For me the Orchid Show in the New York Botanical Garden is like Christmas is to a child. It began on first day in March and for years those orchids represent my first signs of spring. There are only three days left but this year I'm not depressed about the closing. I think I've captured the essence of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory in the spring of 2013.
The above photo was my favorite picture of a nun's cap orchid this year. I should have kicked these views off with a colorful corsage but it's too soon and the rest of the diary will look bland. Below I'll try to give an overview of this year's orchid show and share a bit of my visual obsession.
Any decent collection of orchid photos really should kick off with a Phalaenopsis. These mostly epithetic flowers are the most loved and recognized as representing this vast family of flowers. This was my favorite Phalaenopsis photo from day one of the 2013 Orchid Show.
Actually I should show this one early. It is my favorite from this year's orchid show. I'm sure nobody else is impressed but I felt like I had a Japanese print thing going on and I'm going to frame this one to send it to Mom.
Or perhaps a dark and mysterious dancing lady to set the mood.
Her slippers can be pretty mysterious too. Did you know that the root of the word orchid is from the Greek word for testicle? But the naming of the flower has nothing to do with that bag hanging under this Paphiopedilum.
I should set the stage. This is the view from the front door of the warm Palm Court on a snow day in March.
Here is the welcoming committee on a sunny day this week.
And on a cloudy day that orchid pool set me up for another favorite of this year's show. With direct sunlight on these yellow ladies surrounded by purple dancers the clouds darkened the palm backdrop.
Time to go inside and see what the gallery looks like this year. Not too shabby on a cold and cloudy day in the Bronx.
In the big square greenhouse this year there is an artificial tree. Some of it and many of the branches used in the design for this years show were taken down by Hurricane Sandy.
And in the center of it all, a very soothing pool of water.
Here is the view of the first tubular glass gallery looking back toward the palm court in the late afternoon.
Along the way, a few bromeliads to mix things up.
On the ground, some jungle corsages in the shadows.
up in the treetops, the moths are standing proud.
I'm very fond of the color blast coming from these tiny cane orchids.
As I'm sure you know, the Orchidaceae is either the most successful and varied of flowers or running in a very close second place to the Asteraceae. I came across a few varieties this year that would be hard to pinpoint as orchids. These blew me away.
And here is another called "xBrassolaelia Yellow Bird."
Here is a tiny and beautiful orchid. Probably one of the cane orchids, the whole flower is the size of a quarter.
Not an easy capture but I love to take pictures of the Dancing Ladies.
I did capture a pretty nice spray of Pansy Orchids.
But I really love the depth and darkness of this pansy composition.
Another Paphiopedilum, this ladies slipper looks like it has been dipping into the AndroGel.
As varied and beautiful as orchids are to see, myself and just about any photo buff are all seeking that perfect Phalaenopsis.
Just the iridescent skin of the sepal alone is reason enough for the photographic quest.
And then there is the shiny almost wax like look of what is called the lips of the moth.
There is much more to this visual obsession, a warm symmetry and a sensual feel, perfect beauty found in nature.
The birth of a Phalaenopsis.
When I a little Roman Catholic boy I recall a priest claiming that flowers were "A gift from God to please mankind." When I look at a moth orchid, I can almost believe. I think this is my favorite from this year's orchid show.
There's the door, time to go.
Make sure that you look up on the way out. There you will see that the architecture of this Victorian glass house was inspired by the underside of a leaf, the leaf of the Victoria amazonica.
I promised you a corsage, didn't I?