Flower Show:
Heirlooms
Division V. Education
The Atlanta Botanical Garden plays a key role in international orchid awareness, education, and conservation through the work done by staff in the Fuqua Orchid Center and the Southeastern Center for Conservation.
Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Orchid Conservation
Opened in 2002, the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Fuqua Orchid Center was the first conservatory in the country designed specifically to house, display, and support orchids. The Orchid Center holds one of the largest collections of species orchids under glass in the United States, and the Garden currently ranks 2nd globally for the total number of ex situ orchid taxa maintained in its collection. The Orchid Center is also a major contributor to orchid conservation efforts, conducting research and working to preserve endangered and difficult-to-cultivate species.
The Center’s two display houses, the Tropical High Elevation House and the Orchid Display House, contain a dazzling array of orchid species of all colors, sizes, scents and shapes. Throughout the year, multitudes of orchids are brought from on-site greenhouses for display while in bloom. There are also orchids and companion plantings permanently installed to illustrate a more naturalistic growth on trees and structures. The Fuqua Orchid Center takes center stage at the Garden every spring as the home to the Garden’s annual Orchid Daze exhibition.
Behind the scenes, the Fuqua Orchid Center contains a conservation greenhouse and laboratories managed by the Southeastern Center for Conservation (SECC), an institution run by the Garden’s Conservation and Research department. The SECC utilizes modern scientific and technological advancements to protect rare and endangered plants from extinction, including many orchid species. Although the laboratories and greenhouse are not open to the public, windows offer visitors a peek at the conservation science being done here.
Statement of Intent
The Atlanta Botanical Garden plays a key role in orchid conservation efforts, conducting research and working to preserve endangered and difficult-to-cultivate species. It relies on modern scientific and technological advancements to further research efforts. Visitors will learn how the Garden contributes to international orchid awareness, education, and conservation.
Orchid Activities at the Garden
Vanilla Sunday
Surround yourself with the aromas and flavors of vanilla during a celebration of the orchid that yields this delicious spice. Savor an afternoon of cooking demos along with plant discovery and sensory experiences, then enjoy a mini vanilla sundae. Indulge the senses and learn interesting information at vanilla discovery stations and activities.
Botanical Drawing Program
Learn to draw under the guidance of artist Carol Anne Sutherland. Beginning with principal drawing of the natural world in black and white, the courses develop technique until students gain the ability to dynamically capture majestic trees in graphite pencil and intricate orchids in colored pencil. Upon completion of the program, students will earn a Botanical Drawing Certificate.
No-Fear Orchid Basics
In this class for beginners, attendees will learn how to repot and care for the four most commonly cultivated orchids: Phalaenopsis, Oncidium, Dendrobium and Cattleya.
Orchid Resources and Care Information
Orchid Care Sheets
Find out more information about taking care of various species of orchids by downloading our Orchid Care Sheets.
How to Repot your Orchid
Check out our video tutorial from the Fuqua Orchid Center Manager on repotting your orchids at home. Plus, access our reference sheet for quick repotting information and to follow along.
Common orchids in the Orchid House
Learn how to tell the differences between the many orchid species in the Fuqua Orchid Center. Check out The Orchid Column blog to find detailed posts about various orchid species.
Orchid Conservation
Safeguarding Imperiled Orchid and Carnivorous Plant Species of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico’s island geography, subtropical climate, rich volcanic and limestone soils, and varied elevation is home to more than 2,300 native plant species with 245 species listed as endemic.
The Garden’s efforts to advance research collaborations and native species recovery programs led to a partnership with the Arboretum Parque Doña Inés to ensure safeguarding strategies of many imperiled native Puerto Rican species (4-6 carnivorous plants and 4-6 orchid species) hit hardest by Hurricanes Irma and María.
Meet DJ: the Canine Orchid Detective
A once-shelter pup turned conservation dog, DJ uses his powerful nose to find hidden plants and protect clean water for millions. He’s a trained Belgian Malinois working with the Garden’s conservation team as a detection dog to locate the endangered small whorled pogonia orchid, Isotria medeoloides, in Georgia and the Carolinas. Find DJ featured in 11Alive and Garden & Gun.
Fun with Orchids
There’s so much fun to be had with orchids! Try making orchid origami or downloading our Cattleya coloring page.
