The historical Palm Greenhouse of Moscow State University’s Botanical Garden (Apothecary Garden) is hosting the Winter Orchid Festival for the fourth time.
The historical Palm Greenhouse of Moscow State University’s Botanical Garden (Apothecary Garden) is hosting the Winter Orchid Festival for the fourth time.
During the darkest and coldest months of the year, it is still summer in the greenhouse and the orchids are in bloom.
The festival’s main event is an exhibition of blooming orchids among 100-year-old palms and lush tropical plants at the Palm Greenhouse.
The festival displays just a small sample of over 100,000 known orchid species.
Orchids can be found on all continents except Antarctica, and number over 25,000 species. Every year, 100 to 200 new species are discovered.
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© RIA Novosti . Tatiana Latysheva
The size of orchid flowers varies from a few millimeters to 23-30 centimeters (nine to 12 inches).
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© RIA Novosti . Tatiana Latysheva
On average, an orchid flower blooms for one to two months.
The orchids are surrounded by other tropical and subtropical plants, such as palms, monsteras, marantas, philodendrons, ferns and numerous bromeliads.
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© RIA Novosti . Tatiana Latysheva
The Fourth Winter Orchid Festival at the Botanical Garden will run until March 24.
