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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
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DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY

The Plant Press

From The Plant Press, Vol. 28, No. 3, July 2025.

Staff activities

A team of orchid specialists gathered in London for the 2025 Chelsea Flower Show to present an exhibit on orchid conservation. The exhibit, Orchids in the Wild: The Orchids of Hong Kong, Australia, Asia, and the Pacific Islands, was developed by scientists, horticulturists, and students from over 25 organizations including Benjamin J. Crain (Botany Research Associate), Melissa McCormick, and Dennis Whigham from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC). The exhibit spread the orchid conservation message to tens of thousands of attendees and ultimately received a Gold Medal from the Royal Horticultural Society.

a Gold Medal at the 2025 Chelsea Flower Show
The exhibit, “Orchids in the Wild: The Orchids of Hong Kong, Australia, Asia, and the Pacific Islands,” received a Gold Medal at the 2025 Chelsea Flower Show. From left, Phil Seaton, Tom Mirenda, Johanna Hutchins, Benjamin J. Crain, Lawrence Zettler, and Christine Nicholson are just a few orchid specialists who developed the exhibit. (photographer unknown)

Stuart Davies gave a seminar about his work with ForestGEO on April 2 to the NASA-GEDI (Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation) Science Team at the University of Maryland. He participated in a career day event at Poolesville Elementary School on June 9.

 

On April 19, post-doctoral fellow Ana Martínez Becerril gave a presentation as part of the series, “Empowering Voices: Scientific Talks in Spanish at the National Museum of Natural History.” In her presentation, “Los helechos bajo la lupa: secretos y curiosidades de un grupo único (Ferns under the microscope: secrets and curiosities of a unique group),” she spoke about the biology, diversity, evolution, and conservation of ferns. The program consists of a series of scientific talks (in Spanish) designed to bring cutting-edge research to a broad audience (from young teens to adults). Each 20-minute seminar features a NMNH researcher who presents their work in an accessible way. 

 

On May 29, Alice Tangerini gave a one-hour webinar, “50 Years of Botanical Illustration: Past, Present, and Future,” hosted by the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA). Throughout her 50-year career, Tangerini has witnessed significant changes in scientific communication, shifting from physical formats to electronic media. In this presentation, she explored the evolution of scientific illustration, discussing its past, present, and future in the context of adapting to the needs of a prestigious institution. This webinar was well-attended by ASBA members.