Category: Floral Events & News

Every spring, the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) is transformed into a dazzling showcase for one of the world’s most beautiful and exotic flowers: the orchid. This year, for the 11^th straight year in a row, the biggest orchid show in the United States celebrates this bewitching flower by displaying tens of thousands of its blooms in every shape, size and color imaginable, from deep purple Vandas to electric green Cymbidiums.

The Orchid Show was first created as a colorful kickoff to the spring season, during which NYBG visitors could escape their urban surroundings and learn more about the exciting research and many breathtaking exhibits being hosted at the garden.

“We were looking for a display that could help brighten up the gray days of winter and be a perfect prelude to our spectacular outdoor spring displays,” says Marc Hachadourian, orchid curator and manager of the Nolen Greenhouses for Living Collections at NYBG. “Orchids seemed a natural choice. They have come to symbolize many things: Most people associate them with the exotic and unusual, and some consider certain orchids to be an aphrodisiac. During the last few days of winter—when people are really craving warmth, color and flowers—it is the perfect place to visit and immerse yourself. Being surrounded by thousands of colorful and fragrant blooms in one of the greatest glasshouses in the world is the best way to spend a day.”

This year, designer and horticultural expert Francisca Coelho fashioned the NYBG’s Enid A. Haupt Conservatory into a lush rainforest with towering palm trees and exotic foliage. The 2013 show was inspired by Coelho’s upbringing in the tropics of Trinidad, and it took more than a year to plan and about two weeks to set up. The tropical paradise overflowed with the rarest and most exquisite orchids from every corner of the globe.

“Two of the most unusual might be the Butterfly orchid, or Psychopsis—with blooms that look exactly like a butterfly in flight, even down to the antennae—or the Darwin’s Star orchid from Madagascar, with its white flowers and 12-inch nectar spur,” says Hachadourian. “Phalaenopsis orchids are also wonderful because their flowers can last several months under ideal conditions, outlasting any flowering plant or certainly cut flowers. I love to give them as gifts for that reason alone.”

Aside from being surrounded by these stunning blossoms, NYBG Orchid Show visitors were also able to learn how to care for orchids at home, enjoy soothing music from all over the world, and unwind with an evening of delicious cocktails.

Of course, with its magical collection of one of our most beloved flowers, this show was one we simply had to experience in person. Here are the photos from our blissful stroll through orchid heaven!

Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan is fortunate enough to have one of the oldest and most beautiful collegiate botanical gardens in the United States: The W.J. Beal Botanical Garden. In fact, it is the oldest continuously operated university botanical garden of its kind in the United States. The garden was founded in 1873 by Professor William James Beal. There is a rich history in the gardens that few know about, notably the large ginkgo tree that is located next to the Beaumont tower on campus.  This tree was a gift from the famous botanist Professor Asa Gray of Harvard University in 1863.

The Michigan State University W.J. Beal Botanical Gardens consists of over 5 acres while its corresponding arboretum encompasses the entire developed campus of approxmately 2100 acres. As the arboretum essentially is the entire Michigan State campus, it is hard for students to escape it. The Botanical Gardens however are only in an area on the north end of campus near the North Campus Library. The beauty of the Gardens is admired by the entire student body at Michigan State making it a popular location for studying. An especially popular area for students is near the pond which has a number of benches, making it a great place to enjoy the garden and find serenity within the campus.

One of the famous aspects of the Gardens is it’s extensive research program. Students and faculty use the garden and it’s resources to conduct their own research. Some of the studies that have been recently conducted at the Gardens are: a study on the waxy layer of bayberries related to the understanding of plants and oils for biofuels, attempting to breed trees that are resistant to some fungi, and studying insects that attack apples by using their crabapple and cedar trees. One of the more fascinating and long standing studies that has been going on at the Gardens is the Beal Seed Viability study.

In the autumn of 1879 Professor Beal planted a bottle of seeds on campus and every 20 years the bottle is unearthed and the seeds are examined to see which will germinate. In 2020 the 140th year bottle will be excavated. For more information on the Beal Seed Viability study click here.

The garden just recently added the Al and Jean Goldner Daylily Collection and next year will be celebrating its 140th anniversary.

