NYBG's Orchid Dinner 2022
The New York Botanical Garden's annual Orchid Show starts today, February 26th! If you’re in the New York City area any time from now through May 1st, I encourage you to stop by and see the captivating floral exhibit.
Known as the nation’s largest event of its kind, this year's show is entitled "Jeff Leatham's Kaleidoscope" - a presentation of dazzling installations filled with color, light, and visual effect. Originally debuted in 2020, famed floral designer and artistic director of the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris, Jeff Leatham brings back his enchanting display for The Orchid Show’s 19th year. You’ll be amazed at the garden’s transformation of the historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory showcasing thousands of stunning orchid blooms. This week, I attended The NYBG’s annual Orchid Dinner in the Grand Ballroom of The Plaza Hotel - this year, as one of its event chairs. The event included stunning table centerpieces created by some of New York’s leading designers - every one was colorful, elaborate, and creative. Proceeds from the Orchid Dinner support NYBG's world-class horticulture, botanical research, and children's education programs. The Orchid Dinner also allowed attendees the chance to purchase beautiful orchid specimens for their own personal garden collections during a pre-dinner sale. The rare orchids were hand-picked by NYBG's senior orchid curator Marc Hachadourian - you'll love the plants I brought home.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- Held every year to kick off the annual Orchid Show, this year’s event welcomed more than 250-guests to New York City’s iconic Plaza Hotel. (Photo by BFA for NYBG)
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- One way the NYBG raises money is to have an orchid sale prior to the dinner. Marc Hachadourian, NYBG’s Director of Glasshouse Horticulture and Senior Curator of Orchids, selects the orchids for the sale that he knows will appeal to the collectors and aficionados who attend the dinner. Here I am looking at some of those on display – could this be one of the orchids I purchased?
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- Our assigned table was #19, under this gorgeous centerpiece designed by John L. Goodman, JL Goodman LLC.
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- Here I am peeking through the colorful blooms.
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- This lovely centerpiece featuring orchid flowers, their bold foliage, and petals all around the table is by Dorothy Pfieffer of Cornucopia.
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- This tablescape with its colorful palette of pinks and purple orchids is by Petal Design Studio.
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- Javier Burkle of Burkle Creative donated this creation – clean, white orchids atop a dark ornamental piece.
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- Bright red and white orchids fill the urn of this centerpiece done by Jeffrey Quaritius.
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- Another colorful arrangement is this one by Margaret Naeve. I try to fit the NYBG Orchid Dinner into my schedule every year – I love seeing what the designers come up with for their tables.
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- This orange and yellow arrangement was done by Bowman Dahl Floral & Event Design.
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- Hilary Pereira and JSA Studio NYC created this pink and bold green centerpiece with its sprays of flowers over every place setting.
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- This all-white orchid arrangement was presented by Tara McCauley, a New York City-based interior decorator and designer.
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- This large centerpiece with beautiful lavender and purple orchid flowers was donated by fleursBELLA.
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- It was so nice to see Marc again – we’ve known each other for many years. Marc oversees the cultivation of tens of thousands of plants for the NYBG’s many displays. He has shared his expertise on my television and radio shows, as well as in my magazine, “Living.” (Photo by BFA for NYBG)
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- Jeff Leatham and his team at Jeff Leatham Design contributed this eye-catching table arrangement. All the centerpieces were very elaborate and fun.
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- And this creation was generously donated by Julie Kantrowitz of JK Interior Living.
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- Another table scape arrangement is this one from Grace Fuller Design.
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- Grace Fuller Design provided two centerpieces – here is the other one.
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- LaParis Phillips, Owner & Creative Director of Brooklyn Blooms INC. oversaw this colorful bouquet.
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- And Keiko Ellis from Cloud Catering and Events designed this beautiful arrangement on top of a lavender spring tablecloth.
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- This table creation is by Joy Williams, Creative Director & Principal Designer of Joyful Designs Studios.
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- This centerpiece was done by Samantha Marcana from The Mini Rose Co.
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- This colorful arrangement was donated by MUSE x boo*kay ny.
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- Rudy Saunders of Dorothy Draper & Company provided this centerpiece for table #24.
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- The Manscapers: Mel Braiser, James DeSantis, and Garett Magee contributed this piece.
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- And a fun arrangement of orchids, ferns, and palms topped this table by Jerome LaMaar. I have cared for orchids for many years and always learn something new whenever I come to the dinner and when I walk through the beautiful Orchid Show exhibit.
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- Here I am with Simon Maill, Wes Gordon, Paul Arnhold, and Kevin Sharkey – they helped carry my beautiful new orchids. What a fun event.
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- And here they are back in my head house. I purchased these wonderful plants – rare and beautiful specimens including Cymbidium ‘Arcadian Sunrise’, Cymbidium Jim Duffin ‘Mt. Airy’, Cymbidium Via Loch Pixie, and a crisp white Cattleya orchid. If you love orchids as much as I do, I know you’ll enjoy the show at The New York Botanical Garden – I hope you can make it. It may be the most popular Orchid Show yet.
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