MADISON, Wis. — Hundreds of orchids have taken over the Bolz Conservatory at Olbrich Botanical Gardens. 

“This blows my mind. I think it’s so beautiful,” said Irene Padlin as she walked through the displays. She’s Olbrich’s orchid horticulturist. 

“I have always been, as my husband says, real plant-y,” she said with a laugh, when asked whether she’s always been a plant person. “Need to be around plants, need to grow plants.” 

It’s Padlin’s job to dream up those displays for Olbrich’s annual orchid event. 

“One of my personal favorites is this little guy,” she said as she grabbed a flower. “It's a jewel orchid, ludochilus sea turtle. I love it because … it just has this pretty white flower … I just think it's kind of cool that it's like this orchid like hidden in. You wouldn't necessarily say oh, that's an orchid.” 

It’s a whole different world under the glass of the conservatory. It’s warm and humid, and birds chirp. 

After Padlin dreams up the plans, it’s up to a whole team to put it together. That ranges from other horticulturists, to educators, to volunteers, to maintenance staff. They brought in more than 700 orchids. 

“It took my breath away, honestly,” she said. “It’s generative. It makes it bigger than yourself. And I love that.” 

People can now take in the beauty under the glass. 

“I feel like there’s such a therapeutic component to being amongst plants,” Padlin said. “So many different types of visitors here where it's like, people really come to recharge and enjoy it.” 

It’s a good excuse to slip out of the Wisconsin winter and pretend you’re in a tropical paradise. 

“Peel off your coat, and feel the humid air, and just take a break from winter. You know, we called it orchid escape for a reason,” she said. 

Orchid Escape is open through the end of February. It’s free on Saturday and Wednesday mornings. Otherwise it’s $6 for people over 6, and free for members.