The first time I saw an array of orchids up close was at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. I was bewitched by these speckled flowers that looked like aliens. I was in my twenties. Orchids are unique in many ways. They’re in a category themselves, nature’s intricate gifts somewhere between a flower and a plant.
Fast-forward twenty years, and I attend the Santa Barbara International Orchid show with my family. My six-year-old son isn’t very enthused, but he's always up for running around a random space with plants. My one-year-old daughter, meanwhile, is in awe and practicing her new walking skills, reaching out to touch the strange plants.
I’m also in awe as we wander the rooms filled with artful orchid displays, photography, paintings, and arrangements. In another buzzing room, orchids are sold, and workshops and demonstrations take place. It’s packed. So many different people appreciate this flower.
The show’s theme this year is “Exotic Gardens,” where vibrant orchids will be inspired by their natural habitats. One of the oldest, largest, and most prestigious orchid shows in the country, it reflects the rich agricultural and orchid-growing history of Santa Barbara County, which took root at the turn of the century. The forerunner of the Orchid Show was a flower show organized by the Santa Barbara Horticultural Society, which took place in 1945 at the Montecito Grange Hall.
On the weekend of March 7-9th, vendors worldwide will bring their best to share with orchid enthusiasts. Awards are granted and judged by the American Orchid Society Judging panel, and you’ll notice ribbons on the winners. Tickets can be purchased online at sborchidshow.com.
The Santa Barbara International Orchid Show is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization with the purpose of sharing the joy of the orchid world and educating the public about orchids via its annual show. Donations are needed to help the show create new traditions for the future. To donate, please go to sborchidshow.com.