A National Symbol Takes Root in Burrell Boom

For Black Orchid Resort, its name represents far more than one of Belize’s most striking native flowers. The black orchid has long symbolized beauty, strength and resilience, thriving even with little care. Those same qualities inspired the identity of the Burrell Boom resort. In this week’s Kolcha Tuesday, we explore the story behind the name and why this iconic flower remains a powerful symbol of Belize’s natural and cultural heritage. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Long before it became a popular resort name, the black orchid was chosen to represent Belize. Named the national flower in 1981, the orchid’s beauty and resilience made it a fitting symbol of the Belizean spirit. Today, its image and name are embraced by businesses across the country, including Black Orchid Resort in Burrell Boom. Its owner, Douglas Thompson, shares how the iconic flower inspired the name of his Belizean-owned business.

 

Douglas Thompson, Owner, Black Orchid Resort

“What happened is once I started operation as Belize R Us, our first few guests, the feedback was the name was too North American and suggested that I come up with a more Belize name. And so I searched, for a name and came up with the idea of the Black Orchid. Once I searched the web and found that nobody else had that name, I went ahead and registered it as the name of the hotel.”

 

With its unusual shape and ability to bloom nearly year-round, the black orchid is as resilient as it is distinctive. It thrives on trees in damp, shaded areas and requires very little care. At Black Orchid Resort, that natural beauty is on full display, with orchids growing throughout the property.

 

Douglas Thompson

“Fortunately, a orchid don’t require a lot of water. As a matter of fact, you gotta make sure that they don’t get too wet and too soggy to maintain themselves. And so, it’s very little care that is required for the black orchid. Some orchids requires significant attention, but the black orchid itself, so long as you keep the root dry, you don’t want it to get soggy, it will bloom. And they bloom at different times. Different plants, the same plant but different amounts of it would bloom separate months, so you could have them blooming all year round.”

 

The Black Orchid Resort, opened in 2005, is known for its dedication to sustainability and environmentally friendly approach. Thompson made that commitment because the resort sits along the Belize River, surrounded by rich wildlife. While Thompson is not the only businessowner in the country to adapt the iconic black orchid as its namesake, he hopes to celebrate the heritage and spirit symbolized by the flower.

 

Douglas Thompson

“We make our own drinks so that you don’t have to drink sodas. Of course, we have sodas for those folks that insist on drinking that sugar, but we use natural drinks, that are made exclusively for Black Orchid. And in addition to that, we have a wellness facility that deals with herbs, that helps with different health conditions like diabetes and hypertension and other ailments that one may have.”

 

Take a stroll through Black Orchid Resort and you’ll spot orchids hanging from trees throughout the property. If you’re lucky, you may catch a glimpse of a black orchid in bloom. To help the plants thrive, the resort grows them in coconut husks, which retain just the right amount of moisture without damaging the orchids, before hanging them on trees across the grounds.

 

Douglas Thompson

“Our international guests always want to see the black orchid. And, uh, it, it’s a very small flower, but if you take a picture of it and blow it up, then you will really see the intricate parts to it.”

 

Even after weeks of dry weather, the resort remains lush and vibrant. Its natural surroundings, combined with regular upkeep, keep the property thriving. Thompson says orchids are especially suited to the local climate, reflecting the same resilience they have come to symbolize for Belize. Britney Gordon for News Five.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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