If you're a fan of exotic flowers, you may be interested to know that the 20th World Orchid Conference is happening now in Singapore. The show boasts 75 wonderful displays featuring thousands of orchids, from traditional varieties to contemporary hybrids. A number of educational displays are also available to visitors who want to learn about the flowers, covering topics ranging from pollination techniques to rare breeds. There's even a marketplace for those who want to take home a souvenir or two from the event, with offerings from several different countries.
Singapore's orchid hall of fame is one of the popular displays at the event, and certain celebrities have been honored by their own particular flowers. Elton John recently was included in the collection, with a white and purple phalaenopsis hybrid named Doritaenopsis. Princess Diana, Jackie Chan and Stefanie Sun are a few of the other big names who have orchids in the hall of fame.
The orchid displays are sponsored by a variety of different countries and organizations, all competing to win prizes for individual displays as well as for particular plants. Red, blue and yellow ribbons are given out to those who win. Chaiwathana Orchid Gardens from Thailand won the prize for Best Display, which featured plenty of bright colors and perfectly formed plants popping out from an interesting arrangement of white blocks. Designers incorporated a couple of large butterflies into the display to give viewers a taste of magic.
The orchid that won Grand Champion Plant as well as the prize for Best Hybrid was Taiwan's Cycnodes Gold, which has a lovely chardonnay color and perfectly formed blooms. The most popular orchids available in the marketplace were the ones smelling of chocolate, which would certainly be an interesting addition to any collection.
Papua New Guinea boasted a display with a jungle theme, while the National Parks Board’s non-competitive display focused on all types of orchids from around the world. There's even an art section involved in the event, which featured a 19th-century illustrated album.
Although the event is drawing to a close, that doesn't mean you can't add a few orchids into your household. Online florists have a wide selection of different colors and varieties, so you can pick the plant that caters to your tastes. Once you've chosen the perfect plant, you can have it delivered in no time at all.