A showcase of Romania's diverse orchid flora at the Royal Horticultural Society's Orchid Show
The Romanian Cultural Institute in London continues its celebration of Romania’s extraordinary natural heritage with a landmark project dedicated to the work of researcher and visual artist Nora De Angelli (Nora E. Anghelescu). As the author of Orchids of Romania (2020, 2024), De Angelli has produced the first comprehensive monograph on the country’s diverse native orchid flora.
The programme features two key components, beginning with Nora De Angelli’s participation in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Orchid Show at Wisley Garden (13–15 March), followed by a presentation at the Romanian Cultural Institute, opening on 18 March.
PROGRAMME:
RHS Garden Wisley
When: 13 and 15 MARCH/ RHS Orchid Show at Wisley Garden
Where: RHS Garden Wisley, Woking GU23 6QB
TICKETS from £16.60 to £19.80. BOOK HERE
· EXHIBITION (open daily between 13-15 March, from 10 AM to 4:30 PM, at the Hilltop Atrium)
· 13 March, 11:30 AM: TALK 1 - “Whispers from the Wilderness: The Uncharted World of Romania's Orchids”
· 15 March, 11:30 AM: TALK 2 - “The Science of Seduction: How Orchids Hack the Senses of the Insect World”
Talks will be delivered at Hilltop Live Area, Hilltop Atrium.
As one of Europe’s most prestigious orchid-focused events, the RHS Orchid Show at Wisley serves as a global gathering for leading researchers, horticulturists, and specialists. Held at the flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society, the show provides an international stage for vital discourse on conservation, biodiversity, and sustainability. Following nearly a decade of dedicated field research, Nora De Angelli has been invited by the RHS to present a landmark photographic exhibition and two keynote talks as part of the official programme
The exhibition experience
The exhibition invites audiences on a visual journey into the hidden world of Romania’s wild orchids, offering a rare perspective on the biodiversity of the Carpathian Mountains. This collection masterfully bridges two worlds: the analytical rigour of new scientific discovery and the breathtaking spectacle of the mimetic strategies orchids use to enchant the insect world.
The two talks - “Whispers from the Wilderness: The Uncharted World of Romania's Orchids” and “The Science of Seduction: How Orchids Hack the Senses of the Insect World”- translate Nora De Angelli’s research into an accessible format. These sessions are designed for anyone curious about plant science and evolution, from seasoned specialists to the general public.
Romanian Cultural Institute
When: 18 Mar 2026, 19:00 – 21:30
Where: Romanian Cultural Institute, 1 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PH, UK
Free access, BOOK HERE
Whispers of Seduction: Romania’s Orchids Revealed -A journey into the hidden world of Romania’s wild orchids.
The Romanian Cultural Institute in London continues its celebration of Romania’s extraordinary natural heritage with a landmark project dedicated to the work of researcher and visual artist Nora De Angelli (Nora E. Anghelescu). As the author of Orchids of Romania (2020, 2024), De Angelli has produced the first comprehensive monograph on the country’s diverse native orchid flora.
Following its international debut at the prestigious Royal Horticultural
Society’s Orchid Show(13-15 March), De Angelli's exhibition moves to the
Romanian Cultural Institute in London. The photographic series will be hosted
in the Constantin Brâncuși Gallery through the end of April. To mark the
opening on 18 March, the artist will deliver a public talk titled “Whispers of
Seduction: Unveiling the Secret Lives of Romania’s Orchids.”
The exhibition experience
The exhibition invites audiences on a visual journey into the hidden world of Romania’s wild orchids, offering a rare perspective on the biodiversity of the Carpathian Mountains. This collection masterfully bridges two worlds: the analytical rigour of new scientific discovery and the breathtaking spectacle of the mimetic strategies orchids use to enchant the insect world.
The talk, titled "Whispers of Seduction: Unveiling the Secret Lives of
Romania’s Orchids",translates Nora De Angelli’s research into an
accessible format and is designed for anyone curious about plant science and
evolution, from seasoned specialists to the general public.
PRIVATE VIEW + TALK: 18 March, 7pm
EXHIBITION DATES & HOURS: until 30 April, Mon – Fri between 10am – 4pm
About the artist
Nora De Angelli (Nora E. Anghelescu) combines scientific rigour with a visual arts background to explore the world of orchidology. Holding academic and research positions in Sibiu and Bucharest, she has built an international profile through fellowships at University College London and Imperial College London. Since completing her PhD in 2024, her work has focused on orchid biology, taxonomy, and innovative micropropagation techniques. Alongside publishing over 75 articles and the monograph Orchids of Romania, she has developed the first specialised Red List for the country’s orchid flora. Beyond her research, Nora is an honorary member of the Associazione Orchidofili Centro Italia and a long-standing member of the Orchid Society of Great Britain.
