Image Credit: Sir Cam
Take a walk on the wild side of flowers at the Botanic Gardens this month
Dare to walk the wilderness up until 13 March at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden to learn about the people who risked their lives hunting flowers. The Orchid Hunters, which opened on 13 February, is this year’s edition of the Gardens’ annual orchid display, and will be held inside the Tropical Glasshouses.
The theme is that of the Victorian plant hunters who first brought orchids back to Britain and the display will be peppered with colourful orbs, Victorian cases, crates and baskets overflowing with orchids of all shapes and sizes. Information and tours will be available on-site to tell the story of the dangers encountered by the plant hunters deep in the jungle, the treasures that they found and the legacy that they left behind in British law. Included in the display will be cattleya orchids from the Western tropics and paphiopedilum or slipper orchids from the Asian tropics. There will also be material explaining modern growing methods and cross-breeding programmes that have made orchids an everyday commodity in the 21st century. Plus a note about how international law can protect wild flowers and plants from modern ‘plant piracy.’
The Botanic Garden is open daily between 10am and 4pm. Entrance costs £5, though concessions are available and children under 16 go free.
Image Credit: Howard Rice
