Portraits: Darrin Duling, Orchid Conservatory Associate Director

Associate Director Darrin Duling’s fascination with orchids began near his childhood home in Windmill Point, Virginia. While out on a walk, he stumbled on a large collection of Pink Lady Slipper Orchids thriving without any human intervention. 

“It made me want to explore and look for more wildflowers…it set off a lifetime of exploration.”

In school, he believed his set path was in garden design, but after doing some traveling through the beginning of his schooling he learned that garden design wasn’t the path he really wanted to go down.

“I realized then that at heart I’m still an explorer. Although I love landscape design, I ended up changing my whole path to botany.”

There are many paths to how Darrin ended up at Old Dominion University, but the short story is that he has had an immense amount of experience in public horticulture and exploration in numerous countries. He knows how to care for orchids and has a deep passion for them. 

He works to dispel the myths about individuals who want to grow orchids of their own.

“Orchids are not all very difficult to grow. A lot of orchids you treat just like any other houseplant.”

What many people see as simply a grocery store flower is actually something quite amazing.

“They’re probably the most diverse flowering plant on the planet. They grow everywhere except Antarctica.”

One of Darrin’s goals is to show people, especially the students he encounters, that they shouldn’t limit their own potential. From his own experience of saying yes to something that might be considered outrageous, he hopes to encourage others to take a chance if it’s what their heart is leading them to.

“Ask yourself ‘why not?’ It’ll get you in the right place every time.”

The Arthur & Phyllis Kaplan Orchid Conservatory is normally open to the public, but there are currently some restrictions due to COVID-19. Please visit the Conservatory website for more information.

This film is by Terra Turner & Laura Christian.

Produced by Laura Christian.

Art by Matthew Gillin.