The orchids of Thailand visit The Bronx

Enid Haupt Conservatory may be located in The Bronx, but peek inside now, and you might think you are somewhere outside of Bangkok. Chistian Primeau designed The Orchid Show: Thailand. "We took some interesting cultural cues in terms of some of the structures that we have. Some of the topiary we have. It's a fascinating  garden history that they have and a fascinating culture."
 
They, are the people of Thailand. The southeast Asian nation is the theme of the 15th Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden. Promeau gave us a preview of the countless varieties of these colorful flowering plants. "Thousands and thousands of Orchids and hundreds of cultivars will be found in the show this year."
 
Orchids are native to every continent except Antarctica. Thailand ... home to more than 1200 native Orchid species ...as become one of the world's leading exporter of the flowers.

In paying tribute to Thailand, the orchid exhibit here is accented with ponds and pools, decorative lanterns, spirit houses where visitors are encouraged to leave an offering - and of course elephants - which are beloved in Thailand. These pachyderms are green though -called topiaries.
Said Primeau: "It's just training plants and clipping them to form the shape that you want. So in Thai culture it is an art form they excel at so they do anything from spirals, to Pom Poms, to shapes like the Elephant."