Each year, as winter slowly loosens its grip, flower-happy urbanites make their way to the Bronx to witness an explosion of floral artistry. It’s time for the annual Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden, a utopia of fragrance and color. This year’s event features installations by acclaimed Belgian floral artist Daniel Ost, so expect an extra touch of Flemish panache that may have you craving Liege waffles and moules frites.
When: March 3 through April 22, 2018
Why: Entering its 16th year, the exhibition showcases thousands of dramatically displayed orchids celebrating the individual beauty of these stunning flowers.
One of the world’s leading floral designers, Ost uses flowers as a means of artistic expression. Thousands of live orchids are a true treat.
His large-scale works have been tailored to the unique environment of the garden’s Victorian- style Haupt Conservatory, complementing the architecture of the building while creating a spectacle of color, form and texture. Site-specific, they cannot be moved or replicated.
Bamboo, arranged in grids and calling to mind the glass grids of the Conservatory, and clear tubing, meant to both evoke water and connect to the Conservatory’s glass, are among the materials employed in his artful installations. Individual orchids are attached to the material so that each flower and form can be seen and appreciated for it’s distinct beauty. The use of bamboo pays homage to Ost’s training in Japan and ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging.
Date Night: Adults over 21 should consider heading to the garden for Orchid Evenings from 6:30–9:30 p.m. on March 17, 24, and 31, April 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, and 21. A cash bar featuring the Dancing Lady, a potent cocktail created by Edible Bronx’s head mixologist, adds punch to the festivities.
If the night air is chilly, warm up around fire pits on Conservatory Plaza, then head into the glasshouse to explore the exhibition. Curated music by a live DJ creates the perfect atmosphere.
Get here: B, D or 4 train to Bedford Park Blvd. Station. Walk eight blocks down the hill on Bedford Park Blvd. to the Mosholu Gate entrance. An alternative is Metro-North to Botanical Garden Station.
Photo credit: Courtesy of The New York Botanical Garden
Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributes travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She is fluent in Italian and Spanish and laughably adequate in French. Her background as an Early Childhood Educator gives her an added understanding of what it takes to travel with kids in tow. She firmly believes that the most important part of education takes place outside of the classroom, on the road, around the world. She never misses a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. Follow Allison at @gourmetrav.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram