A Floral Homage to New York City
The 2026 Orchid Show at New York Botanical Garden, Mr. Flower Fantastic’s Concrete Jungle, showcases vibrant orchids and the hidden beauty of everyday NYC streetscapes
February might not be known as the most visually stimulating time in New York City. Common winter sights include slippery subway steps and locals in black parkas navigating gray street slush. But an easy trip on the B, D or 4 train leads to an inspiring—and warm—way to spend a cold day: the annual Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG).
2026’s show runs from 7 February to 26 April, featuring works by floral artist and native New Yorker Mr. Flower Fantastic, who reimagined common city streetscapes in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. The exhibit, aptly named Mr. Flower Fantastic’s Concrete Jungle, features everyday NYC icons like a subway station, laundromat, pizza shop and even a fire escape, all transformed into whimsical architectural installations incorporating thousands of colorful orchids. MFF, as he’s also known, dons a respirator mask and gloves to manage a pollen allergy while maintaining an anonymity that keeps his art and flower designs the primary focus.
Courtesy of New York Botanical Garden 
Courtesy of New York Botanical Garden 
Courtesy of New York Botanical Garden 
Photo by Ivo M Vermeulen, Courtesy of New York Botanical Garden 
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen, Courtesy of New York Botanical Garden 
Courtesy of New York Botanical Garden 
Photo by Ivo M Vermeulen, Courtesy of New York Botanical Garden
Orchids are a diverse member of the plant kingdom, with about 30,000 species found on six continents across the globe. NYBG scientists are devoted to orchid research and conservation, and this year marks the 23rd Orchid Show to celebrate and honor this magnificent plant. From varieties with velvety fuschia flowers to ones with frilly, ruffled edges to yellow-pink-white variegated blooms, MFF’s multi-room installation showcases a variety of species throughout. Utilitarian NYC sights like a newsstand or scaffolding take on a new meaning with the unexpected pairings of colorful orchids and plants. The dark color palette of each scene’s structure, like the dark gray bus stop, serves as a visual canvas for the bright blooms and vibrant greens to pop off their backgrounds.
As you walk through the self-guided experience, take a closer look at the multi-layered details of the reinterpreted urban scenes. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but we loved the graffiti at the Orchid Avenue subway stop, the floral-themed print media at the newsstand (we would subscribe to Vanity Fleur and The New York Vines!) and the striking orchid vignettes in the communal washing machines at the laundromat. MFF’s installation uses floral design to highlight both orchids and the oft-forgotten beauty of the things we see everyday in the city.
Starting 21 March on select weekend evenings through 25 April, Orchid Nights is another way to enjoy the awe-inspiring beauty of NYBG’s orchid collection. Visitors 21 and up are invited to grab a drink and check out sets by DJ April Hunt and Mixtape, all amidst the colorful Concrete Jungle in the historic glass conservatory.
Whether you visit with a friend or opt for a solo adventure, expect the unexpected. Joanna Groarke, NYBG’s Vice President for Exhibitions and Programming, encourages guests to slow down, reconnect in nature and create conversations in flowers, “which builds community and inspires us to find beauty where you might otherwise miss it in the rush of the everyday,” she says. “This exhibition is an invitation for you to do the same.”
For more info and to purchase tickets for Mr. Flower Fantastic’s Concrete Jungle, visit nybg.org.
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