Last year’s theme, Orchid Show: Magnified, focused on what makes an orchid an orchid. With magnifying lenses, visitors got a close up look at their intricate architecture. We are thrilled that a video from Magnified won a Chicago/Midwest Emmy Award for Outstanding Crafts Achievement for Lighting. Award winners are Red Clark, Robin Carlson, Johanna Hutchins, Wendy Griffiths, Cheri Van Deraa, Ross Gerbasi, Rebekah Lieto: Orchid Odyssey. Threaded Films/Chicago Botanic Garden.   

At this year’s Orchid Show of Wonders, we’re featuring 10,000 blooming orchids in a carousel-like experience, Ferris wheel seats that you can walk under, and unicycles on tight ropes. This is the Chicago Botanic Garden’s tenth Orchid Show, a visitor favorite. Through the years, the themes have changed but the concept has remained the same—in the darkest days of the year, we’re giving you the chance to escape into a world awash in color.