The most anticipated event for orchid lovers: Tallinn Botanic Garden is opening its traditional Orchid Exhibition on Friday

Tallinn Botanic Garden’s Orchid Exhibition will be open from 27 February to 8 March. At the exhibition, flower enthusiasts can purchase orchids from Rikets Lilled, and the German orchid nursery Currlin Orchideen will be present and selling their plants from 5 to 8 March.

This year marks the 26th official Orchid Exhibition. Although the first official event known as the Orchid Exhibition was held in 1994, the event didn’t become an annual tradition until the year 2000. During the event, Tallinn Botanic Garden’s greenhouses will be filled with hundreds of blooming orchids, offering visitors the chance to escape the northern chill and spend some time in a tropical paradise. The exhibition will display natural species from different parts of the world alongside varieties developed by breeders.

"As is the case with all other plants and things, the systematisation and collection of orchids can be approached in a variety of ways. Although until now, the collection has been based mainly on species, collections could also be based on varieties, or even on varieties with specific types of names," says Jaan Mettik, head of the tropical and subtropical plants division at Tallinn Botanic Garden. "This year, for example, Tallinn Botanic Garden is focusing more on music, classical as well as pop and rock, and visitors will even be able to take pictures with celebrities. Those interested can even create their own celebrity avenue at home," suggests Mettik.

The plants could also be explored through their smells. "In the world of orchids, big blooms and pleasant smells don't always go hand in hand. For example, moth orchids with their large flowers are usually completely odourless. On the other hand, the pink rock orchid (Dendrobium kingianum) with its tiny pink flowers has a wonderful and strong fragrance," Mettik notes.

Tallinn Botanic Garden's Orchid Exhibition and plant sale is open from 27 February to 8 March between 11:00 and 16:00 in the Palm House. During the Orchid Exhibition, the new Tallinn Botanic Garden parking lot, which will officially open at the start of the summer season, will also be temporarily opened.

Tallinn Botanic Garden, established in 1961, is a scientific, educational, and cultural institution dedicated to the conservation and promotion of plant diversity. Spanning 40 hectares in the Pirita River Valley, Tallinn Botanic Garden’s greenhouses and outdoor area are home to approximately 8,500 plant species. Tallinn Botanic Garden’s mission is to preserve, develop and introduce rich plant collections and herbaria, and carry out research and nature education work to preserve and increase biodiversity. Tallinn Botanic Garden aims to be an advocate for a modern, environmentally conscious mindset and the promotion of garden and landscape design.