I get easily tired of cities, the traffic, the noise, the crowd and I’m happy when I can escape in a park to enjoy a bit of quiet and the greenery. Busy Kuala Lumpur was no exception and that’s how I decided to visit the Orchid Gardens, a little oasis of peace in the bustling city.
[pullquote]The Orchid Gardens are a great place to escape bustling Kuala Lumpur[/pullquote]
With over 800 species, the Orchid Gardens (Taman Orkid) are an explosion of colors and a feast for the eyes. White, yellow, orange, pink, purple, big, small, it was the first time I could see some many varieties all in the same place.
The gardens host both main types of orchids: the Terrestrial Orchids, growing in the soil, and the Epyphitic orchids, growing above ground on trees and rocks.
Both types are beautiful although I was a little more intrigued by the ones growing on plants, for they are uncommon outside tropical countries and are rarely – if ever – seen in Europe.
[pullquote]A symbol of virility, orchids were much appreciated in ancient Greece[/pullquote]
Any attempt to remember their names and recognize the different sorts failed miserably, thus I can only refer to them according to their colors and size. Not much indeed… A botanist would slap me on the wrist…
The fascination towards these beautiful flowers is deep-rooted in history. Across the centuries, orchids were regarded as symbols whose meaning changed over time.
In ancient Greece orchids were considered a symbol of virility and fertility, and the Romans included the flowers between the decorations of the Ara Pacis, the altar dedicated to the peace dating back to the time of Emperor Augustus, in 9 B.C.
Orchids disappeared from art depiction around the 3rd-4th Century A.D. as a result of the spread of the Christian religion, probably because the new religion proceeded to the elimination of all pagan symbols related to sexuality.
Orchids became popular again during the Renaissance, as a symbol of beauty and elegance. Later, in the Victorian age, orchids were regarded as a symbol of luxury, certainly because of their exotic origins and the difficulty to find them in England.
Nowadays, albeit much easier to find orchids haven’t lost their charm and their delicate and pulpy flowers are particularly appreciated by flower designers for their elegance and symmetry. The fact remains that only in tropical countries one can admire so many varieties of orchids and such a wonderful symphony of colors.
If you have a little spare time while in Kuala Lumpur, don’t miss to have a stroll at the lovely Orchid Gardens. You won’t regret it.
Fancy more flowers? Have a look at the pictures of Christchurch Botanic Gardens.
Travel addict and passionate about photography, Simon Falvo started Wild About Travel back in 2009. Leveraging her strong PR background, she developed an extensive knowledge of Digital Communications and Social Media Marketing. Besides travel writing SImon holds workshops and trainings, she collaborated with tourism boards for digital marketing campaigns and participated as a speaker at several events.
Original article: The Orchid Gardens in Kuala Lumpur: A Photo Essay
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