On
Tuesday, February 24, 2009, The New York Botanical Garden held its
annual Orchid Dinner at The Rainbow Room.
The Orchid Dinner began with cocktails served in the Pegasus Suite
during a sale of rare and exceptional orchids. Some of the world's
leading orchid specialists were on hand to assist guests with their
purchases. Guests then moved to dinner in The Rainbow Room, where
every table was adorned by an orchid centerpiece created and donated
by leading designers from the worlds of fashion, architecture, horticulture,
and literature.
The gala chairs were Mr. and Mrs. Marvin H. Davidson, Mr. and Mrs.
Sylvester F. Miniter IV, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Royce. The
chairs were Fernanda M. Kellogg, president of The Tiffany & Co.
Foundation and Lisa Newsom, editor-in-chief of Veranda. Carolyn
Englefield, editor-at-large of Veranda, served as the decorations
chair. The honorary chairs were Mr. and Mrs. Eric C. Fast, and
Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Graham, Jr. The Sponsors were Tiffany & Co.,
The Bank of New York Mellon, and Veranda.
All proceeds support the development of the Garden's orchid research
collection. In addition to maintaining the highest horticultural
standards of orchid conservation, the Garden has also been designated
a Plant Rescue Center through the Convention of International Trade
in Endangered Species (CITES). Improperly documented shipments
of endangered wild orchids are seized at international borders and
sent to these Centers. Through careful research and the application
of appropriate horticultural techniques, Garden staff members have
been successful in bringing a majority of these ailing specimens back
to health. Many are on view year-round in orchid displays at
the Botanical Garden.
