The Orchid Show is an annual event at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) located in the Bronx. Spanning approximately 250 acres, it’s one of the largest and most renowned botanical gardens in the United States, offering a lush and extensive collection of plants, flowers, and trees.
I went there last year (2024) with Steve as a part of our delayed Valentine’s Day celebration, and it was amazing. Last year’s theme was Florals in Fashion and the exhibition featured a number of guest designers and their take on connecting fashion and flowers.
It was a beautiful exhibition that felt more like an art installation than a flower display. Imagine cascading orchid walls, exotic species in every shade imaginable, and floral sculptures that make you forget you’re in the Bronx and not in the middle of a tropical rainforest. The orchids come in all sorts of colors, shapes and patterns, and the track through the exhibition provides you with one breathtaking visual after another. It’s impossible not to get in a good mood from walking around in the beautiful surroundings, and I left with a big smile on my face.
This year’s theme (2025) is Mexican Modernism and the show is inspired by the Mexican modernist architect Luis Barragán. The orchid show takes place at the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory and this year, it’s on from February 17–April 27.
Besides just looking at orchids, you can also attend guided tours, photography workshops, and special Orchid Nights, where the exhibit stays open late with cocktails and live music. If you’re looking for a way to escape the city for a couple of hours (without actually leaving it), this is one of the best ways to do it.
The botanical garden is also known for the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden, which is home to thousands of rose plants, and the Thain Family Forest, a remnant of the original forest that once covered New York City. When we were there end of February, there wasn’t a lot in bloom outdoors, but I can imagine how beautiful it is in the summer. Until then, make sure to check out the Orchid Show.
The New York Botanical Garden hosts various educational programs, workshops, and community events throughout the year, aimed at promoting environmental awareness and botanical knowledge. Its research division, including the LuEsther T. Mertz Library, is among the most comprehensive and respected botanical libraries in the world, supporting the study of botany, horticulture, and landscape design.
You can read more about what’s on right now at the NYBG website >>
