One of my favorite times to visit Cheekwood is when the weather is less than perfect. For some reason, people in Nashville can only be outside if it’s sunny. All the better for me. My friend Jordan and I had the place to ourselves. And, the main attraction is inside the Mansion, so the weather didn’t matter at all! Orchids in the Mansion is a beautiful orchid installation in the loggia (a.k.a. fancy sunroom) at the Cheekwood Mansion.
I love the use of moss and forsythia branches in this arrangement! The orchids look so beautiful with this formal table setting
In addition to the loggia, there were orchids on display in all the rooms using period-appropriate containers and arrangements. I loved the seasonal touches of early spring-flowering branches. Along with the moss, I loved the more natural feel of the arrangements.
When Jordan and I walked into the loggia, we both said “Oh wow!” We thought that it felt like we were at a beautiful wedding for super rich people. Because, let’s face it, if one orchid costs $15 at KROGER, can you imagine how much a full room of higher quality orchids costs? Then, of course my mind wandered to I wonder what they do with all these orchids when this exhibit is over. Another question for another day.
I loved the combination of ferns and orchids throughout the display. The wall installations seen above were covered in ferns and orchids to achieve a “living wall”. The delicate foliage of ferns paired with the delicate flowers of orchids created a dreamy feeling in the room.
Variety of orchids with maidenhair fern Orchids, nandina branches, and bare branches in a container display
The containers were just as beautiful as the rest of the display. I love the combination of non-typical elements in arrangements like branches from trees and shrubs with the flowers. I also loved that they had the orchids growing in Spanish moss on the palm trees. It came as a surprise to me when I first learned that that is where orchids typically grow in their natural habitats. When you get them from the grocery store, it’s hard to imagine that they naturally grow on the bark of trees.
My only complaint is that I wish there were labels on the plants (or maybe a paper with a list of the orchids used) being the plant identification nerd that I am. I’m part of a plant identification Facebook group if that tells you anything.
Don’t wait until Cheekwood in Bloom to visit! You will miss out on a beautiful display with Orchids in the Mansion (there til March 3), and you will miss out on some of the early blooming flowers like daffodils, quince, and camellias. If you go now, you will also have the added benefit of seeing the vast drifts of hellebores in bloom. Coupled with the dried hydrangea flowers, it looked absolutely dreamy. So, find a rainy, dreary day, and head on over to Cheekwood for their Orchids in the Mansion exhibition. You’ll love having the space and time to explore all the beauty that nature has to offer.
My family and I had the great pleasure of attending the “Day of the Dead” festival this past Saturday. We loved every part of it. The volunteers and staff were so friendly and helpful. A beautiful, family friendly event. Many thanks to everyone.