Now in its 16th year, The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) features thousands of dramatically arranged orchids 
in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, with a series of installations created by Daniel Ost. The specially commissioned works pay homage to Ost’s training in ikebana, the Japanese art of floral arrangement. In ikebana, artists value the ideas of wabi-sabi, a philosophy that finds beauty in imperfection, asymmetry, and impermanence.
In the Palms of the World Gallery of the Conservatory, a sculpture approximately 5.5 meters tall complements the height of the 27-meter dome above. In the Seasonal Exhibition Galleries, its designs engage in dialogue with the architecture of the glasshouse. Daniel Ost’s designs provided an opportunity to showcase the greatest variety of orchid diversity ever presented at The Orchid 
Show.
In addition to orchids, Ost selected a variety of tropical plants to add color and interest. These “orchid companions” include Kalanchoe, Vrisea, Phormium, croton, dracaena, and more.
With tens of thousands of species thriving in habitats around the globe, orchids are among the most diverse and well-adapted plants on Earth. Explore the many unique evolutions and survival mechanisms employed by this colorful family when visiting The Orchid Show.
NYBG continues to be a sanctuary for a renowned collection of orchid specimens, among which are many species threatened by poaching, international trade, and habitat loss. Together with nations and botanical institutions around the world, the Garden continues its work to protect and restore the legacy of these important plants.
There are over 6,000 orchids representing 2,273 taxa (different types) in the Garden’s permanent collection, which includes orchids from all floral regions of the world, including Australia, Africa, South America, and Madagascar.
Many wild orchids are at risk of extinction due to over-collection and the destruction of their native habitats. Through the 
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), dozens of countries are working together to curb the exploitation of wild species and ensure that trade does not threaten their survival. Despite regulations, many orchids are still illegally imported.
NYBG, designated as a CITES Plant Rescue Center since 1990, cares for many confiscated plants. Hundreds of orchids from Brazil, India, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, and Thailand have arrived here in poor condition, but through careful study of their needs and the use of appropriate horticultural techniques, the Garden has managed to rejuvenate most of these weakened specimens.
For more information: www.nybg.org