Missouri Botanical Garden Orchid Show 2007

Voice: Pat Scace, exhibit designer I’m Pat Scace, the exhibit designer in the Floral Display Department. Would you believe it takes a full year to plan and prepare for this orchid show?! After we choose a theme, my assistant and I work closely with a team of volunteers to design and build props in our workshop behind the floral display hall. This year’s show presents the art of growing, illustrating and displaying the Garden’s extensive orchid collection. Among the hundreds of live specimens you will also see botanical prints from the Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Scenes in this classic conservatory were inspired in part by a still life watercolor painting. Each plant is part of our permanent collection, including the 7 18-foot ficus trees that we incorporate into each of our shows. We display the orchids carefully to appear as they grow in nature, whether they’re attached to tree bark or grow low to the ground. We detail the pots with moss and bark for a more natural appearance. When the show ends, e