Each year on April 16th, National Orchid Day recognizes one of the world’s diverse and widespread family of flowering plants. The orchids’ often colorful and fragrant blooms grow in abundance around the world. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species. Not only are they prolific, but they range in size from the 2.1 mm wide Platystele jungermannioides to broad-bloomed Grammatophyllum speciosum. 

While some find the orchid challenging to grow, others find pleasure in their pleasant fragrance and uncommon beauty. With so many varieties to choose from, the beauty can be enjoyed from home or by visiting botanical gardens around the world

NATIONAL ORCHID DAY HISTORY

Orchids are beautiful and extremely special. The creators of National Orchid Day, Mike and Faith Young, volunteered at an orchid reserve in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, in 2010, and the experience changed their lives forever. So much so, the Youngs decided if they were ever to have a daughter, they would name her Orchid. On April 16, 2014, sadly, they lost their precious daughter during labor. They named her Orchid Faith. Since then, they have been desperately trying to find ways to honor her life.

Creating National Orchid Day

After discovering that no National Orchid Day existed, the Youngs set out to secure the day in honor of their daughter, Orchid Faith. On the year anniversary of losing their precious little girl, they created a Kickstarter campaign. They offered pre-orders of their backyard honey (The Humble Bumbles Honey) with the goal of designating April 16th as National Orchid Day through the Official National Day Registrar. Within the first day, they met their goal, and the campaign brought in over $1,500. Thanks to the generosity and kindness of many friends, family, and supporters, April 16th will now forever be National Orchid Day in honor of their daughter.

For the rest of their lives, Mike and Faith say they will be caring for and spreading awareness about orchids. They feel that having a National Orchid Day dedicated to the beautiful life they lost, orchids will be appreciated a little bit more, and their little girl will feel the warmth of those that think of orchids that day. They feel as though all orchids are a representation of their little girl and hope that this special day will inspire those who come across orchids to think of their daughter, Orchid Faith, too; she is alive within you and all of us.

Radiant Faith Orchid

Also, for Mother’s Day 2015, Mike designated and named a Cattleya orchid ‘Radiant Faith’ through Chadwick and Son Orchids, Inc. The International Orchid Register of the Royal Horticulture Society in England officially recognizes and recognizes the Radiant Faith orchid. The Youngs were inspired by the color company Pantone’s color of the year for 2014 (the year they lost their daughter) – Radiant Orchid. Information on the Radiant Faith orchid can be found here: http://apps.rhs.org.uk/horticulturaldatabase/orchidregister/orchiddetails.asp?ID=982975

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalOrchidDay

Enjoy the beauty of an Orchid. Share photos of beautiful orchids you grow. Give an orchid to someone with a green thumb. You can also download and print this orchid coloring page. 

Use #NationalOrchidDay to share on social media. Facebook:www.facebook.com/nationalorchidday Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nat_Orchid_Day
Visit the official  www.nationalorchidday.com site.
Also, check out the Humble Bumbles Honey Facebook page:
Visit the inspiring orchid sanctuary Orquideas Moxviquil.
And also, check out Chadwick and Son Orchids Inc.

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