The 68th edition of the Keukenhof got underway in Lisse on 23 March 2017, and one of the highlights is the orchid show in the Beatrix Pavilion. There are hundreds of orchids on display in all colours, shapes and sizes. The theme is “Dutch Design”, which fits perfectly with the orchid because this plant is a true style icon.

Orchids as source of inspiration
For Dutch designers, the orchid is a source of inspiration. The elegant Orchid Shoes from shoe designer Jan Jansen are exhibited in a life-size window display alongside orchids in matching rich colours.

The Orchid Twister from interior designer François Hannes is also on show. This is a unique interior accessory which is designed to let the orchids shine. The Orchid Basket from Roderick Vos combines different kinds of white orchids, proving that simplicity is a thing of beauty.

Extensive orchid family
The Orchid Cloud is eye-catching and perfect for photo opportunities. The extensive family of orchids are placed in unique 3D printed pots and displayed together on a mirrored stage. You can admire these exotic orchids for eight weeks at the Keukenhof.

And … do you want to know which one of these beautiful plants suits you best? No problem! Just take a short, fun test on iPads in the pavilion to discover the “orchid for you”.

The Keukenhof closes its doors on 21 May 2017. By then around a million visitors from all over the world will have visited this unique flower and plant show.

https://keukenhof.nl/en/

Orchid lovers were inspired by the magical “Orchids Festival” at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London (4 February – 5 March 2017).

Inspired by the vibrant colours, culture and magnificent plant life of India, this year’s festival featured giant floral displays created using exotic orchids. Indian riksjas and life-sized animal figures including an elephant, peacock and monkey were decorated with i.e. Cymbidium, Paphiopedilum and Dendrobium. Phalaenopsis drops hung delicately from the ceiling, while a beautifully embellished traditional Indian marriage swing swayed among the Vandas, This year’s more dan 36,000 different orchids were present at the floral festival.

Elisa Biondi, Princess of Wales Conservatory Supervisor, RBG Kew says, “This year’s Orchids festival was really special and different. It immersed visitors in the sights, senses and sounds of India’s exotic and vibrant culture. Together with the amount of orchids we created an explosion of unique and colourful beauty.

The Orchid festival also included creative workshops with orchids, film screenings, behind-the-scenes tours and ‘Orchid Lates’, allowed you to experience the horticultural paradise after hours with cocktails and live performances.

More information: http://www.kew.org/visit-kew-gardens/whats-on/orchids

Ashley James is thrilled to be the UK ambassador of the orchid. With her cheerful personality and her passion for orchids she is eager to show everybody how orchids can make you happier. Throughout the year she will also inspire all of us about the many faces of the plant. More than 25,000 faces to be specific, because that’s how many species of orchids exist. With so many different orchids available, you can imagine there is an orchid for every personality, every social occasion and every interior.

Favourite orchids of Ashley James
Ashley can remember having a fondness for the orchid since the age of eight and out of the 25,000 species; she has managed to choose her three favorites:

• Dendrobium – The name is from the Greek dendron (“tree”) and bios (“life”); it means “one who lives on trees”, or, essentially, “epiphyte”.
• Cymbidium – Or ‘boat orchid’ to some. The new Latin genus name is derived from the Latin cymba meaning boat.
• Phalaenopsis – Also known as moth orchids, and the most popular orchid.

Show who you are
Ashley James is this year’s ambassador of the new European Union co-funded 3 year campaign called ‘We feel better around orchids: show who you  are’. Basic thought behind the campaign is the fact that orchids show who you are: there are so many species of orchids that there is an orchid for every personality, every social occasion and every interior. On several social platforms and occasions – for example during the International Day of the Orchid on Thursday the 1^st of September – Ashley will show the versatility of the orchid.

About Ashley James
As well as building a successful acting career, Ashley is an international model with agencies in Istanbul, Milan and London. Throughout her modelling career she has been the face of many well-known brands.

About the campaign ‘We feel better around orchids’
This material is produced originally on behalf of a program which is co-financed by the European Union between 2016-2018.

What is your favourite colour this Christmas?

The best holidays at the end of the year are Christmas! Happy times, family and delicious food. Beautiful things and accessories give your home a festive atmosphere. Then there’s the typical green atmosphere creators, such as luxurious-looking orchids in a whole host of warm colours.
What are the Christmas trends this year? What colours will we see on the Christmas tree? And what accessories and plants can you use to bring Christmas 2015 into your home? Read about the trends and allow yourself to be inspired.

Winter stroll

A wonderful thing to do during the Christmas holidays is take a wintry stroll through the countryside. Bring this natural atmosphere into your home with wooden accessories and a colourful blend of natural materials. Bring the feel of the outdoors, indoors. It’s mainly warm, wintry colours that do this: yellow, purple and blue. Look for a purple Paphiopedilum or a Cymbidium in a shade of brown. An orchid in its natural form looks totally hot next to the wooden Christmas tree, creating an extra natural look!

Scandinavian robustness

It’s not so long ago that Scandinavian robustness blew over with a fresh wind from the far north – a trend that creates a warm look in the home. Hints of denim, copper and ochre yellow blend in with natural and robust materials perfectly. Choose a robust Christmas with copper bells in your tree, for example. Allow the colours blue and ochre yellow to re-emerge in your orchids.

Romantic pastel

Experience the romantic atmosphere this Christmas. Pastel colours and geometric shapes form the basis of this trend. Silver highlights and sparkling glitters create a festive feel. You can extend this charming, romantic atmosphere through to your Christmas tree. Combine it with different soft shades of orchids, such as a soft pink Phalaenopsis, otherwise known as a butterfly orchid. It is wonderful to come home to this romantic atmosphere.

