The 12th “Taiwan：A World of Orchids” exhibition is being held on August 9-10 at the Queens Botanical Garden in Flushing, New York. Nearly 1000 pots of exquisite Taiwanese orchids are being showcased at the exhibition, which opened with a ceremony on August 8th. Various community representatives from Queens attended the ceremony to congratulate the organizers. They praised the orchids as Taiwan’s pride and highlighted the contributions of Taiwanese immigrants to Flushing and Queens. The public is welcomed to come and admire the orchids over the weekend and even take some Taiwanese orchids home.
According to Ambassador Huang Pailing of the Queens Botanical Garden, the Taiwan Orchid Exhibition has been held at the garden since 2013 to showcase Taiwanese orchids and Taiwan’s soft power. This year’s exhibition features nearly 1000 beautiful Taiwanese orchids, predominantly butterfly orchids, along with various other species like orchid hybrids and Dendrobium orchids. There is also a collaboration with the Taiwan External Trade Development Council to introduce over 30 popular Taiwanese snacks, pastries, and beverages to the New York public.
In the lush greenery of the Queens Botanical Garden, pots of elegant and diverse orchids sway gracefully in the breeze, showcasing their beauty. Orchids are known as one of the “Four Gentlemen” in Chinese culture, symbolizing noble character. Confucius once said, “The orchid grows in the deep valley, and does not seek the presence of others to be fragrant; the noble person cultivates virtue and ethics, and is not swayed by poverty to compromise.”
Taiwan currently holds the title of the world’s largest exporter of orchids, producing around one billion orchid seedlings annually, with 80% of them being exported to other countries. Taiwanese butterfly orchids hold over 70% of the global butterfly orchid market share. With a flowering period of 2-4 months and easy care requirements, butterfly orchids are among the most common indoor decorative orchids. Wu Dayi, the founder of the co-organizer “Taiwan Garden,” stated that in 2024, Taiwan’s orchid industry had an annual production value of approximately 200 million US dollars, with Taiwanese orchids being exported to over 60 countries and regions. The United States is a significant importer of Taiwanese orchids.
Several public figures, including Congresswoman Grace Meng, New York State Assembly members Ron Kim, Nily Rozic, Steven Raga, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, as well as Wang Yiru, director of the New York Overseas Chinese Cultural and Educational Services Center, Tsai Xiuzhen, head of the NY branch of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, and leaders of various overseas Taiwanese groups, attended the opening ceremony.
Congresswoman Grace Meng mentioned that she has family in Taiwan and considers orchids to be a source of pride and joy for Taiwan. She encouraged everyone to share the news of the Taiwan Orchid Exhibition with friends and family, inviting them to come and admire the orchids and take some home. She suggested that amidst the summer heat, visiting the beautiful botanical garden can be a way to find coolness and tranquility.
Ron Kim emphasized the importance of strengthening the relationship between the United States and Taiwan, stating that it is more crucial now than ever before.
On August 9th (Saturday) and August 10th (Sunday), the Taiwan Orchid Exhibition will include activities such as orchid sales (9am-5pm), basic orchid lectures (11am-12pm, 3pm-4pm), jelly flower demonstrations (Sunday 11am-12pm), floral design demonstrations (Sunday 1pm-2pm, 2:30pm-3:30pm), as well as orchid handicrafts, dough figurine making, and a jazz trio performance.
Queens Botanical Garden Location: 43-50 Main St. Flushing NY 11355. For more event details, visit: https://queensbotanical.org/orchids/.