The Orchid Festival is set to return to Kew Gardens next year, and will be inspired by the colours and culture of India.
Next February will see the 22nd annual Orchid Festival take place, with its first ever Indian theme.
The festival will run within Kew Gardens’ Princess of Wales Conservatory, in London, between 4th February and 5th March 2017.
Visitors to the event will be able to explore the greenhouse and view the botanical collection which will include a wide range of orchids as well as other plants.
There will be festival discussions with horticulturists and scientists who will talk about the diversity of Indian orchids and which plants are used in traditional Indian cuisine. Talks will also discuss the conservation work that is being done around the world.
There will also be the chance to have a behind the scenes tour of the Orchid Nursery where rare orchids will be on display and a tour of the Tropical Nursery, where visitors will get to see carnivorous plants, bromeliads and cacti.
The festival will not only display florals but will recreate an Indian market by using sounds of temple bells, muezzin calls and bicycle bells to set the scene.
Visitors will also be able to enjoy evenings at Kew Gardens where there will be botanical cocktails, talks, workshops and Indian wardrobe sessions. Visitors can take part in a Vinyasa yoga session and enjoy a taste of Indian cuisine, too.
Elisa Biondi, Princess of Wales Conservatory supervisor, RBG Kew, said: “Next year’s Orchids Festival is going to be something really special and different.
“It will immerse visitors in the sights, senses and sounds of India’s exotic and vibrant culture creating an explosion of unique and colourful beauty.
“We hope this journey will highlight the significance of plants in all walks of life, from the spiritual and medicinal to the textiles and cuisine, all the while showing the importance of plant diversity and Kew’s work to protect, conserve and study plants.”
Picture credits: RBG Kew
For more information visit www.kew.org.
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