Subscribe to RSSOrchids: A Cultural Odyssey on view now at The U.S. Botanic Gardens
The U.S. Botanic Garden is centered in the midst of The Mall or what we call our grand avenue of Smithsonian Museums. Although the gardens is not officially part of the Smithsonian museum collection, it is center state on The Mall. I headed down here this past weekend to catch a peek at their Orchid festival named, A Cultural Odyssey. It was lovely.
US Botanical Orchid Show © Britt Conley
There were orchids everywhere from hanging in little baskets to extending from pots on the ground. They were all lovely – and still lovely ’til the exhibit ends on April 11, 2010.
Pink and white Orchids © Britt Conley
The constant daylight is great for shooting flowers here. And with an orchid festival like this there was tons to photograph!
Orchid © Britt Conley
I especialy enjoyed these Dendrobium below, also known as Merlin Orchids.
Dendrobium © Britt Conley
As with any show put on by this gardens, the flowers are lovely!
Sea of orchids © Britt Conley
This cool bloom below looks like it was made with it’s own bug crawling out of it!
Cymbidium Via Rosita aka Pink diamond © Britt Conley
Now and then the clouds would hoover over head now and then providing fantastic lighting for close up! This tall, thin Orchid below is a Arphophyllum giganteum. It’s native from Mexico to Venezuala and in the West Indies. I didn’t catch the name of this lovely purple one below, but it was lovely in the light.
- Arpophyllum Orchid © Britt Conley
For most of my visit the light was streaming in the conservatory and just lovely!
Light orchids © Britt Conley
Here is a perfect Orchid bloom just waiting with it’s wings. I’m thinking it the perfect Daily Flower!
Purple Orchid © Britt Conley
The orange and white Dendrobium Farmeri below, is native to the Himalayas, Burma, Thailand and Malaysia. I can only imagine what they must look like there!
Dendrobium Farmeri © Britt Conley
One of my favorites were the gathering of potted orchids near the entrance. Just a sea of color and contrasts!
Jackfowieara - Appleblossom Orchidaceae hybrid © Britt Conley
I especially like the crazier looking orchids like the ones below. These are Onciduium Irene ‘Mamau’, a hybrid.
Onciduium Irene © Britt Conley
I also enjoyed the little baskets they had on display for the upper hanging orchids. I didn’t see an intentification tag for these but they sure are pretty!
Hanging orchids © Britt Conley
I so love these Kaleidoscope orchids!
Kaleidoscope orchids © Britt Conley
They also had orchids gathered around the main Conservatory waterway which provided a lovely back drop for many of the colorful blooms.
Orchids by the water © Britt Conley
Overall, the show is fantastic. It’s only on until April 11th and if you love Orchids and live in the Washington area, this one is a no brainer. For more information visit the U.S Botanic Garden website.
If you happen to know the names of any of the orchids I left anonymous, feel free to comment and let me know what they are! I’ll credit you in the post! Well, I am off to have some won ton soup around the corner and a hot cup of tea afterward at The Corner Bakery. I hope everyone is having a great week!
‘Til Tomorrow…
Britt : )
Related posts:
- Orchids! Orchids! Orchids! It’s Longwood’s Orchid Exravagaza!
- Slipper Orchids
- This weekend ONLY! Longwood Gardens’ International Orchid Show and Sale!
- At Denver Botanic Gardens it’s all about ambiance
- Purple Florals Delight
2 Comments
2010-03-11
21:47:18
Have you been to the Hillwood Museum, near Howard University? It's a huge estate, with beautiful gardens, and several greenhouses full of orchids.
Really splendid, inside, too!
(I did some repair work on some of the decorative painting, when I lived in the DC area.)
2010-03-11
22:19:04
Thanks so much for the suggestion! I have but didn't get into the greenhouses on that visit! Thanks for the heads up! I will be put that on the list for this next week or the week after to shoot them. I was planning to head over there at the end of April or in May for the outdoors!!!! I also missed the greenhouses at The National Cathedral and they are no longer open to the public. I heard they don't allow photography of the inside of the mansion. But they sure have enough with the gardens!