PIXELS + PETALS, AN ORCHID EXHIBITION

Thank you to all who visited us during Pixels + Petals, An Orchid Exhibition as we displayed more than 2,000 orchids with the colorful aesthetic of retro video games. Featuring large-scale, immersive displays inspired by the pixelated charm of 8 and 16-bit graphics, Pixels + Petals invites visitors to adventure into the plant realm and discover the wonder of orchids. This exhibit concluded on March 23, 2025.

LEARN MORE

Explore the vision behind this year’s exhibition and learn what to expect in our blog.

Meet the captivating orchids of this year’s exhibition in our Orchid Guide.

ORCHID SALE

This event has concluded on Friday, April 4.

After Pixels + Petals concludes, a wide array of orchids from the exhibition will be for sale on Friday, April 4, 10AM – 5PM, or until supplies run out! 

Here’s what you need to know:

  • The price range for varieties of orchids are $10-$45
  • Houseplants, including bromeliads, will range from $10-$20
  • No admission is required to enter the sale
  • Plants are available on a first-come, first-served basis
  • Early admittance is not permitted; the sale starts promptly at 10 AM
  • Attendees should dress for the weather and be prepared to wait in lines indoors and outdoors
  • Bring your own containers, boxes, or bags to carry out your plants
  • Garden staff will not be available to assist with loading plants into vehicles
  • Farmer and the Fork café will be open at 10 AM for coffee/tea and small bites and snacks
  • Follow the Garden on Instagram and Facebook @NewEnglandBG for day-of sale updates!

Forms of accepted payment include cash, debit or credit card, or checks made payable to Worcester County Horticultural Society (WCHS) or New England Botanic Garden (NEBG). Gift cards will not be accepted for the orchid sale.

yellow orchids

February Vacation Week: Nature Quest
Free Drop-in Activities | All Ages
Gear up for an action-packed week of thrilling mini-games and exciting challenges that feel like you’ve stepped right into a video game. Embark on epic side quests in our youth classes or spend your day exploring the outdoors and unlocking hidden secrets of the plant realm. Adventure awaits—are you ready to play?
Saturday to Friday, February 15 to 21, 10AM–4PM

Memory Mosaic | Ages 8-12
Take a polaroid of your favorite orchid and decorate a frame with mosaic tiles inspired by Tetris.
Saturday, February 15, 11AM–12:30PM
Member: $22 CHILD, $0 ADULT
Non-Member: $30 CHILD, $20 ADULT

8-bit Orchids | Ages 8-12
Explore the outstanding orchid displays and create your own orchids using fuse beads.
Tuesday, February 18, 2–3:30PM
Member: $20 CHILD, $0 ADULT
Non-Member: $28 CHILD, $20 ADULT

Orchid Prints | Ages 7-12
Explore the orchid exhibition and create colorful prints using a simple block-printing technique
Friday, February 21, 2–3:30PM
Member: $18 CHILD, $0 ADULT
Non-Member: $26 CHILD, $20 ADULT

Orchids in Watercolor | Ages 7-12
Learn the basics of painting with watercolors using our conservatory plants for inspiration
Sunday, March 2, 10:30AM–12PM
Member: $20 CHILD, $0 ADULT
Non-Member: $28 CHILD, $20 ADULT

Orchid Exhibit Walk & Talk | NEBG HORTICULTURE STAFF
Explore our orchid exhibition, Pixels & Petals, before the garden opens to the public and learn more about the species that make up the display of over 2,000 orchids.
Wednesday, February 12
Wednesday, February 19
Wednesday, February 26;
March 5 & 12, 9–10AM
Member: $15; Non-Member: $35

Basics of Orchid Care and Repotting | DARYL YERDON
Learn essential techniques for repotting and properly caring for orchids with guidance from Daryl Yerdon, President of the New Hampshire Orchid Society, to help your plants stay healthy and bloom longer.
Wednesday, February 12, 6–9PM
Member: $55; Non-Member: $66