Magical glamour

The days are shorter. Announce the magical time around Christmas. Luxurious materials with a golden glow give your house a chic look. A bit of silver, glitters and the correct lighting bring magical glamour to your home. To top this all off in a chic manner, just add the queen of plants: the orchid. Pure white in a gold and silver pot. Or even a ‘red’ variety of orchid. Don’t hold back this Christmas!

Source: www.wonenonline.nl

Style guide Autumn Winter 2015

Click here to see the style guide Autum Winter 2015.
We hope you enjoy reading this style guide!

On behalf of the Art of Life campaign,
consisting of all the growers of pot orchids in the Netherlands

Natasja van Ruiten

Winner Orchid of the Year Competition Announced!

Cymbidium Cali Night is the most beautiful

With extensive voting on Facebook, following three preliminary rounds and an exciting finale, you made your choice. The Cymbidium Cali Night from grower OrchiDiva was crowned ‘Orchid of the year’. The unique, fabulously dark – almost black —  colour of its blossom highlights its beauty. Take a close look at the white rim along the outside of the flower. It accentuates the colour even more. A true champion!

But don’t forget the runner-up. Following an exciting race, you chose the Phalaenopsis Twist from grower SoNatural as number two. Its twisted shape and marvellously clear floral pattern adds to its uniqueness. A blooming good number two.

The other finalists were:
·         Vanda Sunanda ‘Moonlight Blue’ from grower Anco Pure Vanda
·         Phalaenopsis Little Kolibri Orchids ‘Morelia’ from grower OK Plant
·         Phalaenopsis ‘Royal Pink’ from grower VG Orchids
·         Phalaenopsis ‘Purple Rain’ from grower Sion

Jen Stanbrook – Orchid Stylist of the UK

Jen Stanbrook is the author of Love Chic Living, a multi-award winning UK Home Interiors blog.She has an insatiable love of home decor, interior design and home accessories. The orchids inits many flower shapes, colours and patterns are the perfect home accessories, according to Jen. As the Orchid Stylist, Jen will inspire and inform you about the versatility of orchids and their uses.

The ‘De Orchidee Stylist’ (The Orchid Stylist) campaign forms part of the Art of Life campaign. The Art of Life is a joint venture between all growers of potted orchids in the Netherlands. Each country has its own Orchid Stylist who helps and inspires the consumer, media and specialist traders when styling their interiors with orchids of different varieties, shapes, colours and sizes. The Orchid Stylist will therefore have an important role to play during ‘De Dag van de Orchidee’ (Orchid Day) on Thursday 3 September, presenting the variety of orchids available through the media and giving tips and tricks about orchids to anyone who needs them. In brief: the Orchid Stylist will take everyone by the hand and allow the plant to speak for itself in all its glory.

Orchid enjoys royal status

The orchid is called the ‘Queen Of Flowers’. And many royals and other celebrities are mad about the flower!

That love is not restricted to admiring and enjoying orchids in a vase. Princes, princesses, First Ladies and other VIPs are more than happy to lend their name to a beautiful cultivar.

Men as well

Queen Elizabeth has done it, and Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton have also given their name to an orchid. Don’t think that it’s just women either: Nelson Mandela and Sir Elton John are also members of this select club.

Royal couple

In 2012 the naming of orchids entered a new phase, when a white and red variety was given the name of two people. Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton, who had married the year before, lent both their names to this orchid.

Máxima

The Dutch royal family have not (yet) given their name to an orchid, but they are very familiar with this exotic flower, as depicted on a beautiful silk fan which can be found in the Royal Archives. The fan is painted in delicate pastel shades with singing birds and beautiful orchids. It was presented to Queen Emma in about 1890. More than a hundred years later Queen Beatrix gave the fan as a gift to the then Princess Máxima. In the unfortunate event that there are no fresh orchids in the Royal residence Villa Eikenhorst, the current queen can still enjoy the beauty of the ‘Queen of Flowers’ thanks to this fan!

Silk fan with beautiful orchids and singing birds

The orchid is a much-loved plant; most people have one or more orchids in their home. There is always an orchid to match your interior style. It doesn’t take much for the orchid to look its best – the plant has the ‘wow’ factor built in and is already eye-catching. In other words, orchids are the easy way to make things special!

In this style guide Spring Summer 2015 we show various orchids that match this season’s plant and interior trends. We hope that this will inspire you to use our photos or request orchids for a future photo shoot. All the orchids shown will be widely available from outlets including florists and garden centres over the coming seasons.

Click here to see the style guide Spring Summer 2015.
We hope you enjoy reading this style guide!

On behalf of the Art of Life campaign,
consisting of all the growers of pot orchids in the Netherlands

Natasja van Ruiten

Which one do you think is the most beautiful?

Phalaenopsis Picolo Red took the honours last year! The most beautiful and most unique Phalaenopsis of the year. Out of 18 varieties of Phalaenopsis, fans on social media choose this one as their favourite.

Orchid of the year
A new year, a new competition. Growers posed their beauties in front of the camera. Many varieties of orchids posed as models: a totally new variety of orchid; or an orchid with a very unusual floral pattern; but also one with a very unusual shape.

You can see them all pass in review on Facebook. So, it’s up to you. Which one do you think is the most beautiful and most unique orchid of the year? Vote for your favourite via Facebook. We await your choice with bated breath!