It's that time of the year again (see Orchids, Orchids, and More Orchids and Walls of Orchids). The New York Botanical Garden has just opened it's 11th annual orchid show. This year the show was designed by Fran Coelho, NYBG Vice President for Glasshouses and Exhibitions, and it shows. The designer clearly knows the space and her plants.
Of the thousands of species of orchids on display, my favorite has to be the Paphiopedilum, or lady slipper orchid, shown below. The pink signage that accompanies the specimen explains: "The shoe-shaped lip of Paphiopedilum earned this orchid its name, derived from the Greek Paphos, an Aegean island with a temple dedicated to Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, and pedilon (sandal). Legend has it that one day Aphrodite lost her golden slipper. When a mortal found it, the slipper was transformed into an exquisite orchid". This is a wonderful show and well worth a visit to NYBG.
