Before the tulips start budding on Manhattan’s Park Avenue, New Yorkers know they can get their hands on the New York Botanical Garden’s annual orchid show (until April 23 ) , curated this year by artist, landscape architect and fashionista Lily Kwong. But for those NYBG patrons who want more orchids, there’s also the annual Orchid Dinner Fundraiser. Held every February at the Plaza Hotel, the event is organized in partnership with Guerlain, a beauty company that not only appreciates the wonders of orchids (which are a staple in its Imperial Orchid Collection), but is also committed to their conservation, with will,000 Orchids reintroduced into China’s Tianzi Reserve. Over $800,000 was raised to support Garden’s global plant research, conservation and education programs at last night’s Orchid Dinner .
In addition to selling rare orchids, the annual event features 23 tables decorated with fantastical large-scale orchid arrangements by the country’s most innovative designer , florists and landscaping enthusiasts. The evening started with a cocktail reception and a sale of rare orchids, followed by a tour of all these imaginative tablescapes. Guests – including Pauline Chalamet, James Whiteside, Isabella Boylston, Markarian’s Ali O’Neil and Angelica Hicks – had the opportunity to meet the designers and discover the inspiration behind their creations. A multi-course dinner ensued, with Guerlain’s “Orchidee Imperiale” global ambassador, Gina Alice, and a world-renowned pianist serenading the room with a tune by Claude Debussy.
“Exhibition design is my most autobiographical work to date,” Kwong told the audience, which included her husband, comedian Nick Kroll. “It came from a deep thought and exploration of my ancestral roots going back to Shanghai. Much of the inspiration for this piece came from an heirloom scroll passed down to me by my grandparents. We drew a lot from the Chinese landscape community and Chinese learning design principles.”
During the dinner, guests also heard from NYBG CEO and William C. Steere Senior President Jennifer Bernstein. She spoke of the Arboretum’s position as a world leader in advancing plant science. “Without a deep understanding of plants, we simply cannot address environmental challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss,” she urged. “There’s still so much we don’t know.”
The evening celebrated the beauty and importance of orchids, and the garden’s commitment to all biodiversity.
