Why Someone Could Be Obsessed with Orchids Beauty and Mystique?

African-American scholar Mr. John Hope Franklin (1915-2009), who was a passionate lover and greenhouse breeder of orchids, compares his love of history with his admiration of the flowers by saying, "...They're full of challenges, mystery..."

Do you love orchids? If orchids are your passion, then you already understand why someone could be obsessed with their beauty and mystique, and you are probably already quite in tune with the events that are dedicated to them.

However, for somebody who is too busy with everyday life to appreciate the more beautiful parts of life, the Illinois Orchid Society Spring Show and Sale would be a new and exciting experience. This event is sponsored by The Chicago Botanic Garden twice a year.

In the beginning, my curiosity about these plants was sparked by a good friend who had a habit of growing and collecting them. To this day, he has them in every room of his house, sitting on windows and shelves in a variety of colors, sizes, ages, and fragrance. His love of orchids, from what I've observed, seems to grow with each new bloom of flowers.

Whenever I have the chance to visit, I am captivated by the brilliant array of white, yellow, violet, brown and many other colors, by the tiny little flowers to those that are very large. The only experiences I've personally had with orchids were the occasional corsages for dances and proms and show centerpieces for formal dinner tables.

It was this orchid-loving friend who informed me of the Orchid Society Spring Show and Sale in the Botanical Garden. It was a last day of show, March 22, and was great cool and sunny early spring day that was perfect for visiting.

My other friend and I arrived at the Garden around lunch time, and I was surprised to see people coming out with packages full of orchids. Many of them didn't look like typical gardeners or flower-lovers at all.

There were women and men of all ages, and even children, carrying their orchids as carefully as if they were made of precious crystal. I could immediately see that those who loved orchids had a special reverence for the beautiful flowers and treated them with great care.

While it was clear that many people love orchids, my real curiosity was to find out information about orchids from breeders who raise the flowers as a profession, not just an admirable hobby.

At the Show, we first entered a large exhibition hall and showroom that was full of stands and displays with different kind of orchids. There were some types I had never seen in my life and some I knew from my friend's house. Almost every visitor had a camera. They were taking pictures of every flower from different angles and lighting.

Orchids of every kind, from rare species to cultivated hybrids, were on display - more than forty displays all together. Displays varied from large to small, from rare orchids to well-known. Some orchids already had ribbons of different colors and ranks and AOS awards.

There were 128 classes of orchids being judged for competition, but the fact of the competition was not what captured my attention. Since it was my first visit to this kind of fantastic show, I (obviously like many of the people at the show) was completely fascinated with observing the artistic presentation of orchids.

I started taking pictures and was having a thoroughly fun and enjoyable time. It wasn't long before I decided I simply must buy an orchid.

So the quest began.

We entered a market place and started browsing, trying to find a right orchid for me. My friend had already chosen a color, but it took me a while to make up my mind because of the wide selection. She picked up a violet, and I chose a light violet-white with small flowers, a Phalaenopsis orchid - one of the easiest orchids to grow in my home conditions.

As was advised, I placed my orchid in bright, indirect light, away from direct sun and drafts.
© Rachel Madorsky