As frigid, winter weather swirls outside the Denver Botanic Gardens and its greenhouses, hundreds of spring and summer orchids will take the stage during a month-long showcase starting in January.
The blooming flowers, ranging from common moth orchids to more rare varieties like the Venus Slipper and Dancing Lady orchids, will fill the garden’s Orangery, Marnie’s Pavilion and Boettcher Center Lobby, garden spokesperson Erin Bird said. Visitors can also look into greenhouses where the garden’s special collections live.
Bird said the display will look at the reproductive lives of orchids and be set up in a “vintage Dating Show” style.
“The Orchid Showcase is a great way to celebrate lots of colorful flowers at the gardens during the winter,” Bird said. “Orchids are popular, but sometimes persnickety, house plants so it is a great way for people to learn about the different species, get care tips and even add another plant to their collection.”
The showcase will run from Jan. 10 to Feb. 17 and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the event organizers.
Visitors can also purchase flowers from Colorado-based grower Fantasy Orchids between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturdays during the showcase. Access to the sale is included with a general admission ticket to the garden.
Bird said the popular Orchid Showcase Photo Contest will also be returning.
The garden usually gets more than 1,000 entries and Mike’s Camera, the contest sponsor, will select three winning photographs from the submissions, Bird said. The winners will receive an orchid from the display and a gift card from the camera shop.
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