NATIONAL ORCHID DAY
Each year on April 16th, National Orchid Day recognizes one of the world’s diverse and widespread flowering plant families. The orchids’ often colorful and fragrant blooms grow in abundance around the world. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species. Not only are they prolific, but they range in size from the 2.1 mm wide Platystele jungermannioides to broad-bloomed Grammatophyllum speciosum.
While some find the orchid challenging to grow, others find pleasure in their pleasant fragrance and uncommon beauty. With so many varieties to choose from, anyone can enjoy the beauty from home or by visiting botanical gardens around the world.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalOrchidDay
Enjoy the beauty of an Orchid. Share photos of beautiful orchids you grow. Give an orchid to someone with a green thumb. You can also download and print this orchid coloring page.
Use #NationalOrchidDay to share on social media. Facebook:www.facebook.com/nationalorchidday Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nat_Orchid_Day
Visit the official www.nationalorchidday.com site.
Also, check out the Humble Bumbles Honey Facebook page:
Visit the inspiring orchid sanctuary Orquideas Moxviquil.
And also, check out Chadwick and Son Orchids Inc.
NATIONAL ORCHID DAY HISTORY
Orchids are beautiful and extremely special. The creators of National Orchid Day, Mike and Faith Young, volunteered at an orchid reserve in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, in 2010. The experience changed their lives forever. So much so, the Youngs decided if they were ever to have a daughter, they would name her Orchid. On April 16, 2014, sadly, they lost their precious daughter during labor. They named her Orchid Faith. Since then, they have been desperately trying to find ways to honor her life.
Creating National Orchid Day
After discovering that no National Orchid Day existed, the Youngs set out to secure the day in honor of their daughter, Orchid Faith. On the year anniversary of losing their precious little girl, they created a Kickstarter campaign. They offered pre-orders of their backyard honey (The Humble Bumbles Honey), intending to designate April 16th as National Orchid Day through the Official National Day Registrar. Within the first day, they met their goal, and the campaign brought in over $1,500. Thanks to the generosity and kindness of many friends, family, and supporters, April 16th will now forever be National Orchid Day in honor of their daughter.
For the rest of their lives, Mike and Faith say they will be caring for and spreading awareness about orchids. They feel having a National Orchid Day dedicated to the beautiful life they lost, people everywhere will appreciate orchids a little bit more, and their little girl will feel the warmth of those that think of orchids that day. They feel as though all orchids represent their little girl and hope that this special day will inspire those who come across orchids to think of their daughter, Orchid Faith, too; she is alive within you and all of us.
Radiant Faith Orchid
For Mother’s Day 2015, Mike designated and named a Cattleya orchid ‘Radiant Faith’ through Chadwick and Son Orchids, Inc. The International Orchid Register of the Royal Horticulture Society in England officially recognizes and recognizes the Radiant Faith orchid. The Youngs were inspired by Pantone’s color of the year for 2014 (the year they lost their daughter) – Radiant Orchid. Learn more about the Radiant Faith orchid by visiting the International Orchid Register.
In 2015, the Registrar at National Day Calendar® proclaimed National Orchid Day to be observed on April 16th, annually.
Orchid FAQ
Q. How many kinds of orchids are there?
A. Orchids have been around longer than most other flowering plants, giving them plenty of time to diversify. They are also one of the largest flowering plant families on the planet. As a result, there are more than 25,000 species!
Q. How long do orchids live?
A. They can live up to 100 years or longer. A tiger orchid in the Singapore Botanic Garden is believed to be more than 150-years-old. It may also be the world’s largest orchid.
