We have been enjoying the Atlanta Botanical Garden and today’s tour is through the Orchid Conservatory, the largest in the United States! Now, I have to admit I know nothing about orchids…….and my experience with them stops at the counter to glance at the tiny, irrelevant groupings to be found at the grocery store……not to be. After experiencing these plants at the Botanical Garden I want to know more about them! I’d even consider a greenhouse, if I had room in my garden! I can’t wait to show the exotics to you! Mind they were all labeled…….mind I was on a time schedule……mind I took every photo on my IPhone! I will have to go back and study my favorites! But, let’s move on! Here is the entryway! Let’s go in!
I don’t know what this foliage is, but I loved it! In my mind they are zebra leaves! And don’t they look fantastic with the plant with the pink and florescent purple flower?
Do orchids grow on air?
There were signs to learn more about them………..
Throughout the year multitudes of orchids are brought from on-site greenhouses to the conservatory for display while in bloom. These orchids and companion plantings demonstrate a naturalistic growth on trees and other structures. The Tropical High Elevation House uses an air washing cooling system to maintain daytime temperatures below 76 degrees and the night temperature drops to 52 degrees throughout the year, even in the hot humid nights of Atlanta! The plantings here grow in the tropics between 4,000 and 10,000 feet above sea level. These exotics come from three distinct regions: South America’s Andes Mountains; the tabletop mountains of southern Venezuela and Mt. Kinabalu on the island of Borneo.
And now for some closeups! Mother Nature is the best thing on Earth!
It was like we were in a huge rain forest!
With all sorts of exotic plants to choose from!
Be sure to look up! There are plants everywhere!
and look down at every nook and cranny because there is a lot to see!
Some exotics have silky wormy thingys………
But, most of the plants have very colorful blooms!
I have many more photos to share with you, but I don’t want it to be overwhelming! I’ll stop for today and add another post about the orchids tomorrow! I don’t want you to miss anything! To learn about the Fuqua Orchid Center at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, including their classes and events look HERE!
ThatTravelLadyInHerShoes 
I used to think orchids were only for corsages that came in clear plastic square boxes. When we lived in Florida, my then young husband would purchase one for special events such as Mother’s Day or my mid-summer birthday. Now, I see them as potted plants in grocery stores and even faux plants in decorating shops. At home here, I have a bouquet of these faux orchids with the amazing texture of live plants. No scent, of course, but I imagine a gardenia fragrance – or just pretend.
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I came away with an entire new view of orchids! Now I know why the folks get excited over them!
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Interesting how they grow them with their roots dangling in the air instead of in dirt. I didn’t know that
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I didn’t either!
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