UK's Kew tribute to Costa Rica at annual orchid fest
Britain's Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew unveiled its annual orchid festival Thursday, turning a sliver of southwest London into a riot of tropical colour and flora celebrating biodiversity hotspot Costa Rica.
Kew's 26th orchid showcase, opening Saturday, has this year been themed around the central American country hailed for conservation and features more than 5,000 orchids, some native to the nation on the Panama isthmus.
They include the national flower, a critically endangered orchid -- named Guarianthe skinneri -- bearing pink-purple petals and found in humid forests on tree trunks and branches or on granite cliff banks at some altitudes.
The month-long exhibition, housed in Kew conservatory set to tropical temperatures and conditions, also promotes Costa Rica's famed fauna, with handcrafted sculptures of some of animals made from natural materials and nestled in amongst the plants.
"Through the glass house we tried to bring in as much colour to just transport people into that sort of feel good world of Costa Rica... to make it really pretty and smashing," florist and Kew volunteer Henck Roling said.
The Dutchman, who in keeping with the orchid theme had dyed his hair and beard bright colours and was adorned with an orange garland, said the team had spent much of the past two years thinking about the festival.
It is returning to Kew after a one-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Around 6,000 plants have been brought in for the showcase, including the 5,000 orchids originating from around the world.
