Kew Gardens Orchid Festival 2019: London’s flower fiesta to splash out with the colours of Colombia

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There is far more to Colombia than Shakira, great coffee and Narcos. The South American country, with its snow-capped mountains and white sandy beaches, is the world’s second most biodiverse, trumped only by Brazil – which is seven times its size.

Among Colombia’s rich collection of flora and fauna are 4,270 species of orchid, the most in the world. To celebrate this, and the country's vibrant culture, Kew’s Royal Botanic Gardens are dedicating their 24th annual orchid festival to "the colour of Colombia".

This year’s festival will run from Saturday February 9 until Sunday March 10 within the Gardens’ Princess of Wales Conservatory. It will feature more than 6,200 orchids, including Colombia’s national flower, the purple-lipped Flor de Mayo.

Guests will walk through the different zones of the glasshouse to find a range of displays, each representing diverse aspects of Colombian wildlife and culture.

The central feature will be a "carnival of animals", depicting a toucan in flight, a hanging sloth and a swimming turtle, all created from an elaborate arrangement of orchids and other tropical plants. Other highlights include a floral recreation of Colombia’s Caño Cristales river, an enchanted forest scene complete with life-sized jaguars, and a floating display of yellow orchids to honour the legend of El Dorado.

As part of the festival’s wider theme, Colombian artist Vanessa Moncayo González will fill the glasshouse film room with colourful Bogotá-style street-art murals, while her compatriot, sculptor Omar Castañeda, will unveil a series of original sculptures for a "treasures of Colombia" exhibition.

A programme of special events and activities will also take place over the course of the festival, featuring Colombian music, dance and cuisine. This will include after dark evenings, half term workshops and behind-the-scenes tours.

Entry to the orchid festival is included in the standard ticket to the Gardens, and tickets to special events can be bought in advance here.

Richmond, TW9 3AB, kew.org

A day out at Kew Gardens - in pictures

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