Orchids in the Garden

· by · in Ephemeral New York, Things to Do, Things to See. ·

Just as I wonder
whether it’s going to die,
the orchid blossoms
and I can’t explain why it
moves my heart, why such pleasure
comes from one small bud
on a long spindly stem, one
blood red gold flower
opening at mid-summer,
tiny, perfect in its hour.
—opening stanzas to “The Orchid Flower” by Sam Hamill

Orchid Show, New York Botanical Gardens, April, Annual, the Bronx, New York, Walk About New York

The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens

The New York Botanical Garden’s annual Orchid Show in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory ended on the 19th of April. The Orchid Show is free with the general admission fee to the Garden. This year’s theme was Orchid Chandeliers. The themes get lost in the beauty of the surroundings and the flowers. The colors, shapes, sizes and fragrances of the orchids can transport anyone to another world.

Orchid Show, New York Botanical Gardens, April, Annual, the Bronx, New York, Walk About New York

The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens

The Ancient Greeks believed that Orchis was the son of a nymph and a satyr. While celebrating at a feast for Dionysius, Orchis committed sacrilege; he attempted to have relations with a priestess. He was torn apart by wild beasts. Orchis’ father prayed that his son be made whole again; instead the gods allowed him to metamorphose into a slender, flowering plant.

Orchid Show, New York Botanical Gardens, April, Annual, the Bronx, New York, Walk About New York

The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens

Orchid petal in you I see, a
life worth living and with
you I’ll be. Love don’t come
In pearly light but you smell
and look deeper than my
sight. Like an orchid flower
you are to me, a dream to
dream, a vision to see.
—from “Orchid Beauty” by Andrew Vassell

Orchid Show, New York Botanical Gardens, April, Annual, the Bronx, New York, Walk About New York

The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens

The orchids bloomed
in mid-january
but no one noticed them
under the white sheets of snow…
or in the company of
the lone pillars of marble
—“The Orchids Bloomed” by Gina Ann

Orchid Show, New York Botanical Gardens, April, Annual, the Bronx, New York, Walk About New York

The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens

Your colors diffuse in hushed streaks
across synapses,
as empty spaces also become orchids
and butterfly petals reach for a scent
their counterparts in rain.
A fringed April is actually an orchid.
—“Wild Orchids” by Colin Carpenter

Orchid Show, New York Botanical Gardens, April, Annual, the Bronx, New York, Walk About New York

The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens

Orchids were thought to be powerful aphrodisiacs, the food of satyrs. We can thank the Ancient Greeks for the genus name órkhis, meaning testicle, because of the shape of the twin tubers in some species of Orchis. Ancient Greek women believe they could determine the gender of their unborn children with orchid roots. If the father ate large, new tubers, the child would be male; if the mother ate small tubers, the child would be female.

Orchid Show, New York Botanical Gardens, April, Annual, the Bronx, New York, Walk About New York

The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens

Delicate butterfly orchids
stand paper thin and tall
Perfect pout pink lip-gloss kisses
with proud protruding power jewel centre
Ephemeral Angels
sign of life and hope
renewed strength and passion
Powerfully poised petals
gently nod affectionate ‘I love you’s’
long since they were given as gift
bringing forth renewed romantic setting
an idealistic reminder every day
—“Pretty Orchids” by Anaisnais

Orchid Show, New York Botanical Gardens, April, Annual, the Bronx, New York, Walk About New York

The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens

Orchid Show, New York Botanical Gardens, April, Annual, the Bronx, New York, Walk About New York

The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens

Orchid Show, New York Botanical Gardens, April, Annual, the Bronx, New York, Walk About New York

The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens

Orchid Show, New York Botanical Gardens, April, Annual, the Bronx, New York, Walk About New York

The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens

A symbol of rare beauty
Exotic. Delicate. Mysterious
Precious, in every way
Lost in a tropical land of
Purple Haze,
I am there
Whispering with a tinge of
Innocence yet wild
With passionate dark desires.
—from “Purple Orchids” by Farah

Orchid Show, New York Botanical Gardens, April, Annual, the Bronx, New York, Walk About New York

The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens

Orchid Show, New York Botanical Gardens, April, Annual, the Bronx, New York, Walk About New York

The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens

Orchid Show, New York Botanical Gardens, April, Annual, the Bronx, New York, Walk About New York

The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens

Most men go throughout life
Searching for the perfect Rose
Wasting away the Orchids
Only to learn what I know

It pricks you with its thorns
Once your distracted by its beauty
But an Orchid remains the same
Soft to the touch and pretty
—from “My Orchid” by Danny Day

Orchid Show, New York Botanical Gardens, April, Annual, the Bronx, New York, Walk About New York

The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens

Orchid Show, New York Botanical Gardens, April, Annual, the Bronx, New York, Walk About New York

The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens

Orchid Show, New York Botanical Gardens, April, Annual, the Bronx, New York, Walk About New York

The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens

Orchid Show, New York Botanical Gardens, April, Annual, the Bronx, New York, Walk About New York

The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens

Click here to see photos from last year’s Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden.

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