NEW YORK—The flowers in Central Park might not be making an appearance just yet, but recently across the street, things were in full bloom.
Once again, the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) hosted The Orchid Dinner Feb. 26 at the Plaza Hotel in NYC.
This year’s event celebrated NYBG’s “The Orchid Show: Mr. Flower Fantastic’s Concrete Jungle,” which is currently on view through April 26 at the institution’s Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.
Shannon Toal Designs hung orchids from a web of branches for this tablescape. Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images for New York Botanical Garden
For the exhibition, the anonymous artist and New York native Mr. Flower Fantastic, who’s known for blending floristry with pop art, street culture, and fine art, has interpreted the city’s touchstones including stoops, slice shops, and the subway into floral installations.
His past projects have ranged from large-scale installations and fan-focused activations. And he has collaborated with major brands and cultural institutions including Nike, Netflix, Adidas, Louis Vuitton, NBC Sports, Samsung, ESPN, and 1800 Tequila.
(You might remember him from the immersive fan experience featuring towering, intricate floral sculptures of both the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers logos at last year’s NBA Finals.)
So, it seemed like a natural fit for the NYBG to enlist him for the show.
“We’ve been in conversation with the artist for about three years, closely following his work,” said Kenia Pittman, senior director of exhibition design and operations at NYBG. “When the New York-themed proposal came forward, it immediately felt like the perfect fit for the exhibition, a unique way to highlight the interplay between urban and natural environments and remind visitors that cities can be vibrant green spaces too.”
Last month’s dinner carried through with that theme and featured elaborate tablescapes created by designers and companies who donated their services for the event.
Forty grand, over-the-top centerpieces played off iconic parts of the city. Think blue Tiffany bags, orange-and-white steam pipes, and subway signage, all dressed up with live orchids.
Guests could browse a selection of orchids hand picked by Marc Hachadourian, NYBG’s director of glasshouse horticulture and senior curator of orchids. Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images for New York Botanical Garden
In addition to a seated dinner that included a menu of kale salad with poached pears and sunchoke chips, Icelandic halibut with roasted tomatoes and broccolini, and desserts of dark chocolate biscuit blackout cake and black-and-white cookie towers, the evening featured a private sale of rare and exotic orchids, which guests including Martha Stewart perused.
Proceeds from The Orchid Dinner support NYBG’s mission and work. Just under 400 people attended the dinner. The evening was sponsored by Emily P. Wheeler, Hearst, and VERANDA.
The designers who donated their time and resources for the centerpieces included Nikki Abis of Starbright Floral Design; Joseph Augello of JSA Studio NYC; Alexandra Avendaño of Crecimiento Studio; Ace Berry of Ace in Full Bloom; Brian Bowman and Dan Dahl of Bowman Dahl Floral & Event Design; Robin Cheasty of House of Westbrook; Anna Dementieva of Luxury Flowers Miami; Jacqueline Elfe of Stellar Style Events, Floral & Event Design; Keiko Ellis of Botanique K by Cloud; Brandy Ferrer of Bloom with Brandy; Molly Ford of Flowers by Ford; Jennifer Gomezcoello of Le Rose Atelier; John Goodman of JL Goodman; Kelsie Hayes Fine of POPUPFLORIST & HOUSE OF THREE; Cynthia Humphrey of Via Amendola Botanical Designs; Tara Khattar of Maison Tara New York; Crystal Kotei of Crystal K Events; Maurice Levardo of Flower Girl NYC; Liam Lynch of Verdant Garden Designs; Janine Carendi MacMurray of AREA Interior Design; Canaan Marshall of Canaan Marshall Design LLC; Barbara Mele of Gatherings Floral Design; Rebecca Merritt of Beyond Merritt Design; Carlos Muiña of Petal Productions; Hilary Pereira of Hilzy Pereira; Kenia Pittman and Patrick Nowak of NYBG; Autumn Pochiro of Autumn Dawn Design; Romane Recalde of Le Jardin Flower Farm; Justin Reis of Justin Reis Designs; Sarah Ruberto of Pomona Floral; Tiffany Skilling of Tiffany Skilling Interiors; Daica Skrobala of Polycarp Flowers; Shannon Toal of Shannon Toal Designs; Nadia Watts of Nadia Watts Interior Design; Pennylyn Woosley of Blossom and Bee Floral and Event Design.
Keep scrolling to see more from the NYBG’s Orchid Dinner…
The NYBG floral wall that welcomed guests into the event was designed by Marc Eliot of Fleurish NYC. Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images for New York Botanical Garden
Emily P. Wheeler’s flower-inspired jewelry was on display at the park bench-inspired installation. Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images for New York Botanical Garden
Carlos Muiña of Petal Productions included industrial steam stacks adorned with graffiti for this centerpiece. Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images for New York Botanical Garden
Daica Skrobala of Polycarp Flowers created moss-covered animals for the concrete jungle theme. Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images for New York Botanical Garden
Flower-adorned subway signage and a lamppost stood tall at this table. Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images for New York Botanical Garden
Molly Ford of Flowers by Ford covered the base of her arrangement with apples as a nod to the Big Apple. Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images for New York Botanical Garden
Orchids climbed up a replica of the Empire State Building in this arrangement by Jacqueline Elfe of Stellar Style Events, Floral & Event Design. Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images for New York Botanical Garden
The base of this centerpiece by Nadia Watts Interior Design features the iconic blue Tiffany & Co. bags. Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images for New York Botanical Garden
Rebecca Merritt of Beyond Merritt Design included Art Deco-inspired structures in her installation. Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images for New York Botanical Garden
This suspended centerpiece of flowers was done by Anna Dementieva of Luxury Flowers Miami. Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images for New York Botanical Garden
John Goodman of JL Goodman used a mini version of the Statue of Liberty as part of his centerpiece. Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images for New York Botanical Garden
Brandy Ferrer of Bloom with Brandy designed a skyscraper-esque tablescape. Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images for New York Botanical Garden
This orchid arrangement by Cynthia Humphrey of Via Amendola Botanical Designs includes a miniature version of one of New York City’s iconic water towers. Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images for New York Botanical Garden