Home - Recent News -

The Orchid exhibition was launched with great pomp in Prague Botanical Garden. Unfortunately, Czech singer Hana Hegerová couldn’t make it due to health reasons, but the exhibition was nonetheless opened by a wonderful bouquet of famous personalities – Czech actress Jiřina Jirásková, Countess Mathilda Nostitzová and ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Victor Julian Hernandez. They jointly planted new species of orchids and launched the book Orchids written by the green fingers of the Garden’s multi-talented employee Jiří Rill.

Countess reminds us of those who can’t see

“I first became truly enamoured with orchids when I lived in Saipan. This is where I met an Italian music teacher. In the evenings he would play in the Hilton hotel where we lived, but at home grew more than five thousand orchids. It was absolutely amazing. The ‘birdsong’ that you can hear in the green-house was composed by another blind musician, Pavel Musil. I feel obliged to share these facts as I am a patron of bind people, and therefore am delighted to be here and highlight their situation” said Countess Nostitzová.

Ambassador spoke Czech

The Ambassador of Venezuela Victor Julian Hernandez Leon addressed visitors in Czech, which he learned when he studied at ČVUT in Prague in the 80s. “I am overjoyed that we can plant Venezuelan orchids in this garden especially so as the orchid is our national flower. I am sincerely glad to be here in such a great company of such beautiful people and flowers.”

Jiřina Jirásková witty as ever

In spite of her health problems, the actress Jiřina Jirásková managed to plant the orchid as a first. Journalist subsequently threw themselves on her; about which she commented jokingly: “…well, I am not used to quite so many flashes and I have experienced a lot.” She planted an orchid from the Dendrobium lineage, founded in 1799 by the Swedish botanist Olof Peter Swartz. This is the second biggest lineage among orchids, more than 2700 types of which have been described so far. They can be found in many places from India to Japan, as well as on Pacific islands and in Australia.

Vanilla waiting for Hana Hegerová

The orchid from the lineage Vanilla is still waiting for Hana Hegerová. This type was described by botanists in 1754, but had been known earlier. It was used already in pre-Columbus days and Indians considered it a gift from the gods.

For the visitors

The exhibition is open between Tuesday and Sunday, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. About 150 botanical types of orchids will be introduced to fans of these tropical beauties. One novelty waits for visitors on the foot bridge leading across tropical lakes, where a bamboo construction has been erected, beautifully displaying orchids and other tropical vegetation. You can make use of expert consultancy provided by experienced orchid growers, which is a service that has been particularly well received in previous years. You can ask them how to plant orchids in the conditions of your own room. Those who want to purchase their own flower can look forward to an exceedingly rich and colourful selection indeed.

Accompanying programme

Every weekend, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., trained guides will acquaint visitors with the world of orchids every hour for free. Other than that, visitors can buy the new book called Orchids by Jiří Rill, a distinguished expert working in the Botanical Garden of Prague.  The exhibition also includes paintings by Czech former illustrator Inka Delevová. At the same time, Fata Morgana hosts the exhibition of Veronika Richterová called PET TROPICANA until 2nd May, which uses pet bottles in creative way.