are only part of the fun.
Everyone who knows and loves plants must come to see this marvelous masterpiece. The exhibition runs through April 12, and come soon, because I suspect if you see it once, you will want to see it again.
I am usually measured in my praise for NYBG exhibitions, but this orchid show is spectacular—a gift to New York. Come enjoy an exhilarating experience.
Jane Dorfman is Reference Librarian/Exhibitions Coordinator in the LuEsther T. Mertz Library.
In conjunction with The Orchid Show, a small, but delightful array of orchid images is on view in the Rare Book and Folio Room and in the Reading Room of the LuEsther T. Mertz Library. The images were selected because they depict Brazilian orchids that are known to have been grown at the estate of Brazilian artist, architect, and landscape designer Roberto Burle Marx (1909–1994) and in the gardens that he created for others. The orchids highlighted include: Sobralia sessilis, Sophronitis grandiflora, Grammatophyllumspeciosum, and Laelia purpurata Lindl., the national flower of Brazil.
Walter Hood Fitch (1817–1892) one of the most celebrated lithographers of the 19th century, Mary Eaton (1873–1961), and Sarah Drake ((1803–1857) are some of the artists represented in the display.
Several images of Burle Marx and his home near Rio de Janeiro are also included.
To conserve the rare books on display, they will be replaced with other books midway through the exhibition.
The display is on view through April 10 during library hours: Tuesday–Thursday, noon to 6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.
Amanda Gordon writes about the New York City social scene.
The New York Botanical Garden is not only skilled at cultivating orchids, it also knows how to keep its annual Orchid Dinner fundraiser blooming.
“In this difficult time, we’ve raised almost $600,000,” announced gala chair and Botanical Garden board member Mary Davidson at the February 24 event at the Rainbow Room in Manhattan.
The steadiness of support is owed to the loyalty the Botanical Garden inspires. “The finest in the USA, The New York Botanical Garden deserves support in the best of times and the worst of times and at all times,” Fernanda Kellogg, president of The Tiffany & Co. Foundation, said. Orchids are of particular interest to the Foundation because in 1900 Tiffany & Co. won its first international award at the World Exposition in Paris with a collection of jeweled orchids.
Guests also enjoy buying tickets to this event because it offers such a beautiful spectacle of orchids, as featured in 28 centerpieces—one for each dinner table—created by top designers at the invitation of Veranda magazine editor-at-large and design maven Carolyn Englefield.
“My favorite part of the evening is walking into the dining room for the first time and seeing the incredibly creative centerpieces. They are amazing!” said gala chair Gillian Miniter, who in keeping with the theme wore an Angel Sanchez gold cocktail dress with flowers on the torso.
Gala chair Deborah Royce formally thanked the designers at the podium for their extraordinary effort. Among their feats: Alan Tanksley designed a cornucopia of purple orchids in a handcrafted black-and-white vase. Elise Cullman and Lee Cavanaugh wrapped orange orchids around a gold wireframe. Barclay Butera used white orchids and driftwood to transport guests to a beach setting, complete with sand dollars at each place setting. Darren Henault placed a disco-sized ball of white orchids atop a Chinese vase and made it glow by placing battery-operated lights inside.
Guests also had the opportunity to purchase orchids to take home. Many noted that the orchids were of the highest quality. In fact, they were hand-picked by The New York Botanical Garden’s Manager of the Nolen Greenhouses for Living Collections and Curator of The Orchid Show, Marc Hachadourian, who was on hand to answer questions about their care.
The dinner was a brief break from his busy schedule working on the Garden’s 7th annual Orchid Show, which opened on Saturday. A dramatic mosaic by the late Brazilian landscape architect and artist Roberto Burle Marx takes center stage in the Palms of the Americas Gallery in the landmark Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.
“It will be like nothing you’ve ever seen,” the president of the Garden, Gregory Long, told guests at the dinner, describing the design for the show by landscape architect Raymond Jungles as “architectonic.”
As for tending orchids at home, that’s another story. Fernanda Kellogg leaves the orchid care to her husband. “Kirk has the orchid green thumb,” she said. “He lived in Florida and learned to grow and nurture these quirky plants, so we always have orchid plants blooming at home. The orchids are off-limits to the housekeeper and the same goes for me!”
“I have tried to resuscitate orchids many times,” said Jane Pauley, the former Today Show co-anchor, as she walked across the dance floor in the Rainbow Room with Alan Tanksley. She got better results with less effort. “After sheer neglect, one plant gave us six more flowers,” she said.
