The St. Paul Winter Carnival is fast approaching and the horticulture staff has been preparing our orchid entries for the Winter Carnival Orchid Show on January 24 & 25. A joint effort between the Conservatory and the Orchid Society of Minnesota, the Orchid Show is an incredible exhibition of hundreds of orchids from the private collections of Orchid Society members as well as specimens from the Conservatory’s extensive collection. Several vendors will also be on site with an array of orchids available to purchase. Judges from the American Orchid Society will be awarding the best entries in a number of different categories. The orchids will be judged on criteria such as plant health, number of blossoms and quality of blossoms. Keeping with the theme of the Winter Carnival many of the awards are named in honor of the carnival’s mythological characters. The Queen of the Snows Trophy is given to the best white flowered plant in the show. The Vulcanus Rex Trophy recognizes the best red-flowered orchid. The King Boreas Trophy is given to the best specimen plant and the Princes of the West (Zephyrus) and East (Euros) Wind Trophies recognize the best new-world and old world species respectively. Come enjoy this unique event January 24th an 25th at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory.
