Philippine Flowers at Manila Orchidarium
Despite the so-called Filipino yuppies’ chagrined remarks
on Rizal Park, the country’s oldest park remains the top tourist destination
for both foreign and local visitors.
One of the reasons is the Orchidarium and Butterfly Pavilion, a one-hectare
theme park that showcases a rich collection of orchids, bromeliads,
mums, poinsettias, roses and other colorful flowers. Originally focused
on orchids, the Orchidarium now hosts a variety of blooms, scents and
greens.
Aside from its flora collection, the Orchidarium mesmerizes the visitors
with its well-designed mystic lagoon, crystalline waterfalls, a climbing
wall, a replica of a man-made rainforest, and a butterfly paradise.
A pensive experience awaits the visitors who will drop by to commune
with the virtual flowers in flight.
A sense of awe and admiration fills the visitor’s heart as soon as he
passes under the Trellis of Waves, a corner where clinging vines hang.
Among the species collected here are the Yellow Bell, Cherry Ripe Bell,
Jamaican Sunset Bell, Violet Bell, and Jade Vine.
As the visitor follows the concrete trail, different varieties of flowers
and ornamental plants greet him. Among these are the Song blooms (Song
of Thailand, Song of Korea, Song of Jamaica, and Song of India) and
the Palm species (Anahaw, Fishtail Palm, Blue Palm, Pinanga, Majestic
Palm and the McArthur Palm).
For sure, the best that the Orchidarium can offer is the collection
of exotic orchids and different hybrids. Topping the list are Vanda
sanderiana, the queen of Philippine orchids or locally known as Waling-waling
and Grammatophyllum walisii, the king of all orchids. There are about
25,000 to 35,000 orchid species belonging to 800 genera in the world.
Of these, about 944 species in 130 genera were identified in the Philippines.
Other collections include the vandas, dendrobiums, durantas, mussaendas,
medinillas, gumamelas (Hibiscus Patch), bromeliads, and heliconias.
There are also different species of ferns, which come in a wide variety
of sizes and shapes – from the huge Fern Tree (cyathea) to the tiny
water fern (azolla).
The place also reeks with the natural scents of Kamuning shrub, Yesterday
Today and Tomorrow tree, Suemi, Sinamomo, Sampaguita, Dama de Noche,
Dama del Dia, Lagrimas, Meleguas, Carissa, Tebabuia, Magnolia, Jasmine,
and Gardenia. Most of the species found at the Orchidarium came from
the UP Los Banos and the Philippine Orchid Conservation Network.
The Orchidarium, which also maintains an orchidia, an orchid gallery,
and a fine dining restaurant, is a project of the Clean and Green Foundation
headed by former First Lady Amelita Ramos. It is conveniently located
at the corner of Orosa Street and Finance Drive in Rizal Park.
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