Members of the ikebana chapter will be at the exhibition to showcase the Japanese art of flower arranging.Typically, in western countries flowers are arranged in decorative forms based on color, quantity of blooms and beauty of the arrangement.Ikebana arrangements emphasize a sense of harmony focusing on asymmetrical form and the use of empty space as essential elements.

The exhibition opens at 1pm on Friday, February 8, and runs throughout the weekend.

Participants can attend educational seminars, learn the art of ikebana design, ask the experts questions about growing orchids in the Carolina climate or purchase an orchid that is as unique as their Valentine from an orchid vendor on site.

Closed judging will be held during the morning of Friday, February 8, before the show opens to the public later that afternoon.Orchids will be judged by two methods: ribbon judging and American Orchid Society (AOS) accredited judging. Orchids that will be judged in the ribbon category do not have to be certified by AOS. The AOS accredited competition will present awards to plants that are recognized as breaking precedence for their inflorescence, size, fullness, color and presentation.Scoring is based on a 100-point scale with the highest possible prize being a First Class Certificate, of which only a dozen are awarded worldwide annually.

There are a few members of the orchid family that are proud to call Riverbanks Botanical Garden home. Guests who visit the Garden will see Bletilla, Calanthe, Cymbidium and Spiranthes. Bletilla, one of the most typical “orchid looking” flowers, is one of the easiest to grow in the Midlands. In addition to the orchids grown in the Botanical Garden, there are native orchids such as the Cranefly orchid that can be seen blooming on the trails that go down to the Saluda River.

Admission to the third annual Orchids on the Riverbanks Festival is free with paid admission to Riverbanks Botanical Garden.To learn more about orchids, visit the American Orchid Society at www.aos.org.