A nursery area at Better Gro, sponsor of The Orchid Show.
In preparation for Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ 2016 Orchid Show, Angel Lara, Assistant Director of Horticulture, visited the production greenhouses of the event sponsor, Better-Gro, a national gardening retailer earlier this month. During the site visit Lara met with the lead growers and merchandising team members to determine size, shapes and colors of the retailer’s orchids, bromeliads and aroids that will be incorporated into the Gardens’ 40th Anniversary Orchid Show display, which runs February 14 – March 27, 2016.
Lara said the inclusion of Phalaenopsis orchids of heights up to 18 inches in some of the show’s larger display elements, creating large swaths of color. The scents of Cattleya orchids will fill the conservatory where thousands of orchids will be on display throughout the six-week show.
“We have a longtime relationship with Better-Gro, and I know we’re all excited to create this over-the-top, wondrous show for people to enjoy,” Lara said.
Better-Gro was founded in 1956 as Sun Bulb Company, Inc. by the Hollingsworth family. During its 60 years of operations, there have been various relationships with Selby Gardens, from assisting with plant sourcing to leadership representation on the Board of Trustees.
Interspersed throughout the show will be rare orchids from Selby Gardens’ collection, showcasing different varieties of the plant, which is known to have more than 25,000 species worldwide. Souvenir orchids similar to those displayed in the show will be available for purchase in the Selby Gardens shop throughout the exhibition.
The Orchid Show: Celebrating 40 Years at Selby Gardens takes place Feb. 14 – March 27, 2016 with thousands of orchids on display at the Bayfront botanical garden. Additional details about lectures, classes and social events hosted throughout the six-week show are available here.