AboutOrchids

Is anything more opulent than a Jewel Orchid? These mini terrestrials are treasured for their striking foliage, which boasts beautiful vein patterns on satiny leaves. The first row of photos below shows Ludisias, the easiest and most commonly grown Jewel Orchids. They’re usually seen with dark purple leaves and bright pink stripes, but there are other dazzling color variations, also.

Along with Ludisias, Jewel Orchid varieties include Macodes, Goodyeras, and Anoectochilus. Some kinds need special growing conditions, and are difficult or impossible to keep in cultivation. All need constant high humidity, which can be the most challenging aspect of their care. Give them bright light, but no full sun, and regular water. Many are warm growing tropicals, and do well in the moist air of terrariums. However, some Goodyera species are native to cold climates in North America, Scandinavia, Japan, or the Himalayas. There are an increasing number of hybrids on the market, and these are easier to grow than the species.

Jewel Orchids hold their small flowers high above their patterned leaves. Some are fragrant, but it’s that stunning foliage which always steals the show. There are other orchids with variegated or marbled leaves, like some Paphs and Oncidiums, but the term Jewel Orchid is properly used only for this family of mini terrestrials with tiny flowers. They’re fascinating gems of the orchid world.

San Francisco’s summer orchid show happens this weekend in Golden Gate Park. Orchids in the Park runs from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday in the SF County Fair Building at 9th Avenue and Lincoln Way. These photos from last year’s event should provide plenty of incentive to put it on your calendar.

This is the smaller of San Francisco’s two annual orchid shows, but it’s certainly just as amazing as the big winter one. With lots of blooms on display, over 20 vendors, orchid care demos, and raffles, Orchids in the Park is always an extraordinary event. It’s possible to purchase tickets in advance online, or at the door. Check back here soon for our photos from this year’s show.

When little Singapore throws an Orchid Extravaganza, it goes big. This year’s event is running until August 20th at the Flower Dome, which is the largest glasshouse in the world. Over 10,000 orchids are on display, with Moth Orchids, Vandas, Dendrobiums, Tiger Orchids, and many more varieties.  Learn more about the exhibit from The Straits Times.

What’s the difference between a Fen Orchid and a Bog Orchid? Best to consult A Beginner’s Vegetative Guide to the Orchids of the British Isles. This great, free resource from London’s Natural History Museum is expertly written, with beautiful illustrations and clear-cut explanations for botanical concepts. The guide focuses on identifying species by their leaves, so that orchid lovers can tell them apart even when they’re not in bloom. Helpful graphics, detailed descriptions, and numerous photos will have novices distinguishing a Bee Orchid from a Fly Orchid in no time.

Despite wind, fog, bugs, raccoons, and other gardening obstacles, our backyard in Pacifica is full of blooms for the start of summer. There’s lots of lush growth from our drought-busting winter. Even orchids that like a dry winter dormancy didn’t seem to mind the heavy rains, like the purple Zygo and white Dendrobium in the next two photos below. By the way, those same two orchids have powerful, sweet fragrances which are my favorite scents in the garden.

Among the non-orchids in bloom, nasturtiums have happily taken over parts of our yard, each a sunnier color than the last. Pink Clover has spread from nearby flowerpots to sprout out of cracks in the concrete patio. And I normally pull out any weeds growing in my orchid pots, but my biggest Cymbidium is hosting a few volunteer violets for now. I don’t know where they arrived from, but they’re my kind of weeds. Check back soon for more of our garden blooms.

The show schedule may slow for the Northern Hemisphere this month, but Australia and Brazil have busy calendars. Whether it’s Rio, Brisbane, or Baton Rouge, don’t miss these great chances to enjoy amazing orchids.

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The Cymbidium Society of America (CSA) began in 1946 to further the growth of Cymbidiums and other cool growing orchids. The group has branches throughout California, and one each in Hawaii and New Zealand. It also has members around the world who enjoy helpful online orchid tips and the quarterly CSA Journal. Activities include shows, auctions, and an annual Cymbidium Congress, with expert speakers and a banquet. And despite the name, they’re not only about Cymbidiums. Many other orchid varieties which enjoy the same care, such as cool growing Paphs, are included as well. Visit the CSA website for more info, or to become a member.

To celebrate today’s solstice, enjoy this rainbow of orchids. Depending on which hemisphere you’re in, it’s the summer solstice or the winter solstice, the longest day or the shortest day. The seasons, and the cycles of life, march on everywhere.

The Million Orchid Project continues to return rare native plants to Florida’s cities. While earlier efforts have focused on Miami-Dade County, volunteers recently attached 250 endangered species to trees, or planted them in the ground, in Boynton Beach, making them the first in Palm Beach County. This ambitious experiment is based on a wildly successful project underway for many years in Singapore. South Florida’s attempt is being led by Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, and hopes to create thriving populations of rare, native orchid species. Learn more from earlier posts about The Million Orchid Project, and An Orchid Revival in South Florida.

The Ram’s Head Lady Slipper is very rare. Typically, this small orchid species grows in isolated patches with only a few dozen plants. Cypripedium arietinum is native to alvar forests in the northeastern USA, the Great Lakes region, and from Nova Scotia to Saskatchewan. Recently, an Ontario quarry, wanting to expand, hired field ecologist Dan Brunton for an environmental study of the area. To everybody’s astonishment, he discovered a field with hundreds of thousands of Ram’s Head Lady Slippers. And he now estimates that there could be a half million plants in the area! Fortunately, the quarry owners have agreed to set aside 64 acres (26 hectares) of land to protect these and other rare species. That should help Canada continue to have lots of Lady Slippers.