Every four years the overwhelming event known as the Olympic Games captures the entire world as all of the greatest athletes gather together to proudly compete for their home country. With almost 300 events in 26 different sporting events, sometimes the minor details and hard work that go into the Olympics tend to get overlooked. One of those things is something that everyone sees but does not necessarily understand the importance of: the flower bouquets.

The history of flowers at the Olympic Games dates all the way back to Ancient Greece, the competing athletes in the first games were given Olive leaf wreathes that were placed on their heads. At the time this was the only reward the athletes received, the medals did not come until much later. The presence of flowers finally sprung up during the Victorian era, where each individual flower was thought to have a different meaning. These meanings have carried over into the present representations of the Olympic Bouquets given to athletes on the champions’ podium after every event.

Today, there is a very competitive and specific selection process as to who gets the opportunity to design the host country’s bouquet. The entire process is observed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as numerous florists from the host country place their bids for the right to honor their country with their design of the Olympic Bouquet. What many people do not know are the numerous rules and regulations every design must take into account before allowed to be presented to the IOC. Many of the rules are common sense, such as size, cost and availability, but some other rules you may not have thought about. Bouquets must be pollen and scent-free to protect athletes with allergies. Also, the bouquets must be sturdy enough to be manhandled, while at the same time be free of sharp edges and points. After all, in all the excitement who doesn’t want to celebrate their tremendous victory by tossing their bouquet in the air amongst crowds of fans? In the end, one cannot simply expect to gain the IOC’s favor by simply following all the rules.

The florist who eventually wins the honor to design the Olympic Bouquet must focus on incorporating their national identity into color and flower selection. Many designers in the past have simply fused their country’s national colors into an arrangement with numerous local flowers. However, in more recent events designers have celebrated the Olympic spirit by incorporating their community into the process as well. At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, florists June Strandberg and Margitta Schultz used their design process to help out at-risk women in the Vancouver area. They went to nearby prisons and shelters for women with drug and abuse problems to teach their trade. The women hoped that by doing this some of the women would have experience in a trade they could eventually turn into a career when they were reintroduced into society. The IOC certainly took this into account when they made their selection as the Olympic spirit is all about community and unity.

So when you are watching the 2012 London summer games, make sure to think about all the hard work and planning that goes into the almost 4,400 bouquets the champion athletes will hoist in the air with pride.

Related Olympic Articles:

• Olympic Games Past & Present
• Official 2012 London Olympic Flowers

Seeing all of the Olympic Bouquets has really got us in the Olympic spirit! The idea of the Olympic Games was conceived in ancient Greece but ended around the time of 393 and 426 AD. The Games started up again in 1896 back in its birthplace, Athens, Greece. There have been a total of 30 Olympics in the modern era, not all have actually happened or were attended by all of the world’s superpowers but this 2012 Olympics marks the Games of the 30th Olympiad.

• 1896 Olympics in Athens, Greece
• 1900 Olympics in Paris, France
• 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri
• 1908 Olympics in London, UK
• 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden
• 1916 Olympics in Berlin, Germany (canceled due to World War I)
• 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium
• 1924 Olympics in Paris, France
• 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, Netherlands
• 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, California, United States of America
• 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany
• 1940 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan (canceled due to World War II)
• 1944 Olympics in London, UK (canceled due to World War II)
• 1948 Olympics in London, UK
• 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland
• 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia
• 1960 Olympics in Rome, Italy
• 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan
• 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico
• 1972 Olympics in Munich, West Germany
• 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• 1980 Olympics in Moscow, Soviet Union (boycotted by the U.S.)
• 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, California, United States of America
• 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea
• 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain
• 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
• 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia
• 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece
• 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China
• 2012 Olympics in London, UK
• 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan
• 2024 Olympics in Paris, France
• 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, California, United States of America

Some colleges are lucky to have either a botanical garden or arboretum located on or near their campus, however the University of Michigan has the great fortune of having both within walking distance of campus. The Matthaei Botanical Gardens which is nearly 250 acres is located just off of campus but close enough to walk to and the Nichol Arboretum, commonly referred to as the “Arb,” 125 acres, is on central campus. Both the Gardens and the Arb are associated with the University.

Joseph Mooney the Marketing Director for both the Gardens and Arb described them both as, “places where people can escape from the nearby urban environments and engage with nature.”

