If you are a regular patron of our park, you may have noticed two new installations filled with interesting plants and contemplative themes. These gardens were designed and constructed in collaboration with Studio Lily Kwong and feature an array of plants native to the Northeast. Some of these plants are rare and rapidly disappearing, meaning many folks may never get the chance to see them in their natural habitat. The horticulture team is proud to host and care for these plants and continue our conservation efforts and their continued legacy in our park. 

When we picture orchids, we often imagine hot and muggy tropical environments or a florist selling them attached to a hefty price tag. However, we actually have our native orchid on display at the Meditation Garden, installed on Redbud Lawn. Received as just a couple of green sprouts, these plants have flourished under the expert care of the horticulture team. While their bloom time is short-lived, lasting for just about a month, during the cooler temps and ample moisture of spring, they are unquestionably unique and beautiful to behold. 

Cypripedium acacule, or Pink Lady Slipper, is native to Central and Eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States. She grows in the mixed hardwood and coniferous forests of pine and hemlock, along rock formations, moss, and boggy areas. The soil must be acidic and carry a high amount of organic matter but also be well-draining. You can already sense the high maintenance required for this plant, given its very specific preferable soil conditions. 

The flower structure is interesting, but also intentional. The fused magenta petals that make the ‘pouch’ attract pollinators, which in turn causes them to fall into the pouch. To get out, the pollinators must pass through the reproductive parts, or staminode, resulting in receiving or depositing pollen. 

Unfortunately, this orchid is endangered due to overcollection and illegal harvesting. Its roots are harvested to use as medicine for nervousness and as a sedative. This plant also requires a very specific symbiosis with fungus in the genus Rhizoctonia to occur in order to successfully seed. Unlike other seeds, Lady Slipper seeds do not come prepared with all the nutrients it needs to germinate. Instead, the threads of mycelium from this fungus work to break the seed coat and supply it with nutrients, and in return the fungus receives nutrients from mature root systems. 

The development from seed to mature plant can take many years to complete, making it challenging for growers and conservationists alike. They can also be propagated from established masses, creating divisions at emerging growth points, but these established masses also take years to form. 

It is extremely exciting to have these plants here at our park, both for horticultural research and conservation, as well as educating the public about New York’s endangered plant life. We hope you get to catch a glimpse of them before they return back to dormancy!