FAIRFIELD, CT – The editors of Cottages and Gardens selected designer Dominic Fusco as a finalist for the Innovation in Design Awards contest. His work features “The Queen,” a 46” x 57” botanical image from the Nightflowers Collection.

According to David Leaser, “The Queen” is a green paphiopedilum orchid. These slipper orchids attract insects into their pouch where they become coated with pollen, ensuring their successful reproduction. Orchids are considered by many botanists to be highly evolved plants, but it’s really an educated guess. This orchid seems to be highly evolved, however. When I first saw this slipper orchid with its large striped leaves, it reminded me of the ruler of some exotic kingdom, adorned in a crown and flowing robe. Paphiopedilum orchids originate in the Far East, where they grow in the shade of rainforest. The name Paphiopedilum was derived from the Greek Paphos, a city on the island of Cyprus, and pedilon, which means slipper. These orchids are called lady slippers because of the flower’s pouch. The pouch has a practical purpose, however. Insects that fall into the pouch are covered with pollen, which helps the plant reproduce.”

Fusco’s work will be featured in the July/August issue of Cottages and Gardens and also in their Westchester magazine in the summer.

Regarding the artwork he chose from the Nightflowers, collection, Fusco writes, “Thanks again. The room would not look complete without your contribution!”

To see “The Queen,” click here and visit the gallery on the website.