Exotic Orchids from Across the Globe
I went to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Orchid Show & Plant Fair last week and it was a good antidote to a pang of homesickness. The past couple of weeks had been so gloomy and I was clearly pining for bright and sunny days.
It’s mid-Spring and still a little bit chilly but what I really want is sunshine🌞 – yes, lots of it! I’m done with snow, wearing coats, gloves, and hats, whatever.😂
The show was a very impressive display of exotic orchids and other vibrant blooms from every corner of the globe. It was a bewildering array of orchids from easy to grow Phalaenopsis or ‘moth orchids’ which is widely known, to some of the world’s rarest variety — everything from miniatures to giants — in every colour imaginable.
There were talks and demonstrations for orchid-growing success and other horticultural interest. And there was also an Orchid Painting Masterclass conducted by the Chelsea School of Botanical Art.
There was also a very interesting and stunning floral installation that featured the upcoming RHS Chatsworth Flower Show (photo below), a sneak peek of the Orchid Pollinators Virtual Reality Experience. I got to try it — you sit down and use a binocular to see upclose the incredible world of orchids. My mother loved orchids and she always had a variety of wild orchids in our backyard. It was her number one favourite flower and she would have loved to see this exhibit.
As I was preparing to leave, that is, after walking around and gazing at the plants and flowers for about 3-4 hours, I saw this very fascinating orchid genus from the Philippines called Dendrochilum Wenzelii (top right photo), and it transported me back to my beloved hometown. It’s one of my favourite orchids — absolutely stunning! Looking at those tropical flowers not only reminded me so much of home, and especially of my mom, but it also provided a little escape from winter, or rather spring, blues. 🙂 Lord willing, I’ll be going to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show next month and the RHS Chatsworth Flower Show in June. And I’ll have to drag one of my friends to keep me company, and not go on my own like I did last week.😂