The Arb offers a place in the center of campus for students to be immersed in a naturalistic landscape while studying and meeting up with fellow students. The Botanical Gardens offer a large conservatory that contains three different climate zones. There is the Tropical House which has a tropical climate that features blooming flowers all year round; Warm Temperate House that has climates similar to the Mediterranean and West Asia; and finally the Arid House which has similarities to desert climates. This is an obviously desirable location for studying in the winter as students are battling the harsh Michigan winters.

Both the Gardens and the Arb offer summer internship programs as well as volunteer opportunities for students. This summer nearly 40 interns worked at the Gardens and Arb in a variety of departments from nature preservation to marketing to visitor services and more. During the school year dozens of students volunteer their time by helping out at the Arb and Gardens.

Each location has their own unique aspect that really makes them stand out. The Arb for instance has the largest collection of antique and heirloom peonies in North America. The Peony Garden which blooms in May to June is one of the most popular collections at the Arb. At its peak, the garden contains over 10,000 blooms with some of the plants being nearly 100 years old, having been in the same spot since they were initially planted at the beginning of the 20th century. Along with its amazing conservatory, the Matthaei Botanical Gardens is home to the only venomous snake in Michigan, the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake.

The Arb and the Botannical Gardens are both very involved with the community of the University of Michigan along with the town that houses the college, Ann Arbor. The Gardens and Arb both have extensive educational opportunities for children. They have partnerships with local groups such as: the local Audobon Society, Sierra Club, and other floral societies. The majority of this programming is offered free of charge. The Arb also holds annual 5K family runs, a Shakespeare festival called Shakespeare in the Arb, and music which is all held at the Arb’s amphitheater. The Matthaie Botanical Gardens hosts annual plant sales in the spring and has regular conservatory exhibits.

Currently at the Gardens, workers are constructing a Great Lakes Garden which will feature plants that are native to the Great Lakes region including over 100 species of native orchids. The Arb will also be renovating its large collection of heirloom peonies which will be a multi-year project.

So as you can see, there is a lot to be excited about in the upcoming years at the the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and the Nichol Arboretum.  Interested in visiting? Click here to receive visitor information.

The pageantry of the Olympics is unlike any other. It is a spectacle that puts the host country on display. The host country is able to show off to the world its cities, its people, and even its agriculture. The agriculture will be exhibited when the victorious athletes are presented with a bouquet during the medal ceremonies. It is a stipulation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that the flowers used in these bouquets must be grown in the host country. For this years 2012 Olympic Games the winning bouquet was designed and arranged by the world famous floral company, Jane Packer.

The founder of the company that bares her name, Jane Packer, was an English landmark. Mrs. Packer unfortunately passed away in 2011 but by the time of her death she left a lasting mark on the floral industry. She was born and raised inEnglandand opened her first flower shop in downtownLondonin 1982. Mrs. Packer started really small and continuously worked her way up until she received the call of a lifetime in 1986 when she was asked to design the bridal flowers for the wedding of Sarah Ferguson and the Duke of York. In 1989 she opened her first floral school (in the basement of her parent’s house) where she would teach aspiring florists the art of floral design. Today Jane Packer has stores inLondon, New York, Tokyo, and Seoul with floral design schools accompanying each store. Packer’s legacy was her ability to turn her flower shop into a brand in the echelon of Gucci and Versace. There was a certain stigma to owning Jane Packer flowers which makes it fitting that one of her last floral designs before her death was the Victory Bouquet that will be presented to the 4,400 victorious athletes at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The Victory Bouquet is very significant to the country of England. There are four section of the bouquet to mirror the 2012 Summer Olympics logo. Each quadrant is represented by a different style of rose which is a very iconic to England. In each section the arrangement will be filled with traditional English herbs: mint, rosemary, English lavender, and wheat. The roses chosen for the bouquet are Illios (yellow), Marie Claire (orange), Aqua (pink) and Wimbledon (green).  The mix of flowers and herbs provides and eclectic fragrance to the bouquet. A representative of Jane Packer describes the arrangement as “representing the vibrancy of the Games.”

The roses, mint, and rosemary in the arrangement will be grown at Landgard/Chessum Plants in Sussex. The wheat will be from Shropshire Petals in Shropshire while the lavender will be from Long Barn Garden in Alfreds ford, Hampshire.