ORCHIDS SHOWING THEIR SEASONAL COLORS.

Byline: Michelle J. Mills Staff Writer

Just as Vogue magazine helps the fashion conscious stay ahead of the latest trends in clothing, the Los Angeles County Arboretum helps gardeners find new plants and ideas each year with the Baldwin Bonanza Festival of Plants.

At the event, being held today and Sunday, the Arboretum releases new plant varieties from its collections to the public.

This year, bonsai fanciers will delight in Cyphostemma juttuae, a small succulent tree from South Africa. Orchid growers will appreciate Ludisia discolor (Jewel orchid), a terrestrial orchid with bronze to almost black leaves with coral pink stripes and white flowers. Plant-lovers will also enjoy Blue Ginger, a perennial from Brazil, Hawaiian hibiscus, a semitropical variegated shrub, and Pink Trumpet tree, a South American deciduous tree. There will be four types of grafted Tabebuia trees, Apricot, Paulensis, Pink Cloud and Raspberry.

Participating nurseries will join in the fun by offering some of their own new and unusual plants such as Pigeon berry, a subtropical perennial with pink-to-white flowers, and Golden Butterfly Ginger, a perennial that blooms in summer and fall with fragrant mustard yellow flowers.

A new feature at Baldwin Bonanza will be the Garden Vignettes. These exhibits are geared to inspire gardeners who must work in small places and use plants available for purchase at the event.

Children may participate in the festival by learning how to plant sunflower seeds, flowers and vegetables and listening to stories. There will also be nurseries and societies in attendance, plant consultations and Sunset Garden tours.

The facts

--What: Baldwin Bonanza 2000 Festival of Plants.

--Where: Los Angeles County Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia.

--When: 9 a.m. to 4:40 p.m today and Sunday.

--Tickets: Adults $5, seniors and students $3, ages 5-12 $1. Shuttle tram $2. Call [phone].