Orchids captivate and enthrall people around the world. They also captivate and lure pollinators – sometimes through fascinating, beautiful deceit! Join us as we showcase some of the unique, bizarre, and intriguing orchid adaptations that deceive pollinators looking for food, mates, locations to lay their eggs, and more. Explore thousands of orchids in this 29th annual joint orchid exhibit between the U.S. Botanic Garden and Smithsonian Gardens.
“Orchids: Masters of Deception” will showcase a changing display of specimens from the U.S. Botanic Garden and Smithsonian Gardens’ extensive orchid collections. In the Garden Court, multiple display cases will feature the stories of orchids that exhibit delightful deception with scent, shape, color and more. Displays will include two 9-foot-tall tree sculptures covered with hundreds of pink and white orchids, a nod to another famous Washington, D.C., collection—cherry trees. Visitors will find orchids wrapped around more than 20 lamps, plus both the Garden Court and Plant Conservation will showcase large, 8-foot-tall curtains of orchids showcasing the special roots that allow them to live without soil. Stories of orchid deception will continue into the Orchid house.
Orchid-themed educational programs will be offered throughout the exhibit, such as demonstrations on orchid care, in-person Q&As for visitors to bring their orchid questions to Botanic Garden experts, and more.
The gift shop offered by Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden and ReWild will feature offerings such as live orchids, a candle inspired by the Botanic Garden’s Orchid house and other educational and botanical gift items. Proceeds from the gift shop benefit the Botanic Garden’s education programs. Learn more and plan a visit at www.USBG.gov.