Elise Cullman said orchid care is worth learning, especially in a recession. “Orchids are good value; they last much longer than fresh-cut flowers,” she explained. And she shared an orchid tip from a friend, author Patrizia Chen: “She sings to her orchids.”
Nick Leshi is Associate Director of Public Relations and Electronic Media.
Orchid lovers, rejoice! The Orchid Show: Brazilian Modern opens this weekend and runs through April 12. Visitors will have the chance to escape the winter blues and enjoy the thousands of orchids on display at The New York Botanical Garden.
The orchid is the world’s largest family of flowering plants with more than 30,000 naturally occurring species and tens of thousands of artificially created hybrids. Which is your favorite? Let us know by clicking on the Orchid Poll at right. Do you love the amazing shapes of the Oncidium or Paphiopedilum? Are you captivated by the stunning colors of Vanda orchids? Are you a Cymbidium or Phalaenopsis fan? Or does another species or hybrid capture your fancy? Vote now and let us know.
Brilliantly colored orchids and the lush tropical setting of a contemporary Brazilian garden await you at The Orchid Show, now in its seventh year. Miami-based landscape architect Raymond Jungles has created this contemporary Brazilian garden design, inspired by his mentor, the renowned Roberto Burle Marx. The design features fountains, pools, and colorful mosaics combined with graceful palms, delicate orchids, bromeliads, and other native plants of Brazil. The orchids have been selected by Marc Hachadourian, Manager of the Nolen Greenhouses for Living Collections at the Botanical Garden and Curator of The Orchid Show, and are featured throughout the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.
Everything You Need to Care for Orchids Is in Cupboard
Sonia Uyterhoeven is Gardener for Public Education at The New York Botanical Garden.
The best way to avoid or eliminate pest and disease problems when growing orchids in your home is to follow good cultural practices. Correct watering routines, consistent fertilizing, a good growing medium, proper light requirements, and adequate humidity levels are all essential to getting your exotic friends to thrive.
Sometimes, all that we do to take care of our orchids just isn’t enough. Let’s take a look as some user-friendly products that we have on hand to treat an ailing orchid. The first on the list is a grapefruit. If you notice that something is munching holes in the leaves of your orchid, but you just can’t find the culprit, then it’s probably a slug.
They nestle into the nice loose and moist pieces of your fir bark potting mix and wait until dark before they strike. These nocturnal creatures can do quite a bit of damage, so leave an overturned grapefruit or citrus rind in your pot. The slugs will crawl up into the damp cavity and you can then toss it out (slug and grapefruit rind) in the morning.
For other pest problems such as aphids, mealybugs, and scale try reaching into a household cupboard and pulling out the rubbing alcohol or the Murphy’s Oil Soap®. Dilute the Murphy’s Oil Soap® by adding 2–3 tablespoons to a quart of water. For scale, take a soft toothbrush or a cotton swab soaked with rubbing alcohol and rub off the scale.
Any new treatment should be tried first on one leaf or an isolated part of the plant to see how it is going to respond. Spray early in the morning or late in the day. Some sprays dry off quickly in the middle of the day and lose their potency and other times the combination of the spray and the intensity of the midday sun can burn the leaves. You will miss some insects the first time you spray, so repeat the treatment once a week for several weeks.
If your orchids have black or brown spots that start to grow and look watery or mushy, then there is a good chance that it has a bacterial or fungal problem. Stick your hand back into the cupboard and grab the cinnamon—nature’s favorite natural fungicide. If possible, cut off the infected portion of leaf and sprinkle cinnamon over the area. If that is not available try Neosporin® applied with a cotton swab.
Francisca Coelho has outdone herself this time.
To suspend the whole apparatus, Fran rigged up crossed galvanized pipes in a square formation from which the baskets are suspended. Then the whole planter was lifted—using two lifts, one for the basket and one for the person hanging the basket—and hung from the conservatory ceiling. It took four staff members working in unison to accomplish this.
In conjunction with 
Walter Hood Fitch (1817–1892) one of the most celebrated lithographers of the 19th century, Mary Eaton (1873–1961), and Sarah Drake ((1803–1857) are some of the artists represented in the display.
If your orchids have black or brown spots that start to grow and look watery or mushy, then there is a good chance that it has a bacterial or fungal problem. Stick your hand back into the cupboard and grab the cinnamon—nature’s favorite natural fungicide. If possible, cut off the infected portion of leaf and sprinkle cinnamon over the area. If that is not available try Neosporin® applied with a cotton swab. 