A Far Better Location than the Hirshhorn Lobby

Where: Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, Kogod Courtyard

When: closing April 28, 2019

One of the best things about winter in Washington is the return of the orchid exhibit at the Smithsonian.  In my view, there's no better location for this than the Natural History Museum.  It's set in a tucked-away space, far from the more popular (and populous) exhibits, and you feel transported to a tropical paradise when you enter.  I especially like to go on a day that's cold, grey and miserable, so I can enjoy the contrast all the more.

In 2017, much to my chagrin and dismay, the display was put in the lobby of the Hirshhorn.  Not enough room, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of people coming and going, stuck on shelves, rather than planted in a natural looking setting - it was dreadful.  This year, the display has moved to the National Portrait Gallery/SAAM, to the covered courtyard in the middle of the building.

This location is superior to the Hirshhorn in every way.  Lots of room to move around and see the beautiful flowers, real displays - no horrible white shelving, and a quieter atmosphere all around.  The fact that this is only a block from my office is a great benefit to myself, but obviously, it could be nearer or farther from your own place.  I'll say that I still prefer the Natural History site - it's more like entering a different world, but this is so much better that I shall not quibble.

Our theme for this year's extravaganza is adaptation.  Orchids make themselves at home on every continent except Antarctica (there's even some that live in the Arctic), so they are masters at survival.  There are 28,000 different species, and in addition to living in soil, they also live on rocks and on other plants.   They fool insects into thinking they are prey or mates, but rather than getting food or sex, the insects wander off, spreading orchid pollen as they go.

And they have different aromas: sweet smells for bees and rotting smells for flies.  Happily, in this show, I only smelled pleasant scents, so some kind person decided to leave the rancid varieties off display.  They come in all different shapes, sizes and colors - just like people, as the notes remind us.  They also perform a vital service as a sort of "canary in the coal mine"; when they fail to thrive, it's an indication that something is wrong in the habitat.

In addition to the lovely flowers, I also enjoyed learning about the work of the Smithsonian Gardens and the U.S. Botanic Gardens.  Both organizations are members of CITES, rescuing illegally imported orchids and other plants.  They work around the world to preserve orchids and their habitats - this is important work, and I'm glad the shutdown is over, so the Smithsonian can get back to it.

This show is part of a year long series of displays and programs called Habitat, that will go on throughout the Smithsonian Gardens - I look forward to seeing what else in on their agenda.  Fun fact: the Smithsonian Gardens Orchid Collection started in 1974 with five plants; they now have approximately 8,000 specimens.

Verdict: Don't just see this once!  The flowers rotate every week, so there's always something new to see.