Visiting Queen Weltin's annual superbloom

Even a pandemic couldn't diminish Orlando night-blooming cereus fans' anticipation to witness the alien beauty of Queen Weltin, a huge tree wrapped in masses and masses of Selenicereus grandiflorus vines near the corner of Hardy and Weltin in Mills 50. The Queen blooms fully only one night a year, a magnificent explosion of dazzling, magical floral splendor. There's nothing like it. And when it bloomed this June, a steady procession of devotees came, undeterred, reverent, socially distanced and respectful. Taking a moment of solace in knowing that beauty somehow endures. (If you miss out on the Weltin and Hardy bloom, spectacular cereus specimens can also be found in Mead Botanical Garden and Leu Gardens.)

Local Color

1st: Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour scenicboattours.com

2nd: Baldwin Park

3rd: Sanford Brewing Company sanfordbrewing.com

1st: The Center thecenterorlando.org

2nd: Zebra Coalition zebrayouth.org

3rd: Spay the Strays spaythestrays.rescuegroups.org

1st: Savannah Boan facebook.com/thesavannahboan

2nd: Johnny Magic facebook.com/johnnymagicfan

3rd: Jim Colbert facebook.com/thejimcolbertshow

1st: Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, feedhopenow.org

2nd: Give Kids the World Village gktw.org

3rd: Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando petallianceorlando.org

1st: State Rep. Anna Eskamani

2nd: Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings

3rd: Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer

1st: 'A Mediocre Time With Tom & Dan' tomanddan.com

2nd: "To the Top With Carlos Navarro," iamcarlosnavarro.com

3rd: "Russ & Bo 2.0" facebook.com/russandbo2.0

1st: State Rep. Anna Eskamani

2nd: Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer

3rd: U.S. Rep. Val Demings

1st: Orlando Weekly orlandoweekly.com

2nd: Bungalower bungalower.com

3rd: Orlando Sentinel orlandosentinel.com