Chandeliers :: Orchids at The New York Botanical Gardens, Splendor in the Sky

If you look closely you'll see that orchids are a lot like snowflakes - no two are exactly alike!

Come in out of the cold. Step away from a drab and dreary landscape that's been exhausted by snow and freezing temperature, and step into the warm and inviting Enid Haupt Conservatory at the New York Botanical Gardens. The building itself is magical - an architectural greenhouse delight, but inside prepared to be awed by warmth, beauty and the most vibrant colors as a spectacle of orchid species beckons the eye upward during this year's Orchid Show. On the ground and overhead, prepare to be wowed by a breathtaking presentation spotlighting the aerial beauty of this iconic flower through hanging baskets, colorful living columns, and the centerpiece: a huge star-shaped chandelier overflowing with hundreds of plants.

Were you aware that there are tens of thousands of orchid species thriving in varied habitats around the globe? These are some of the most diverse and well-adapted plants on Earth. Come and learn about many of them.

We've been members of the New York Botanical Gardens for a couple of years now and as a result we take full advantage of the wonderful grounds and the exhibitions so carefully and beautifully curated. Who doesn't, love flowers, after all? When the weather is warm, we love to stroll around and explore the grounds - there's always something new to be discovered. When the weather is less than pleasant, the conservatory is the perfect place to seek refuge.

Culture and the arts are very much a part of my DNA. Much of this, I am sure, stems from my New York City childhood. My parents were involved with the arts and I lived on Museum Mile. Though I am no longer in the city, I am but a hop, skip and a jump away. It's important to me to give my own children a taste of all that is out there from attending sporting events, to Broadway, to museums, and even the Botanical Gardens. Children may whine - They will whine, after all they are children. But there are ways of making cultural events interesting, appealing and even fun for all ages. Thanks to modern technology my children all love photography. Whether it's simply to take a photo with a camera and play around with the lenses and settings or snap something quickly with an iPhone or to share it on Facebook or Instagram, I encourage it all. When my children look through a camera's lens they see something altogether different. Images blown up expose fine detail and the most vibrant of colors. They may think they're playing and having fun, but really they're learning to look at the world around them in a whole new way. As we walked out of the gardens all three of my children thanked me and said it was fun. Flowers are fun. And they're beautiful. (The images below were all shot with my iPhone 6. My 9 year old refused to let me use my camera! )