Credit Cheekwood
Annual Orchids Display, Classes and Winter Concerts
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – This February, escape the chilly Nashville temperatures by visiting Orchids at Cheekwood and be immersed in an abundance of tropical orchid arrangements. The show-stopping floral display is presented in conjunction with orchid-themed adult education classes and workshops, special music performances and a concert series.
Orchids at Cheekwood
Experience the beauty and wonder of orchids at Cheekwood. The winter celebration, on view from February 10 through March 10, takes over the historic home in its sixth year. This year’s show promises to delight and transport visitors to a tropical paradise. In the Mansion Loggia, the display showcases a series of stylized columns erupting in elaborate headdresses exploding with orchids, lending form and structure to the space, while a lush ground layer becomes an interpretation of a forest floor. The sweeping Mansion staircase sets the stage for the display in the Loggia with a graceful prelude, and new this year, a stunning orchid display will greet visitors in the Botanic Hall atrium.
“We often explore art and architecture through museum exhibitions and this year’s orchid show is a botanical intervention in the historic Mansion incorporating columns as a structural design element,” says Vice President of Gardens & Facilities Peter Grimaldi. “I am also excited to expand the show with an additional installation in Botanic Hall.”
Piano Performances
Select Saturdays and Sundays during Orchids at Cheekwood, performances by Chris Walters will take place in the Drawing Room from noon to 2:00 p.m. The renowned pianist hailing from the vibrant musical city of New Orleans will play enchanting melodies on Leslie Cheek Jr.’s meticulously maintained Steinway piano.
Orchids-themed Adult Education Classes and Workshops
Explore the fascinating world of orchids by participating in an enriching class. From tips for essential care to hands-on art making, cultivate not just exquisite flowers but also a wealth of knowledge and a new skill. For more information and to register go to cheekwood.org.
Orchid Essentials
Saturday, February 10 | 10:00 a.m.
Instructor: Peter Grimaldi, Cheekwood Vice President of Gardens & Facilities
Learn about six common types of orchids and the requirements for growing healthy blooming orchids at home.
Illustrated Orchids: Colored Pencil Techniques
Saturday, February 10 | 1:00 p.m.
Instructor: Jammie Williams, Painter and Sculptor
Participants will examine the delicate curves of orchids, from stem to blooms, and create their own still-life composition using various colored pencil techniques.
Needle Felted Orchids
Saturday, February 17 | 10:00 a.m.
Instructor: Jennifer Fleischer, Artist
Create your own everlasting orchid! Participants will learn the basics of needle felting, and use the components created to make their own felted phalaenopsis.
Orchid ID
Saturday, February 17 | 1:00 p.m.
Instructor: John Cranshaw, Vice President of the Orchid Society of Middle TN
Join us for an afternoon in the Orchids exhibit in the Manson, learning how to identify each orchid by their size, coloring, and even fragrance.
Orchid Repotting Demonstration
Saturday, February 24 | 10:00 a.m.
Instructor: Peter Grimaldi, Cheekwood Vice President of Gardens & Facilities
Learn about the most common components of potting media and follow a step-by-step process for repotting orchids.
Orchids in Oil Paint
Saturday, February 24 | 1:00 p.m.
Instructor: Rolinda Stotts, Artist
After a visit to the Orchids in the Mansion display, participants will learn the basics of form, composition, value, and space and create their own orchid portrait in oil paint. No experience necessary!
Orchids: Common Pests and Diseases
Saturday, March 2 | 1 PM
Instructor: Mike Rollinger, President of the Orchid Society of Middle TN
Participants in this class will learn about several common pests and diseases, how to identify them, and what you can do to combat them.
Winter Concert Series
Embark on a musical voyage Saturday nights at Cheekwood in the elegant Massey Auditorium inside Botanic Hall, where Grammy-winning ace players perform big band jazz, scintillating rhythms from Latin America, and New Orleans classics. A stunning display of Orchids graces the atrium, setting the stage for an evening of unparalleled musical enchantment. The music starts at 7 p.m. with seasonal libations available for purchase.
Saturday, January 27
The Ryan Middagh Jazz Orchestra
Experience the vibrant warmth of jazz amidst the winter chill. Join The Ryan Middagh Jazz Orchestra as they weave an enchanting tapestry of sound with saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a dynamic rhythm section. Let their lively melodies and robust rhythms sweep away your winter blues.
Saturday, February 10
Crescent City Hoodoo All-Stars
Enjoy an unforgettable Mardi Gras celebration with the Crescent City Hoodoo All-Stars led by the incomparable Chris Walters. Immerse yourself in the vibrant sounds of New Orleans as the band performs classic jazz, blues, and soul tunes from iconic neighborhoods like the French Quarter, Mid City, and Uptown. The rhythms of the Crescent City will transport you to a night of musical magic.
Saturday, February 10
Music City Latin Orchestra
The scintillating rhythms of Cuba and Latin America by the 13-piece Nashville Latin Orchestra will set the stage ablaze. Immerse yourself in an unforgettable evening of sizzling melodies and passionate rhythms that will warm the winter night and leave you dancing for days. Music City Latin Orchestra is directed by Grammy Award-winning Dominican multi-instrumentalist Giovanni Rodriguez and is comprised of some of the most seasoned veterans in the Nashville Latin music scene.
About Cheekwood
With its intact and picturesque vistas, Cheekwood is distinguished as one of the leading Country Place Era estates in the nation. Formerly the family home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, the 1930s estate, with its 30,000-square-foot Mansion and 55 acres of gardens, today serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum, and art museum with furnished period rooms and permanent collection galleries devoted to American art from the 18th to mid-20th centuries. The property includes 13 distinct gardens including the Blevins Japanese Garden and the Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden, as well as a 1.5-mile woodland trail featuring outdoor monumental sculpture. Each year, Cheekwood hosts seasonal festivals including Cheekwood in Bloom, Summertime at Cheekwood, Cheekwood Harvest and Holiday LIGHTS. Cheekwood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and nationally as a Level II Arboretum. It is a three-time voted USA Today Top 10 Botanical Garden and in 2021 was recognized by Fodors as one of the 12 Most Beautiful Gardens in the American South. Cheekwood is located eight miles southwest of downtown Nashville at 1200 Forrest Park Drive. It is open Tuesday through Sunday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., with extended days and hours of operation depending on the season. Visit cheekwood.org for current hours and to purchase advance tickets required for admission.
