The Surreal Orchid Garden

Back to ORCHIDdaze. For Surreal Beauty we are creating a surrealist garden in the Conservatory Lobby.

What would a surrealist garden look like? Imagine a dreamscape with distorted elements. There would be liquid shapes. And ordinary objects in humorous or disturbing juxtaposition. And of course orchids.

How are we achieving this? With a backdrop of fun-house mirrors. And they are fun ...and a little disturbing, let me tell you. I had a blast taking photographs before we even began to install the plants.

Sarah and Hilary planting the Conservatory Lobby. Above them is Salvador Dali's statement, "Surrealism is destructive, but it destroys only what it considers to be shackles limiting our vision." The Surrealists during the post World War I period wanted to shock people and wanted them to think about what they saw in art and in society, rather than just observe it.

The arching metal frames above Sarah and Hilary will be used to display bold red, yellow and orange Cattleya and Oncidium orchids.

ORCHIDdaze: Surreal Beauty opens this Saturday! You will certainly see orchids (and yourself!) in new ways.