By Sarah Yáñez-Richards
New York (EFE).- An oasis of thousands of orchids is blooming among asphalt, manholes, fire escapes, fences, subway entrances, and even laundromat washing machines for the New York Botanical Garden’s (NYBG) popular annual orchid show. Designed by the anonymous artist Mr. Flower Fantastic, 2026’s edition fuses floriculture with elements of pop culture, basketball, and streetwear.
“What the artist is trying to show is what would happen if nature took over the city; if the asphalt cracked, what would grow?” explained Brian Sullivan, Vice President for Landscape, Gardens and Outdoor Collections at the Botanical Garden, in an interview with EFE.
This concept explains the presence of “weeds” like dandelions and ferns tucked among the vibrant orchids. The display features everything from Phalaenopsis, noted for their chromatic versatility, to Dendrobium (cane orchids) and the singular Cypripedioideae (popularly known as “lady slippers”) which grow close to the ground.
During a press preview on Wednesday, Mr. Flower Fantastic stated that his vision was to recreate a “communal garden,” though he declined further comment to avoid risking his anonymity.
The botanical design intertwines with everyday New York architecture and urban music. Visitors can wander through a dreamscape where orchids sprout from neighborhood pizzerias, laundromat washers, and bus stops.
Joanna Groarke, Vice President for Exhibitions and Programming, noted that this “love letter to New York” seeks to find beauty in places that are typically overlooked.
“Mr. Flower Fantastic grew up in Queens tending his mother’s garden and always sought to combine his daily experience in the city with his love for plants,” Groarke told EFE.
A Blend of the Artificial and the Natural Mr. Flower Fantastic always appears wearing latex gloves and a gas mask. Part of this is to protect his identity, superhero-style, but it is also because he discovered a floral allergy as a child.
“Throughout his career, Mr. Flower Fantastic has worked with both real flowers and artificial plant material. This is partly due to his allergy, but also to ensure his pieces last longer or to achieve a specific finish,” Groarke noted.
In the “Concrete Jungle” exhibition, which opens to the general public on Feb. 7, the artist used silk flowers to recreate the city’s iconic orange-and-white steam pipes, a giant pepperoni and olive pizza, a yellow taxi, and a graffiti tag of his name at a subway station.
A winter sanctuary
The exhibition is not only an artistic milestone but a cornerstone of the city’s winter programming. With a controlled temperature of around 70°F (21°C) and tropical humidity, the conservatory offers a reprieve from the New York cold.
“When we started this show 20 years ago, it was because winter attendance was low. No one visits a botanical garden when it’s 28 degrees out, but when you put in orchids, people come seeking sunshine and flowers,” Sullivan said. EFE
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