Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is pairing the best of its vast collection of diverse and colorful orchids with over 40 stunning orchid photographs by three outstanding North Carolina photographers for Art & Orchids: Flowers in Focus from Jan. 22 to Mar. 12.
Striking color, natural symmetry, unmatched variety, and graceful and flowing lines make orchids one of the world's most-photographed flowers. Therefore the Garden has developed a well-designed display of photogenic orchid arrangements to accompany photographs which will be available for purchase. Julie McMillan's exhibit is a contemporary exhibition on metal, Rick Haithcox presents a study of form and structure in black and white, and Greg Allikas presents a traditional look at award-winning orchids. The exhibit encourages guests to enjoy the photographs on display in addition to creating their very own photographs of the Garden's orchid collection.
The exhibition is free with general garden admission. Admission for Garden members is free, $12.95 for adults, $11.95 for seniors 60+, and $6.95 for children 2-12. The Garden is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. For more information call (704) 825-4490 or visit www.DSBG.org. This exhibition is presented by Rodgers Builders, Inc.
Art & Orchids Special Events: During the opening weekend, Jan. 22-24 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Garden will host an orchid show and sale featuring Orchids from North Carolina Piedmont Orchid Society (NCPOS); A Garden Member opening will be held on Saturday, Jan. 23 from 9 to 11 a.m. and will be free for members; Art & Orchids Tour and Wine Pairing Opening Weekend Reception on Sunday, Jan. 24 from 3 to 5 p.m. Tickets are $50 per guest and reservations can be made online at www.dsbg.org or by calling 704-829-1294; In addition, Children's Art Weekend on Mar. 5 & 6 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day will offer special crafts designed to foster and celebrate the creativity of children.
Art & Orchids Programs: Orchid Presentation Series on Jan. 23 & Jan. 24 ($10/day + admission, free for members):What is an Orchid? from 11:30 a.m. to noon each day, Home Remedies for Pest & Disease Control from 12:30 to 1 p.m. each day, How to Select an Orchid for Home Growing from 1:30 to 2 p.m. each day.
Orchid Workshops ($25/workshop): Orchids 101 on Jan. 30; 1 - 3 p.m., Orchid Pollination on Feb. 13; 1 - 3 p.m., Growing & Repotting Orchids on Mar. 5; 1 - 3 p.m. (additional $25 material fee).
Orchid Photography with Julie McMillan ($46/class): AOS Award Photography on Jan. 31; 12:30 - 3 p.m., Phone-ography on Feb. 6; 9:30 a.m. - Noon, Photographing Orchids with Natural Light on Mar. 19; 9:30 - Noon.
First Tuesday Lectures: Orchids on Feb. 2; Noon - 1 p.m., Orchid Photography on Mar. 1; Noon - 1 p.m.
About the Photographers: A commercial photographer in Palm Beach and orchid grower for 28 years, Greg Allikas is the awards photographer for West Palm Beach Judging Center and several annual south Florida orchid shows including Miami, Delray Beach, Deerfield Beach and Tropical. Now living in Brevard, Greg's photos have been featured in numerous AOS publications and a series of posters he designed and produced. He serves on the AOS Information Committee. Numerous career awards include Grand Prize 13th World Orchid Conference photo contest. Greg is a Tropical Orchid Society member and proprietor of the Orchid Photo Page and O zone.
Commercial and fine photographer Julie McMillan runs Silver Birch Studio Photography. Originally from Akron, Ohio, she has traveled extensively in Kenya, Ghana, Brazil, Mexico and New Zealand. She has worked as freelance writer, food critic and jewelry artist. Julie has exhibited a number of times in her current home city of Asheville as well as Charlotte and New York City. She has been the awards photographer for the Western North Carolina Orchid Society for a number of years. She and her husband are long-time active members of the WNCOS.
Dallas, NC commercial and fine art photographer Rick Haithcox has operated his business in this area since 1987. He has earned a well-deserved reputation as one of the finest black and white portraiture and fine art photographers in the region and his resume also includes both corporate and industrial photographic work. He has won numerous awards from the North Carolina Association of Professional Photographers, Professional Photographers of America, the Light Factory in Charlotte, and others. Rick spent months photographing the Garden's orchids.
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is located at 6500 South New Hope Road, Belmont, NC 28012. Phone 704-825-4490. Online at www.dsbg.org