ORCHID MANIA: THE 11th ANNUAL NYBG ORCHID DINNER

Photos courtesy of Patrick McMullen

Designer  Katie Ridder with sponsor Veranda Magazine's Editor in Chief, Dara Caponigro, event Chair.

As one of the standout table setting events of the year, The New York Botanical Garden's Orchid Dinner the week before last amazed and enchanted. The annual event, sponsored by, among others, Veranda and Hearst Corporation, raises funds for the New York institution and marks the start of their Orchid Show, now in it's 11th year. Seeing tables in the Mandarin Oriental ballroom completely transformed and adorned by orchids, over 25 designers and floral artists showcased their talents, channeling the theme, Exotic Inspirations.  Outstanding creations using the delicate flower literally took your breath away. It is one of those moments in time that is so hard to capture on camera, to do it justice. If you looked one way and you saw masses of orchids. If you looked another, you saw the twinkling city lights and cabs racing by 36 floors below.

 If you love orchids,  then a visit to the NYBG Orchid Show is a must.  Rare orchids of every size and color are masterfully displayed in the Enid Haupt Conservatory at The Garden until April 22nd. I plan on making a weekend jaunt up there soon, so expect to see some snaps soon on my @stylebeat twitter and instagram feeds.

Here are some of the design standouts of the evening:

Mark Cunningham's Alex Gaston created a centerpiece with masses of white orchids in a low rounded arrangement. Organic designs from Canvas are at each place setting. Chairs and tablecloth are covered in all white Sunbrella fabrics.

Another look at the orchids, lit from beneath by small votives.

Green and white  looked fresh and classic on the table from Tiffany by Richard Moore White orchids in a round arrangement in a tall white urn are teamed up with a green and white lattice printed fabric.

Digitally printed place mats carry the floral theme forward.

One of my favorite florists, Connie over at Plaza Flowers created an elevated dome of white orchids high enough to stand full-height candelabras below. Pretty amazing.

A flowering tree emerges from the center of Steven Elrod's gorgeous table for Brunschig and Fils.  As if the tree was not enough of a piece de resistance, he added hanging lanterns.

Chairs covered in vibrant red and white pagoda fabric.

Robert Couturier created the most spectacular tree out of orchid stems.

Incroyable.

What fun Sherill Canet had. A tall pagoda studded with orchid blooms held sway amongst a low orchid  surround. Yellow studded mats add a bit of glamour and texture to the table.

Orchids around the base of the pagoda.

Tiny yellow orchids are a welcome sight amidst all the white. A crown of yellow orchids hang above a centerpiece made from hanging blown-glass orbs with floating votives inside.

A detail of the hanging votives. What a great idea. It was stunning.

Lee Cavanaugh for Cullman and Kravis brought the brights of India to the top of the Time Warner building. Paring turquoise, hot pink and orange fabrics, swags of orchids and vases of oranges and lemons the vision enchanted.

Touches of gold complemented the riot of color.

Bamboo branches and hot pink orchids with paper lanterns gave James Rixner for Saint - Louis and Puiforcat a dreamy escapist feeling.

 Puiforcat flatware and red crystal stemware from Saint - Louis are paired with a rich red and gold palette.

Shawn Henderson worked with Baccarat, pairing large crystal vessels and a stark modern white structure that housed potted white orchids.

Hilary Pereira for Christofle created a white peacock centerpiece out of orchids. Wow.

The Flower School of New York in Tudor City created a tight centerpiece of low, brightly colored orchids. Guests of this table got to take home miniature potted orchids. Mine may need to be put on life support soon.

Jeff Lincoln covered his table in Fortuny fabric. Tall rock crystal candlesticks surrounded a white orchid arrangement.

A close up of the juxtaposition of rock crystal and white blooms.

Nicolette Owens had a low, flowing arrangement of pale pinks and yellows. I liked how she added a shimmery bronze sequin tablecloth for a different texture.

Richard Mishaan, recently re-opened his NYC store Homer. He stands by his tropical vision of colored orchids and ikat.

Mishaan told me his table was tropical-meets-Dr Seuss. Agreed! He covered a vase in colored cord trim creating stripes.

Roric Tobin's high arrangement was potted in a stunning tall antique urn.

