Skip to Content

Pictures of Orchids for National Orchid Day – April 16 – Orchid Photo Gallery

I thought it would be fun to share some pictures of orchids in honor of National Orchid Day, celebrated every year on April 16.

Few national days are as dear to my heart as those that feature flowers. I am a gardener by nature and enjoy growing and learning about all types of plants.

Orchids are such a beautiful flower to have in your home, because they stay in flower for so long. I’m a big fan of flowers you can enjoy for a long time!

I also love roses, because they last for quite a while as cut flowers. They also have their own national days, like National Red Rose day, and Rose Day.

Celebrate National Orchid Day (and National Orchid Month) with pictures of orchids, fun facts and activities.

April is National Gardening Month and many of the national days feature gardens, gardening and the outdoors in some way.

Be sure to check out the list of national days in April in my latest post to discover more garden days this month.

What is National Orchid Day?Enjoy national orchid day with these facts, activities and photos

This national day has a touching story that tells how it came into being. A couple named Mike and Faith Young were volunteers at an orchid reserve in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico and fell in love with the flowers there. 

During their time at the reserve, they made the decision that, if they were ever to have a daughter, the would name her Orchid.

Unfortunately, during labor on April 16, 2014, they lost their precious daughter. Her name is Orchid Faith. Having such a loss made them try to find ways to honor her life.

When they discovered that there was no National Orchid Day, they  created a kick starter campaign which offered some of their backyard honey (The Humble Bumbles Honey) to those who contributed.

The ultimate goal was to have April 16 designated as National Orchid Day. They met their monetary goal of $1500 on the first day and April 16 is now known as they wished it to be.

As you think about this day, give a few moments of silence for Orchid Faith and think about how such a pretty flower came to symbolize their loss.

Radiant Faith orchid

Photo source Wikimedia Commons

Each year since its beginning, the day has gained more and more recognition from orchid growers, botanical gardens and orchid enthusiasts.

The Young family has even named a new species of orchid called Radiant Faith, in honor of Mother’s Day.

The orchid is recognized by the International Orchid Register of the Royal Horticultural Society in the UK. 

If you would like to discover more about Orchid Faith Young, please visit their blog here. You can also check out their Facebook page here.

This post may contain affiliate links. I earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you if you purchase through an affiliate link.

Fun facts about orchids

In addition to the orchid being the flower to honor baby Orchid Faith, it’s also a very popular plant with gardeners. Here are some facts about orchids you may not know.Discover some interesting fun facts about orchids

  • There are more than 25,000 documented orchid species.
  • Orchids are considered a lucky plant and are one of the Chinese New Year symbols.
  • Each orchid is symmetrical and can be divided equally in two.
  • Some orchid varieties are parasites and attach themselves to other plants or trees.
  • The flowers of orchids can last from a few hours up to 6 months.
  • The smallest orchid flower is the size of a dime.
  • Orchid seeds are very tiny which makes them a challenge to grow.
  • According to experts, orchids have existed for about 100 million years on the planet.
  • Dracula Simia is a species of orchids known as monkey orchid because the face resembles a small monkey.

    Dracula orchid at orchid gardens near Volcano, W.Panama DG.Pan Photo credit Dick Culbert Flickr

Did you know the orchid has religious symbolism? The red spots on some orchids are believed to represent the blood of Christ.

Orchids are not the only flower with religious meaning. Easter lilies and dogwood trees are both religious symbols of Easter and the poinsettia is featured in religious stories about Christmas.

Ways to celebrate National Orchid Day

Today is National Orchid Day.  Share one of these orchid photos with a friend. #nationalorchidday #nationalorchidmonth. 🌸 Click To Tweet

Not only is there a day devoted to orchids, but April is also National Orchid Month. Here are some ways to celebrate this special day:

  • Spread the word on social media using the hashtags #nationalorchidday and #nationalorchidmonth.
  • Surprise a friend with a Moth Orchid. Even beginners can grow it!
  • Use orchids to decorate a spring time garden party.
  • Add orchids in your home. They grow easily as houseplants, and some can be watered just using three ice cubes a week!
  • Re-pot your orchid if it has stopped flowering. Be sure to use proper orchid potting mix.
  • Share pictures of orchids with your friends on Facebook and Instagram.
  • If you have a droopy orchid, pin it to stakes with cute ladybug orchid clips.
  • Make orchid tea using wild, edible orchids.
  • Use orchid essence to make orchid and Matcha macaroons.

How long do orchids last?

The answer to this question depends on the variety of orchid that you are trying to grow and most people are generally asking about the flower when they ask the question. 

The flowers can last up to 6 months and many will re-bloom if you give them the right conditions after the first round of blooms have died. 

Don’t worry, the plant is not dead when it stops flowering. The plants themselves will last for many years (up to 100!) in the right conditions.

Pictures of orchidsThese orchid pictures show how diverse the species can be. From a monkey orchid to a bat orchid and everything in between, this is one of America's most popular flowers.

It is easy to see why the Young family fell in love with orchids when they worked at the orchid reserve in Mexico. Few flowers capture the heart as well as these stunning beauties do.

Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy these pictures of orchids taken by me in the orchid room of the conservatory, on a recent trip to Biltmore Estate in North Carolina.

Lady slipper orchid

This pretty orchid is called a lady slipper. The bottom part of the orchid looks like the toe of a slipper and catches water to help nourish the plant.

Bat Orchid

If you look closely, you can see the face of a bat in this orchid. The bat orchid is deep brown in color and has what almost look like whiskers!

Moth ordhid

Many grocery stores and most garden centers now sell the moth orchid. This easy to grow type is great for beginners.

Yellow daffodil style orchid is know as a cattlya orchid

This yellow Cattleya orchids has been widely hybridized, leading to a huge variety of colors and forms. Some have speckles and streaks. Others are two colored and some are quite fragrant. They are the most commonly used orchids for corsages. This pretty variety looks almost like a daffodil! 

Purple orchid

The top heavy blooms of Dendrobium orchid will often require staking. There are more than 1000 species included in this large orchid genus. The most common colors are white, yellow and lavender.

Bright pink orchids

Orchids of one color. clustered together make quite an impressive display.

Pale cream and pink orchid

Another moth orchid. This one is very cream in color on the petals with a purple and yellow throat that really stands out.

Pink and white ordhids

This is the same variety in bright white with the same throat but speckled leaves. The difference between the two is amazing.Yellow and red orchid

Could you get any more of a contrast that this orchid? The pale yellow makes a dramatic back drop for the purple tips and veins and the deep burgundy throat is a stunner.

Dusty pink orchid

I adore the veining on the petals of this variety of moth orchid.  The colors of orchids are just amazing! Caring for orchids indoors is easy if you grow this variety. 

Orchid room Biltmore Estate

One can easily see why orchids are so popular with gardeners. The blooms will last for months and months. Imagine having this display in your home? Growing orchids is something that any gardener should give a try.

There are almost 2000 national days celebrated every year. Don’t miss a single one. Be sure to check back often to see which new national days we are featuring. 

For other fun national days in April, have a look at Go Birding DayNational Garlic Day, National Picnic Day, and National Pet Day.

Have you grown orchids? What is your favorite type? Let us know in the comments below and share your photos.

Pin these pictures of orchids for later

Would you like a reminder of these spectacular orchid photos and facts? Just pin this post to one of your gardening boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.Take a virtual tour of my orchid photo gallery with these pictures of orchids

Share on Social Media

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small commission from the sale, but the price is the same for you. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."