Photographing Orchids: Up-Close and Personal | NEBG STAFF
Join us after hours for an exclusive photography session. This is a self-guided opportunity to get up close and personal with the orchids and displays of our Pixels & Petals exhibition and practice your craft. Bring your own tripod and camera equipment.
Tuesday, February 11
Thursday, February 20
Tuesday, February 25;
March 4 and 13, 6–8:30PM
Member: $10; Non-Member: $15

Modern Orchid Floral Arrangements | HALEY CORMIER, BLUEBIRD BOUQUETS
Sometimes less truly is more, especially when working with luxurious orchids. Join Haley from Bluebird Bouquets as she takes you step-by-step in creating a sophisticated floral design featuring an assortment of eucalyptus, sedum, and soft ferns—plants full of texture that highlight the star of the show, Phalaenopsis orchids.
Thursday, February 13, 6– 9PM
Member: $105; Non-Member: $126

Botanical Mixology: Pixels + Petals | MEREDITH POWELL
Enhance the fun of Pixels + Petals with a hands-on cocktail making workshop with a botanical twist. MUST BE 21+.
Thursday, March 13, 6-8PM
Member: $60; Non-Member: $75

How many orchids are on display?
There are over 2,500 orchids displayed during the Garden’s annual Orchid Exhibition.

Are the orchids for sale?
Yes! Many of the orchids will be for sale at the conclusion of the exhibition. The sale will be open to the public on Friday, April 4. Check back soon for orchid sale details. The Garden Shop will have a limited number of orchids for sale during the exhibition.

What orchid species are on display?
The orchids on display change from year to year depending on the availability among growers. An Orchid Exhibition Guide will be available during the show and will include pictures to help identify the orchids on display by species and cultivar. The guide will also include orchid care instructions for those who may purchase plants at the end of the exhibition. The guide will be available for viewing on-site, or you can download it here (coming in January).

Where do the orchids come from?
The orchids are ordered annually from commercial growers.

Can I touch the orchids?
We ask you kindly not to touch the orchids. The orchid flowers are fragile. The more they are touched, the shorter their blossoms will last.

Who takes care of the orchids?
The Garden’s horticulture team takes exceptional care of all 2,500 orchids! They enlist the support of Garden volunteers to help with daily misting.

Where are the displays?
The orchids and accompanying sculptural displays are located in the Orangerie and Limonaia. Additional sculptures can be viewed in the Fern Gallery and the Milton Gallery.

Is the artwork for sale?
No, the beautiful artwork displayed during this exhibition is not for sale.

What are the sculptures made of?
The sculptures are made of aluminum and plexiglass.

How can I view the orchid displays?
Pixels + Petals, An Orchid Exhibition runs from February 8 to March 23. The exhibition is included with general admission and can be viewed during regular daytime hours throughout the duration of the exhibition. Orchids After Dark also offers a unique opportunity to view the exhibition in the evening.

When is the best time to visit?
The exhibit is open daily from 10AM to 5PM. To avoid the crowds, visit the exhibition during the week.

  • The orchid family is one of the oldest, largest, and most diverse families of flowering plants.
  • There are more than 28,000 known species of orchids.
  • The first orchids developed over 100 million years ago during the time of dinosaurs!
  • Orchids are found on all continents except for Antarctica.
  • Orchids can grow on other plants (these orchids are called epiphytes) on or between rocks (lithophytes), or terrestrially on the ground.
  • Orchids are pollinated by bees, wasps, flies, moths, butterflies, and birds.
  • An estimated one-third of orchids use deceptive techniques to attract pollinators. The pollinators are seduced with false promises, yet no reward is received for their service in helping the orchid reproduce!
  • There are over 200 orchid species in North America.
  • About 45 orchids are found in Massachusetts.
  • Orchids have the tiniest seeds in the world. One seedpod can contain 3 million seeds!
  • The smallest orchid is about the size of a dime.
  • The largest orchid weighs several hundred pounds.
  • Some orchids are known to live up to 100 years.
  • Did you know that vanilla comes from an orchid? The vanilla orchid is commercially grown and harvested for its seed pod, the vanilla bean.
  • Orchid flowers are symmetrical; If you draw a line down the center of an orchid flower, the two sides are mirrors of each other.

Read our blog to learn more fascinating facts about orchids!