New England Botanic Garden Combines Orchids With Retro Video Games

BOYLSTON, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill's annual orchid exhibition is a digital blast from the past.

"Nostalgia’s big these days," Education Director Marissa Gallant told WBZ NewsRadio Wednesday. "Everyone’s just thinking about the 90s and even the 80s and reminiscing about simpler times."

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This year's exhibition, "Pixels + Petals," combines about 100 types of blooming orchids with colorful displays that evoke the pixels of retro video games from the 80s and 90s.

Gallant said the Tetris-like structures and 8-bit soundtracks playing in the background are drawing in visitors who would otherwise ignore the vibrant flowers.

"Folks who might not have been as into orchids as they thought are walking in and seeing the nod to all those nostalgic video games, listening to the music," Gallant said.

The garden plans to sell off the orchids after the exhibition closes on March 23. Until then, Gallant said, "Pixels + Petals" can act as a bit of escapism and have folks "just feel warm and welcome and feel like they’re in the tropical rain forest, not in New England in the middle of winter with four inches of snow on the ground."

WBZ’s Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.

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