Vincente Wolf put orchids on display in a bright red birdcage

ORCHID MANIA PART II

But wait, there's more! Here are the rest of the orchid festooned tables from the NYBG Orchid Dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental. Every designer table was impressively styled, providing a plethora of inspiration and ideas.

Sebastian Li incorporated yellow orchids with a bright red and gold color scheme. Can you say beyond talented? I am still visually processing this one, how did he do those flowers?

Take it in, closer.


Alessandra Branca used her signature black and white striped fabric for her tableskirt and coral colored manzanita branches strung with tons of pure white orchids, surrounded by glowing votives. Pure perfection.




A long table by Tiffany and Co designed by Lambertson Truex with David M. Handy Events was next to the dance floor.

David Duncan Antiques used one of my favorite Josef Frank fabrics to create a tropical multi-colored fantasy.



Bowman Dahl Floral & Event Design created an orchid tree of blazing oranges, yellows and reds.


Richard Mishaan used a french blue silk tablecloth with a cluster of antique opalescent green glass vases in glass walled boxes the centerpiece.



Juan Montoya put orchids inside a 20th century birdcage, tying colorful strands of ribbon from it.

With nary a live orchid in site, Selena Van Der Geest created her snow white designs entirely out of cut paper.



Sherrill Canet's white orchids defied gravity. A zippy palette of bright green and steely gray was slick and modern.

Angelica Gomez embraced fluoro brights.

ORCHID MANIA: NYBG'S ORCHID DINNER

Every winter, exotic orchids provide the tablesetting magic for The New York Botanical Garden's Orchid Dinner. The glorious event, generously underwritten by Veranda, BNY Mellon and Tiffany and Co, is a way to celebrate and support one of New York's best loved horticultural treasures, The New York Botanical Garden. “We were thrilled to sponsor the Orchid Dinner for our 5th consecutive year,” said Veranda editor in chief Dara Caponigro. “The evening supports the New York Botanical Garden’s vital work in conservation and education and we are pleased to have helped the Garden attract so much creative talent in support of its mission. This event is always a showcase for some of the most extraordinary design.” If you have not been to the gardens, go! The stunning Orchid Show that opens March 3rd draws quite a crowd from far and wide, as does their beautifully-edited gift shop.
For the table designs, interior and floral designers start with the delicate looking blooms, and build their design story around the flower-- sometimes using masses upon masses of them. This year, the tables were as divine as ever, with orchid arrangements created out of every possible variety and hue soaring heavenward. Here is a sampling of several tablescapes, with more to follow tomorrow.
You may get orchid fever, watch out:

Stephen Elrod for Brunschwig & Fils created a global fantasy land using the newest bold Brunschwig prints. Notice the giraffe centerpiece holding a lantern in its mouth. Stephen always outdoes himself.


Reds yellows and pinks step up to the splendid giraffe.

David Easton created a low lying arrangement with Maidenhair ferns and tall Phaelenopsis.


Laura Vinroot Poole with John Lupton, Andrew Thomas and Leontine Linens had a blast of brights and a giant red urn filled with chartreuse and red orchids.



Connie of Plaza Flowers had a true piece de resistance, pairing a large spray of deep red orchids with brushed metals.


Philip Gorrivan for Lalique went for white and clear.

Flower School New York's Felipe Sastre created a palm tree out of Phaelenopsis.


LMD Lewis Miller Design combined clear glass, a metallic table skirt and crisp white orchids.


Bowman Dahl Floral & Event Design worked with gray and mercury glass to go along with the fanciful puff of orchids atop a long stemmed vase.


Baccarat by Rafael de Cardenas/Architecture at Large used intricately intertwined orchids in vibrant tones for a rain forest effect.


Michael Walter for Lexington Gardens created a gorgeous towering waterfall of garden tools and potted orchids that was spectacular.


Robert Marinelli, RMID Enterprises, Inc. mixed a matte burlap cloth with hits of fuchsia and a glittery low centerpiece of a log with orchids sprouting from it, pure woodlands fantasy.


Campion Platt rang in the Chinese New Year with low orchids and a fanciful multi-hued paper dragon.



MagnaFlora Design | Events had a showstopping low centerpiece of just purple orchids.



Guests got to take home a mini orchid.

Roric Tobin for Geoffrey Bradfield Inc. went on safari.