Fairchild hosts 12th annual Orchid Festival

Beautiful orchids will cover the grounds of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden for the three-day International Orchid Festival, on Friday, March 7 through Sunday, March 9 from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm each day. Visitors can select from 10,000 orchid plants sold by international vendors and can browse rare and exotic species at the American Orchid Society juried show presented by the Orchid Society of Coral Gables.

Walk through the Wings of the Tropics butterfly conservatory, Tropical Fruit Pavilion, and Rainforest to see different varieties of orchids, including the fragrant cattleya, and the environments they grow in. Interactive gardening workshops and walking tours will show guests the best way to care for orchids of all kinds. On display in the Science Village’s Orchid Micropropagation Lab is the Million Orchid Project, which aims to reintroduce native orchids back into South Florida. Stop by to learn about the campaign and get a closer look at the flasks these native orchid seedlings are growing in.

The International Orchid Festival welcomes everyone, from orchid enthusiasts to visitors looking for a nice way to spend a weekend surrounded by nature. For dining, the Orchid Tea Room in the Visitor Center Ballroom is open from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm and is a great place to relax with a cup of tea and a bite to eat. The Glasshouse Café offers soups, salads, and sandwiches made to order, while the newly remodeled Lakeside Café offers pre-made sandwiches, coffees, and desserts. Delicious tropical smoothies will be served in the Edible Garden, where vanilla orchids are on display.

Also on view throughout the Garden are 16 intricate design pieces by Brazilian designer Hugo França, who uses reclaimed wood to make functional, natural pieces like chaise lounges and tall benches. As part of Art at Fairchild, the exhibition will be on display until May 2014.

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is located at 10901 Old Cutler Road. Admission to the International Orchid Festival is free for Fairchild members and children 5 and under. For nonmembers, admission is $25 for adults, $18 for seniors 65 and up, and $12 for children 6-17. Those who walk, bike, or take public transportation receive $5 off adult admission and $2 off child admission. Those with a Military ID have free admission, with $20 for their spouses and $10 for their children.

For more info, call 305-667-1651.