Love in a Blooming Concrete Jungle
The Mystery of Mr. Flower Fantastic
Hi there,
When I was first imagining how Matriark would exist in the world, I kept coming back to the same image: a garden. A living ecosystem where women-owned brands could grow, women-focused ideas could take root, and women could thrive.
Years later, that metaphor feels even more accurate. The older I get, the more I understand that gardens—literal or otherwise—require intention, patience, and showing up. In return, they offer beauty and awe, and a a steadiness that can inspire and soothe us in both good times and bad.
I’m heartbroken by the news cycle, the horrifying revelations in the Epstein files, and violence against our own citizens, and I’ve found refuge and relief among trees, dirt, and fresh air in my local gardens and in nature.
Which is why, for Galentine’s and Valentine’s Day, whether you’re celebrating romantic love, chosen family, lifelong friendships, or self-love, I decided to skip the gift guide and suggest something else instead: I learned that the New York Botanical Garden was launching a new exhibition—The Orchid Show: Mr. Flower Fantastic’s Concrete Jungle—and it immediately struck me as a beautiful way to share and experience love.
This exhibition is a love letter to NYC that we all benefit from, where the artist turns mundane things like signage, a subway stop, fire escape, fences, and benches and a laundromat into awe inspiring flower sculptures.
I’m still recovering from surgery, so I couldn’t attend the press preview myself, (I will visit soon), but I spoke with NYBG spokesperson Zachary Leibovitch and sent Laura Olster, one of Matriark’s trusted correspondents, to experience it firsthand. Scroll for details and for beautiful photos that I hope will entice you to visit, or inspire you to experience your local parks and gardens if you aren’t in NYC.
One of Lauren’s personal favorites were the laundromat, and the yellow orchids (Phaelaenopsis) flanking the carwash station. The subway station is Zachary’s favorite. I think it’s going to be hard to pick mine!
Fun facts: there are 7,000 individual plants and flowers at NYBG, and 5,000 different specimens in the orchid collection. The orchids are bred from a very small group of species and hybridized over time to create every size and color pattern imaginable. And there is something you can only feel in person: the lovely fragrance of the Cattleya orchids.
A Mysterious Artist and his Blooming Concrete Jungle
“Each one of the places... have been magical moments in my life. This show shines a light on spaces and places that might get overlooked. There’s a beautiful chaos in the concrete jungle, and life in bloom. This show is my offering to you, a seed to plant in people’s hearts and minds...” - Mr. Flower Fantastic
The artist behind it all, Mr. Flower Fantastic, remains anonymous and never shows his face, letting the flowers do the talking. Raised in Queens, his love of flowers started in his mother’s garden and evolved into a self-taught, multidisciplinary practice blending floral design with fashion, pop culture, and sneaker culture.
He believes that flowers uplift, reconnect us to nature, and remind us that beauty can thrive in the most unexpected places.
And in the times we are living in, this exhibition feels like a salve. It’s joyful, whimsical, fun and beautiful.
I’m excited to visit soon, and I hope you can go too.
Bring someone you love, or someone you’re still getting to know. Or just yourself. Bathe in the beauty of the orchids, the artist’s creative energy, and the peaceful grounds of NYBG.
It’s on from February 7 through April 26th.
Sending you love and orchids 🌸
Patricia