Museum Collection - revamped and blooming

[Stray59]

Hello everyone:
I volunteer at the Indianapolis Museum of Art's Madeline F Elder greenhouse, assisting to rebuild the orchid collection that had suffered from years of inconsistent care, heater failures, some fungal and bacterial infections,etc.
One of the employees, Janice, has been immersing herself in orchid culture to increase her overall knowledge of orchid care. Also, the greenhouse manager, Sue, has been provided with funding from the benefactor's heirs and she has purchased some really nice hybrids to boost the collection. I thought I would show pics of the first year's crop of blooms. I hope you enjoy them......it's a small greenhouse, but they have a wide variety of orchid species represented........

(Sorry the photos are small - I am not sure why it sized them down like that! I will add some more when I get back from the greenhouse, I'll try to get some close ups!)

[AnonYMouse]

Bravo to you. Good for Janice. Meh to Sue.

I'll start by saying I have an bias for species. As an institution, she should be acquiring species. In the greater scope of things, they are more relevant scientifically and culturally.

Hybrids can always be made if you have the species parents (however many nth parents). Species have stories (discovery, classification process, etc.). Many species have uses (vanilla, traditional medicine).

Museums these days aren't just about having pretty things on display.



(I belong to a couple of museum orgs and a plant conservatory. The conservatory is also guilty of having hybrids.)

---------- Post added at 10:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:54 AM ----------

Then on the other hand, ART is man made.

(So the above is about my bias. So sue me.)

[Daethen]

Anon Y Mouse, I had never thought of it that way before, but I totally get what you are saying. Species should definitely go in a museum. I don't think it hurts to have some pretty hybrids on hand but acquire the species first.

[Stray59]

AnonYMouse:
In all ways I agree, and really so does Sue, but with any private donations there are stipulations. One is that a lot of big, showy Catt hybrids be on display as these were the favorites of the original benefactor. The original photos do not do justice to what is in the collection - when I get back I will post some better shots, but again, a lot of hybrids here, with many species that they have purchased and which I have donated coming on in the background. I wish I could purchase specimen plants right off, but I am orchid-poor and choose instead to purchase smaller divisions in order to grow them to maturity and thus, more on display.
But, the effort has shown to pay off already - the greenhouse was PACKED today with people asking questions about all aspects of orchids. It was so fun!
We are planning on putting in information stations, where such items as Angraecum sesquipedale and other historically relevant species will be highlighted. It is a work in process as this is the first year of additional focus and funding. I will let you know the advances, as we are trying to form a museum quality collection of both species and hybrids- but to be honest, people WANT to see the big flashy hybrids, and then they can be exposed to the interesting species!
Thanks for the input - it let me clarify the objective of the collection better.
Steve