ORCHID SHOW WILL RUN THROUGH FEB. 17

ST. LOUIS The Missouri Botanical Garden's annual Orchid Show, which opened Jan. 19, runs through Feb. 17 in the Orthwein Floral Display Hall.

The show has been a St. Louis tradition since 1924.

Visitors to the show stroll through a shady courtyard colonnade filled with a profusion of colorful tropical palms, ferns, ficus trees and crotons. A variety of orchids, including cattleyas, dendrobiums, vandas, phalaenopsis and oncidiums, are on display.

Brian LeDoux, the garden's exhibit designer, said this year's show is fresh and different.

"It takes about five years for an orchid to bloom, which gives us a chance to show a variety of orchids that have not been recently displayed," he said.

The show is free with regular admission to the garden, which is $2 for people 13-64, $1 for those 65 and over, and free for children 12 and under.