A World Of Orchids

Flower & Garden Magazine, July, 2002 by Molly Dean

GARDEN DESTINATION

I always remember my first glimpse of an orchid-the flower was made into a corsage that my mother wore to a party. I was mesmerized by the look and scent of this strange, exotic flower, waxy-textured, ruffled and of a hot rosy-purple. Becoming fascinated, I began to read about the faraway gardens where this type of orchid grew, and the descriptions caused me to daydream of worlds of brilliant sunshine, emerald rainforests and spicy perfumes.

These exotic visions turned into reality for me, when years later, I visited an exotic garden in Central Florida's Kissimmee region called A World of Orchids, the world's largest permanent indoor flowering orchid display. Stepping inside the conservatory, I encountered one of my dream visions come to life-here was a three-quarter acre section of tropical paradise, filled with palms, ferns, exotic bamboos, bromeliads, heliconias and tropical fruit trees. Waterfalls tumbled amid showers of lush foliage, and multitudes of blossoms shone like jewels against myriad shades of green.

The orchids, prima donnas of this world, were breathtaking in their beauty. Some dangled from hanging planters or trees, confronting visitors overhead or at eye level; others starred the feet of enormous tree ferns or created cascades along walkways. Ghostly white moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) appeared to float on spindly stems; sprays of dancing lady orchid oncidium arched and dangled, flaunting curiously speckled, golden flowers; and cattleya orchids, like the one in that long-ago remembered corsage, boasted extravagant ruffles and frills. As I continued my journey along curving pathways, I discovered an amazing diversity of orchid colors--reds, yellows, oranges, pinks, purples and occasional blues. I felt as if I were standing inside a rainbow instead of a cleverly designed, climate-controlled building.

The creation of such beauty, as is so often the case, was fraught with hardship. The battle was waged in this instance against devastating storms. Founders, Kerry and Chris Richards, participants in the international orchid circuit for many years, and owners of an orchid operation in Miami, chose Central Florida as the future site for A World of Orchids, wanting to escape the hurricane belt. Hurricane Andrew, however, moved in to destroy a good part of the original orchid inventory, both propagated and purchased, housed in Miami for the planned Kissimmee exhibit. In 1993, on the day after the opening ceremonies of A World of Orchids, another great storm dislodged sections of the conservatory roof and damaged plant houses.

The eventual result, though, has been well worth the battle. Today A World of Orchids is a full production orchid facility, a place where new hybrids are created, and selected plants are cloned for mass production; plants are shipped nationwide. The business itself involves three different sites, and produces anthuriums and other exotics, as well as orchids. One production facility, specializing in rare Lady Slipper orchids, has, according to Kerry Richards, "an extremely large and valuable collection of breeding plants."

The conservatory and grounds were created as a gift to the public, providing a tranquil nature retreat. "What we've tried to offer," says Richards, "is a place for the enjoyment of the simple things in life ..." The well-labeled and informative display is also designed to educate visitors about the large, diverse orchid plant family, members of which grow on every continent except Antarctica.

Unifying link between the various species is flower structure: three inner petals and three outer petal-like sepals joined to one column, with one of the inner petals curving into a scoop or cup-shape, called the lip.

Otherwise, similarity ends--some orchids are only thimble-sized, producing flowers no larger than the tip of a toothpick, while others range to twenty-foot tall vines or boast flowers as big as dinner plates. Some produce curving flowery sprays, while others bear single blossoms at the tip of erect stems. Certain orchids, especially species orchids, have strange and interesting fragrances, such as vanillaish, chocolatey, fruity or spicy. Some have aromas that defy description, and others have no scent at all.

Garden attractions include not only orchids from all over the world, species from Southeast Asia through the Indonesian Archipelago to Central and South America, but a variety of tropical plants, many of which most of us only see growing as houseplants. Banks are planted with rosy swathes of anthuriums or "flamingo flowers." Other treasures and curiosities include various heliconias, daffodil-like Amazon lilies Eucharis grandiflora, a breadfruit tree and a cacao tree, the plant from which chocolate is extracted.

Many different tropical foliage plants form backdrops and also lend intriguing shape and texture: bold crotons, feathery bamboos, fan-like palms and ferns of every size. A venerable 75-year-old Tasmanian tree fern (Dicksonia antartica) soars toward the conservatory roof, while low, delicate maidenhairs spill airily along stream banks or beside paths.