-
- Silva Orchids
-
Union Square Greenmarket; 732-922-2635; silvaorchids.com
With cascading blooms in lush red-and-orange hues, brothers Joe and Anthony Silva’s homegrown cattleya orchids look like they’ve been plucked from the jungle as opposed to a farm near the Jersey Shore. The potted plants ($35), among other types of orchids, can be found every Wednesday and every other weekend at the Union Square Greenmarket from April through Christmas, drawing a loyal customer base that includes the likes of Yoko Ono and Michael Douglas. Orchid�ophiles can opt for a monthly delivery service of three plants (starting at $125), and hand-dirtying types can partake in an orchid-growing workshop on the brothers’ Monmouth County farm ($15 per person, including lunch). Lest your tropical plant perish in harsh winter weather, the Silvas also offer monthly boarding in their balmy greenhouses for $3.50 per square foot (with a five-square-foot minimum), which covers the cost of orchid pickup as well as delivery.
Best Rare-Orchid Dealer
From the