Three in one: orchid extravaganza marks hat-trick at the Botanics
With a 344 year record of bringing exotic, rare and beautiful plants to Scotland, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) has witnessed some stunning sights.
But nothing has ever been quite on the scale of the 2,500 spectacular orchids now gracing the John Hope Gateway visitor centre. Sponsored by the Taipei Representative Office in the UK, Edinburgh Office, this awesome month-long display celebrates three significant anniversaries and highlights the Garden’s strong research and conservation links with Taiwan.
Tropical botanist Dr Mark Hughes, the man responsible for bringing the display to Edinburgh, explained: “This exhibition arrives at a particularly special time. Not only are we celebrating the 50th anniversary of our ‘new’ herbarium building – which holds our precious archive of three million preserved specimens – two other anniversaries collide: the 150th of the first specimen to reach us from Taiwan and the 50th anniversary of Taiwan’s designation of the plum blossom (Prunus mume) as its national flower.
“This orchid fair is not only a celebration of all these events, it is a significant public demonstration of an important partnership researching plant systematics in Southeast Asia”.
Running until 20 July this display of floricultural excellence is free to the public and will include additional family events at weekends throughout the four weeks.
Orchid Events coming up:
Sunday 6 July 1 – 4pm, John Hope Gateway
Chinese Flower Painting and Face Painting
Come along to learn about Chinese flower painting, and get your face painted. Free.
Friday 11 July 2pm, Patrick Geddes Room
Life in The Trees
Everything you wanted to know about orchids but were afraid to ask! Join Kerry Walter on his fabulous tour of the largest family of plants on earth, the orchids. What do they get up to when nobody’s watching? Come and find out! Free.
Sunday 13 July 1 – 4pm, Patrick Geddes Room
Tea ceremony & tea tasting
If you don’t know your oolong, you don’t know tea!. Come and join Denise Leishman as she explains how the climate and geography of Taiwan produce some of the finest teas in the world, and taste them as prepared by her expert hands. Learn how the tea ceremony still has a place in today’s culture, and discover the stories behind our tea-related gems in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s herbarium and archives. Free.
With Taiwan Floriculture Exports Association and the Taipei Representative Office in the UK, Edinburgh Office.
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