Engage with orchids

Gardens can be an oasis in any month, calming stressed minds and giving visitors the chance to marvel at nature’s wonders. To that end, the Cleveland Botanical Gardens recently transformed into an orchid paradise for its annual Orchids Forever show.

“Being in the presence of nature’s beauties and looking closely promotes a sense of calm and the fast pace of life melts away. It’s a crowning example of why nature is so wonderful for our mental health,” says Caroline Tait, vice president of horticulture and collections.

Here are some ideas to inform, engage and inspire your customers from this year’s show.

1. The gardens highlighted the relationship between orchids and their pollinators, from bees to wasps to flies to butterflies. Signs explained how different pollinators are attracted to different colors and types of blooms.

2. The botanical gardens show featured stunning varieties of orchid species from all over the world. Displays were scattered throughout the 17,000 square-foot conservatory that houses more than 20,000 species of plants.

3. & 4. Moss ball planters hung from the ceiling throughout the gardens, bringing beautiful blooms right to eye level for closer inspection. The multi-level displays added interest and allowed the botanical gardens to pack more plants into a small space.

5. The gardens encouraged attendees to bring their cameras and even set up selfie stations throughout the grounds. Check out #orchidsforever on social media to see how attendees interacted online.

6. After attendees got inspired by the displays, they could browse the gift shop to take home their own orchids. The Garden Store offered traditional and exotic orchid varieties, soil, fertilizer and pots specifically for orchids.

7. Dangling ribbons added to the atmosphere in the botanical gardens, lending a festive atmosphere to the orchid displays.

8. The Greater Cleveland Orchid Society hosted a show and sale during one weekend of the Orchids Forever exhibition. Activities included an orchid competition sanctioned by the American Orchid Society, lectures and demonstrations.