From Ancient Plants to the Master of Deception: A Magical Day at the U.S. Botanic Garden
If you’re into suspense thrillers, action, or horror films, this article might not be for you—because the “Master of Deception” I’m referring to is the beautiful flower I found at the U.S. Botanic Garden: the orchid!
Before I dive into the fascinating reasons why orchids have earned this title, let me share a bit about my adventure at this historic garden that welcomes millions of visitors every year.
Today, April 26, 2025, I explored the U.S. Botanic Garden’s Orchid Show. This Victorian-style conservatory houses a collection of more than 40,000 plants from all over the world.
The structure is divided into several areas showcasing different kinds of medicinal and economic plants. You’ll be surprised to see all the earthly wonders growing here, including endangered and extinct species, such as the Cabbage on a Stick—also known as Brighamia insignis, Vulcan palm, or ʻŌlulu/Alula in Hawaii.
Did you know that President George Washington conceptualized the idea of a national botanic garden in 1820? President James Madison later signed the bill designating a parcel of land at the west Capitol grounds on May 8, 1820. The Wilkes Expedition collected plants from around the world to help stock the garden. It first opened to the public in 1850 but moved to its current location at 100 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20001, in 1933.
Upon entering the Victorian-style conservatory, you’ll be greeted by friendly security guards. To the right of the entrance is a table with maps, a Field Journal, Adaptation: A Scientist’s Guide to Plant Form and Function, and a Plant Explorer’s Field Journal. I suggest reading these before exploring—they serve as guides and activity books that both children and adults will find fun and informative.
The first stop is the Garden Court, where you’ll find economic plants—plants we use for daily needs—such as banana trees, Panama palms, cocoa trees, and more.
The second section focuses on plant conservation. Here you’ll find plants that are endangered, extinct in the wild, or thriving with conservation efforts. Look for the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) labels, which list risk categories:
• Least Concern – Abundant species.
• Near Threatened – Numbers are declining.
• Vulnerable – High risk of extinction in the wild.
• Endangered – Very high risk of extinction in the wild.
• Critically Endangered – Survive mainly through cultivation.
• Extinct – No known individuals remaining.
The third section features plants that survive the hot, dry summers and mild winters of Mediterranean climates, such as the Fair Ellen (Pelargonium quercifolium) and the Aeonium urbicum (Saucer Plant).
The next area is the showstopper: the deceptive orchids!
The conservatory is hosting its 29th Annual Orchid Show, running from February 14 through April 27, 2025. Hundreds of stunning orchids fill the exhibit. I took a video of most of them—check out my YouTube video linked below!
You might be wondering: How did orchids earn the title Master of Deception? Here are three reasons:
• Some orchids, like the Scarce Marsh Helleborine (Epipactis veratrifolia), release a scent similar to that of frightened aphids to lure hoverflies.
• Others, like Anacamptis papilionacea, visually mimic the appearance of female insects to attract male pollinators.
• Some orchids, like Calypso bulbosa, are brightly colored to appear rich in nectar—without actually offering any.
The fifth section we visited was the Tropics. We took an elevator to view the top of the tropical forest, which is divided into four layers: Forest Floor, Understory, Canopy, and Emergent Layer. You’ll find plants adapted to each layer’s unique conditions.
One of my favorites was the Strongylodon macrobotrys (Jade Vine) from the Philippines, known for its vibrant turquoise flowers.
You’ll also find desert plants from around the world, including Mammillaria spinosissima from Mexico (with burgundy flowers) and Cleistocactus winteri from Bolivia (with cylindrical stems). I even sat on a stone cactus while reading about the versatile Texas Prickly Pear!
Next, we visited the Hawaiian Island collection. There’s a gorgeous man-made waterfall near the Cabbage on a Stick. Because this plant is already extinct in the wild, the staff manually pollinate it to ensure its survival.
The last section is the Primeval Garden, designed to mimic the Jurassic Period. I was amazed to see cycads—palm-like trees with stiff leaves—that have survived for over 300 million years!
One of my favorite activities inside the conservatory was comparing my reaction time to that of carnivorous plants. In a fun game, you press an electric button twice—the first press signals the “tail” of a wooden fly to light up, and the second measures your reaction time. My fastest time was 0.14 seconds!
For comparison, the Venus flytrap snaps shut in about 0.1–0.3 seconds, while the average human reaction time is around 0.25–0.3 seconds.
My children and I had a wonderful time exploring the U.S. Botanic Garden. I highly recommend visiting—it’s open year-round!
(Bartholdi Park, located across from the conservatory, is currently closed for renovation. I look forward to visiting it once it reopens.)
Have you ever visited the U.S. Botanic Garden? Please share your experience in the comments section below!
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