New York Botanical Garden's 2026 Orchid Dinner Showcases Stunning Tablescapes

The annual event featured elaborate centerpieces inspired by iconic New York City landmarks and imagery.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) hosted its annual Orchid Dinner at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, showcasing elaborate tablescapes created by designers and companies. The event celebrated NYBG's 'The Orchid Show: Mr. Flower Fantastic's Concrete Jungle' exhibition, which features floral interpretations of New York City's urban elements. The dinner featured over-the-top centerpieces inspired by iconic NYC landmarks and imagery, including Tiffany & Co. bags, subway signage, and the Empire State Building.

Why it matters

The Orchid Dinner is a major annual fundraising event for the New York Botanical Garden, supporting its mission and work. The event's NYC-themed decor and centerpieces highlight the interplay between urban and natural environments, reinforcing NYBG's role in bringing nature and greenery into the city.

The details

For the dinner, designers and companies donated their services to create 40 grand, over-the-top centerpieces playing off iconic parts of New York City. The tablescapes featured elements like blue Tiffany bags, orange-and-white steam pipes, subway signage, and miniature versions of the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty, all adorned with live orchids. In addition to the elaborate centerpieces, the evening featured a seated dinner, a private sale of rare and exotic orchids, and other programming.

  • The Orchid Dinner took place on February 26, 2026.
  • The 'The Orchid Show: Mr. Flower Fantastic's Concrete Jungle' exhibition is on view at NYBG through April 26, 2026.

The players

New York Botanical Garden (NYBG)

A botanical garden located in the Bronx, New York, that hosts an annual Orchid Dinner fundraising event.

Mr. Flower Fantastic

An anonymous artist and New York native known for blending floristry with pop art, street culture, and fine art. NYBG enlisted him to create the 'The Orchid Show: Mr. Flower Fantastic's Concrete Jungle' exhibition.

Kenia Pittman

The senior director of exhibition design and operations at NYBG.

Marc Hachadourian

The director of glasshouse horticulture and senior curator of orchids at NYBG.

Martha Stewart

A guest who perused the private sale of rare and exotic orchids at the event.

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What they’re saying

“We've been in conversation with the artist for about three years, closely following his work. When the New York-themed proposal came forward, it immediately felt like the perfect fit for the exhibition, a unique way to highlight the interplay between urban and natural environments and remind visitors that cities can be vibrant green spaces too.”

— Kenia Pittman, senior director of exhibition design and operations at NYBG

What’s next

The 'The Orchid Show: Mr. Flower Fantastic's Concrete Jungle' exhibition at NYBG will remain on view through April 26, 2026.

The takeaway

The Orchid Dinner showcases how NYBG is able to bring nature and greenery into the urban environment of New York City, highlighting the interplay between the natural and built worlds through its annual fundraising event and special exhibitions.