Iconic NYC Scenes from Mr. Flower Fantastic's Concrete Jungle at NYBG
See the city's urban spaces transformed by lively bursts of flowers!
When British zoologist Desmond Morris called New York City a “concrete jungle” in his best-selling book, The Naked Ape, he didn’t mean it as a compliment.
But then Alicia Keys and Jay-Z in their song, Empire State of Mind, called New York the "concrete jungle where dreams are made of," a place where anything is possible for the talented and the ambitious. "These streets will make you feel brand new, big lights will inspire you."
Now the New York Botanical Garden, in its glorious 23rd annual orchid show, introduces New Yorkers to Mr. Flower Fantastic's Concrete Jungle. And what a gorgeous, innovative, endearing jungle it is. MFF, as Mr. Flower Fantastic prefers to be called, maintains his anonymity with a cap, dark glasses, rubber gloves, and the gas mask that he needs for his severe pollen allergies. A self-taught floral artist, MFF developed his love for flowers growing up in Queens, tending to his mother's garden.
Icon No. 1: The Brownstone
The first art you'll see on entering the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory is a brownstone, covered in pink, fuchsia, and white orchids of the genus Phalaenopsis, says the NYBG. Frequently called the moth orchid, this flower that many of us have in our homes should not be disdained, says Marc Hachadourian, curator and manager of the garden's Nolen Greenhouses. It likes the conditions we like—moderate light, humidity, and temperature—making it easy to grow and thrive. And thrive it certainly does in this orchid's show. Hachadourian also says that the living orchids are not harmed by their lavish display over Mr. Flower's "icons of everyday" New York life.
Icon No. 2: The Trash Can
It may not be an object of beauty to you, but to Mr. Flower Fantastic, the classic New York trash can is to be cherished and planted with orchids.
Icon No. 2 1/2: The Dumpster
How could New York function without the dumpster, that ubiquitous receptacle for construction debris and household trash?
Icon No. 3: The Car Wash
This is one adorable car wash, with an adorable, carnation-covered yellow taxi pushing in to be washed. The current taxi was inspired by a previous installation, Taxi!!!, at the Queens Botanical Garden. MFF says that his tribute to the yellow cab "embodies diversity, tenacity, imagination, and brilliance."
Icon No. 4: The Pizzeria
What can one say? Without their neighborhood pizzeria, many New Yorkers would starve. Here, for 99 cents a slice, you can get a Margherita, Pepperoni, or Neapolitan pizza with orchid toppings.
Icon No. 5: The Newsstand
Reflecting the turmoil in the newspaper industry, newsstands are closing all over New York. But Mr. Flower Fantastic's orchid-covered newsstand has a customer who is pondering picking up one of the guides to orchid care.
Orchid Fans
One of the many joys of the annual orchid show is that regulars often dress up for the event. Here, Lauren Fuller, a social media influencer with the handle @node.mama, poses beautifully with cascading orchids. Lauren began her career in NYBG's cultivators program, which gives social media influencers access to the garden's grounds, as well as behind-the-scene tours. "Then we put everything up on social media," says Lauren, "to get everyone excited about NYBG."
MFF's concrete jungle is a place "where flowers are rooted in the fabric of the city," he says. He admires his city's "beautiful chaos" and its "life in bloom." He has brought New Yorkers a new vision of their complex city.
How to Visit the Orchid Show
The New York Botanical Garden is located in the Bronx at 2900 Southern Boulevard. You can drive, but a better option is to take public transportation: the Metro-North Railroad from Grand Central, or the MTA's B, D, or 4 train to Bedford Park Boulevard Station. Then pick up the BX25 or 26 bus to NYBG's Mosholu Entrance. Tickets to the orchid show are available online here!
The Garden is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, and most Monday holidays. The orchid show runs through April 26, 2026. Starting in March the Garden will host Orchid Nights 7-10 p.m. on selected dates. DJ April Hunt will curate.
