AboutOrchids

Until recently, the only wild orchids I’d seen around the SF Bay Area were non-native Weedy Orchids. So it was an exciting moment earlier this month when I spotted two beautiful flower spikes by a Pacifica hiking trail. They had dense clusters of small, unusual blooms. Dave and I could both see that the tiny flowers had lips and columns, and were orchids. We had found the native Wood Rein Orchid, or Platanthera elegans.

The Wood Rein Orchid is also known as the Elegant Piperia, or the Many Flowered Piperia. It lives along the West Coast of the USA and Canada, from California to British Columbia. The blooms we saw were white and green with nectar spurs. Other flowers were dried, still attached to swelling seedpods. The plant was growing at the base of a Eucalyptus tree, but didn’t have any leaves when we saw it. That’s not surprising in our Mediterranean climate with rainless summers. At this time of year, the area solely receives moisture from fog-drip.

Both of us were thrilled to see our first local, native orchid. While this species is not endangered, all are threatened by climate change, habitat destruction, and sometimes, being loved to death. Please remember to never take orchids from the wild. It’s illegal, and the plants will die from the stress. Take only photos and memories. Don’t damage them, pluck their flowers, or disturb them in any way. Be careful not to trample them or surrounding plants. Leave them to thrill future generations.

Every year, Orchids in the Park has plenty to offer. I’m always amazed by the flowers, so diverse that it seems impossible that they’re all related. In addition to my earlier post, here are more examples of their incredible variety. With so many stunning blooms, sweet scents, and friendly orchid lovers, it was another successful event by the San Francisco Orchid Society.

September brings lots of orchid events on six continents. The southern hemisphere is especially busy, with many shows in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, and South Africa. Be sure to take advantage of events near you.

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The enormous orchid family grows larger all the time, with new scientific discoveries happening on a regular basis. Still, it’s surprising when a showy species is identified for the first time. Solenangis impraedicta has hidden in Madagascar’s forests, despite a 13 inch (33 cm) nectar spur. Growing from the back of a 3/4 inch (2 cm) flower, the spur is proportionally the longest of any plant. It’s reminiscent of its relative, Darwin’s Orchid, Angraecum sesquipedale. That species has an impressively long nectar tube with a much bigger flower, and is also from Madagascar.

Sadly, Madagascar’s unique wildlife is being devastated by habitat loss and climate change. These orchids are threatened by mining activities. Fortunately, the mining company involved has helped create a conservation program. They’ve monitored the species, and set aside protected forest habitat. Tariq Stévart from the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Africa and Madagascar program stated “I feel confident that the species will not disappear if they continue to support all these conservation actions.” He added “I really hope this species will help to draw people’s attention to Madagascar and to the current situation, which is not good.”

The San Francisco Orchid Society put on its annual Orchids in the Park show at the end of July. It was a great event, crowded with plants and with people. The displays included lots of amazing flowers, like the Lady Slippers shown in the first row of photos above.

An impressive variety of orchids, from Anguloa species to Zygo hybrids, were also on display and on sale. Many plant lovers were enjoying the sights and scents all around. It seems like more and more folks are fascinated by orchids. Check back again soon for additional pictures from Orchids in the Park 2024.

Orchid shows, expos, and extravaganzas are happening all over the globe this month. Be sure to take advantage of any near you.

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San Francisco’s annual Orchids in the Park sale happens this weekend! It will be held on Saturday, July 27th and Sunday, July 28th, in the SF County Fair Building at 9th Avenue and Lincoln Way. There will be lots of vendors, orchid care demonstrations, activities for kids, and loads of amazing flowers. These photos from last year’s event offer just a taste. Buy discounted tickets in advance online, or buy them at the door. Don’t miss it!

British scientists have discovered that some orchids can feed their seedlings. The Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) is a widespread terrestrial in Europe and parts of Asia. Mature plants of this species enlist underground networks of fungi to share sugars with nearby seedlings. Senior study author Katie Field, a biologist at the University of Sheffield, stated that “This finding is exciting because why these orchids are often found in clumps, despite their seeds being wind dispersed, has been a puzzle for hundreds of years.”

It’s been known for over a century that wild orchid seeds need a fungus partner to germinate. Many plants, in addition to orchids, use fungal networks to transfer water, nutrients, and even chemical messages. Future studies hope to better understand the process, and to see if other species also nurture their seedlings.

A dozen orchids in my previous post about the US Botanic Garden (USBG) were just the start. The first row of this post includes three more. There’s a great Pabstia species, and then a sunny, dangling Dendrobium. The third picture shows a very unusual orchid. Eulophia petersii is a desert species. Few orchids live in hot, dry deserts, but this orchid does, ranging from Yemen through eastern and southern Africa. Its blooms stood atop a tall flower spike, well above our heads, and were challenging to photograph. With menacing serrated edges on thick, succulent leaves, this Eulophia looked at home in the Desert Gallery alongside pointy cacti and succulents.

The rest of the photos feature a few of the USBG’s non-orchid sights. There are views inside the glasshouse, with cacao pods, a star-shaped coffee flower, and lots of luscious greenery. The glasshouse is divided into 17 different zones, including a Children’s Garden, Mediterranean Gallery, Medicinal Garden, and of course, Orchid House. The largest zone is the Tropics House, which offers great perspectives from above in its second-story canopy walk. There are also spectacular outdoor gardens, but we were focused on the indoor ones for our visit. Even though it’s a small botanic garden, they pack lots of amazing plants into the USBG.

This month offers orchid events on six continents, with Australia being the busiest. They’re great opportunities to enjoy amazing flowers, take photos, meet other orchid lovers, and buy plants for your own collection. Dave and I are looking forward to San Francisco’s Orchids in the Park show at the end of the month.

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