AN ABUNDANCE OF BLOOMS, EXPERTISE
‘WORLD OF ORCHIDS’ SPRING SHOWCASE OPENS SATURDAY FOR A FIVE-WEEK RUN AT THE SAN DIEGO BOTANIC GARDEN IN ENCINITAS
Flower fanatics and novices alike are invited to the San Diego Botanic Garden’s “World of Orchids” show, which opens Saturday. After a successful inaugural event in 2021, the show’s second edition returns with a wide array of orchid species. The five-week spring showcase will feature plants grown on-site, as well as loaner orchids raised by commercial and amateur growers in the region.
John Clements, the director of gardens, is in charge of the San Diego Botanic Garden’s horticultural affairs, including design and installation of new exhibits. He said that planning for this year’s “World of Orchids” started the minute the 2021 event ended, as there are “so many moving parts” — from raising the garden’s own species to coordinating visiting plants.
While launching a large event during the pandemic might seem like an odd decision, COVID-19 circumstances were actually the reason “World of Orchids” came to be. When the local orchid societies were forced to cancel their annual show in 2021, the garden stepped in to continue the tradition, offering to host the show in its conservatory. Due to its roll-up, garage-style glass doors, the conservatory is considered an outdoor space that could accommodate COVID-19 health and safety requirements.
One of the major differences for the garden’s event was the decision to extend the show from a few days to five weeks. Most orchid shows, Clements noted, consist of one large display and take place over a single weekend.
“If we were going to go to that much trouble, we wanted to just have it keep going,” he said.
To successfully host a monthlong event, the garden will regularly cycle out orchids and refresh the exhibit with an influx of new plants, making it “kind of like a new show” on a weekly basis.
“Every (Monday) we will trade out plants that aren’t at their best — you know, when the flowers begin to fade,” Clements said. “Orchids bloom a long time, but even they reach their shelf life. Most of them are going to look good for two to three weeks at their peak.”
Another aspect that sets “World of Orchids” apart? Rather than a static display of flowers set up on a tablecloth, the orchids are artfully placed, resulting in an exhibit that resembles a
convention show.
“Basically it turns into one giant floral arrangement,” Clements said, adding that the aesthetic effort is due in large part to René van Rems, the garden’s artist-in-residence and the show’s creative director.
In addition to the floral showcase, there will be vendors selling reasonably priced, hard-to-find plants on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. (Dates subject to change; check website before arrival.)
“World of Orchids” is intended to be enjoyed by experts and newbies alike. Clements noted that those falling into the latter camp will probably be shocked by the show’s variety.
“I think most people tend to associate orchids with Trader Joe’s plants — you know, the phalaenopsis,” he said. “They’re very inexpensive — most people just buy them, let them bloom, and then don’t worry about them again.”
For amateurs having trouble getting orchids to rebloom, “World of Orchids” is a helpful resource. Alongside the weekend vendors, representatives from orchid societies and conservation organizations will offer an abundance of knowledge and gardening advice. And in conjunction with the event, the San Diego Botanic Garden will host classes about orchid care and culture on select dates. (See the garden’s website for a class schedule.)
“When (visitors) come to this show, they’ll learn a lot about how to raise orchids and the diversity of how many different types there are,” Clements said. “It’s not just the Trader Joe’s phalaenopsis orchids — there are thousands of very, very cool species that people don’t tend to see very often.”