The
American Orchid Society (AOS) is the world's largest special-interest
horticultural organization. Its headquarters -- the AOS Visitors
Center and Botanical Garden, in Delray Beach, Florida -- features
a 20,000-square-foot
Mediterranean-style building that houses the nonprofit organization's
offices and archives; a spectacular atrium adorned with decorative
orchid medallions that frequently hosts cultural exhibits, orchid-themed
educational classes, and weddings and parties; and a tantalizing
giftshop packed with garden and orchid treasures. It boasts
a unique 3.5-acre botanical orchid garden filled with thousands
of native and exotic orchids set amongst rare flowering trees,
palms, shrubs and other flora. Highlights include two 4,000-square-foot
greenhouses, inspiring water features, a cypress-pond boardwalk,
a chickee hut and a 14-foot cascading waterfall.
Open Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-4:30pm, admission is $7 for adults
and free for children under 12 and AOS members. For information
on orchid education, research, conservation, orchid events,
plant-care suggestions, and more, contact the AOS via the information/links
below. |
| phone
|
561-404-2000 |
| website |
www.aos.org |
|
Among
the orchids found at the AOS Visitors Center and Botanical Garden
is this Cattleya-like hybrid (Pot. Caesar's Head x Blc. Toshie Aoki).
Photo credit: Greg Allikas |
American
Orchid Society Visitors Center and Botanical Garden
