AboutOrchids

I love this gorgeous Mexican species, Laelia gouldiana, but our garden pests annoyingly love it, too. The first row of photos above shows happy, uneaten flowers from recent years. In contrast, the three rows of photos below show damaged flowers, the worst from this year, and some milder damage in 2016 and 2018. Whatever chomped through this year’s blooms did so while they were still buds, so they opened looking like Swiss cheese.

Generally, my natural pest remedies are remarkably effective at limiting damage. Our garden is a healthy ecosystem full of birds, spiders, raccoons, lizards, and other predators. I use non-toxic chemicals when necessary. However, these flowers seem to get munched more than most. This year, the bugs, or slugs, really did a number on them.

This species is native to the Mexican state of Hidalgo, but sadly is extinct in the wild. Fortunately it survives in cultivation. It’s considered as easy to grow as its close relative Laelia anceps. This cool grower can handle low humidity better than many orchid varieties. Like other members of the Cattleya family, Laelia gouldiana needs to dry out well between waterings, and wants morning sun to grow well. Maybe someday I’ll learn how to keep its blooms intact.

Want to take a magical orchid vacation without the hassles of travel? Settle in for three video tours from Botany Boy. China’s Sichuan province is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, and its fabled mountains are full of remarkable orchids. These videos include basic info about these spectacular wild beauties, so you’ll know what you’re looking at. The first two videos consist entirely of Lady Slippers. Bon voyage.

There’s a treasure trove of Central African orchids at www.Orchid-Africa.net. This growing database offers a look at some uncommon species, and it features lots of pictures. Central African orchids aren’t as well known as their relatives from Madagascar and South Africa, but they should be. They include captivating members of the Angraecum family, Bulbophyllums, Eulophias, Habenarias, Polystachyas, Vanillas, and much more. The database is being compiled by African and Belgian scientists to assist with conservation projects. They’re also growing thousands of Central African orchids in shadehouses in Gabon, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and São Tomé. In addition to the valuable science they’re conducting, they’ve discovered over 40 new species from the area. Check out their related links, too, to explore fascinating African flora.

Bromeliads don’t have the fame and glamour of orchids, but they’re fascinating, beautiful, and easy to grow. Some have otherworldly flower spikes, with remarkable shapes reminiscent of exploding fireworks or fantastic creatures. Others have foliage with spectacular variegation that provides year-round color. Bromeliad flowers are often tiny and fleeting, but their stunningly colorful bracts can be large and durable. Most are denizens of tropical rainforests in Central and South America, living alongside orchids in the wild. Famous bromeliads include pineapples and Spanish Moss.

Some types called tank bromeliads have rosettes of overlapping leaves which hold water. There are varieties with spines along their leaf edges, and others which are succulent desert plants. Among the most popular bromeliads, Tillandsias are shown in the next three photos below. They’ve become popular houseplants, often simply called “air plants.” As epiphytes, they live up in the trees with orchids. They can be grown in pots or on mounts, or as bare plants living in a bowl or on a table.

I’ve tried to illustrate the wondrous diversity of the bromeliad family, but there really is so much more. About 3600 bromeliad species range throughout Central America, South America, and the southern USA, with one species native to West Africa. There are also many hybrids. The most commonly sold types need care similar to tropical orchids: mild temps, regular water, bright light, good humidity, and air movement. There are also cool growers, like this Billbergia tank bromeliad which lives outdoors all year in our Northern California garden. Its brilliant flowers stand out, even among the orchids.

Scientists have developed a new way to figure out which orchids are at risk of extinction. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species is the most comprehensive catalog of endangered plants and animals in the world. To be assessed, each species needs a thorough scientific study of its conservation status. However, the enormous orchid family contains almost 30,000 species, and only about 1400 have IUCN Red List assessments so far. Scientists have created an automated system using machine learning algorithms, also known as deep learning. They input existing studies, climate info, geography, and other traits to quickly study lots of orchids. So far, they’ve identified over 4300 varieties which are at risk. They’ve also pinpointed regions with lots of endangered species, including Madagascar, East Africa, and Southeast Asia. Their automated approach may be used for other plants and animals too, helping to direct conservation resources where they’re most needed.

This month, there are a few virtual orchid events, and two in-person events with clear COVID19 precautions.

These brilliant magenta flowers belong to an unusual orchid subspecies. It’s a little orchid with a big name, Arpophyllum giganteum subspecies alpinum. It bears many similarities to its close relation, Arpophyllum giganteum, whose purple flowers are shown in the final photo below. Both are cool growers. They’ve been reliable bloomers for years, putting up clusters of small, colorful flowers. But the alpinum subspecies is dwarfed by its relative: a single leaf of the main species is larger than the entire subspecies plant. My alpinum plant is about one foot (30 cm) wide by 8 inches (20 cm) tall, with 6 inch (15 cm) leaves. Each leaf of the larger plant can reach 2 feet (61 cm) long or more! My entire plant is about 4 feet (122 cm) wide by 3 feet (91 cm) tall.

The two varieties have different color blooms, but their flower shapes and sizes are very close. As its name suggests, the alpinum subspecies comes from high elevations. It can grow above 10,000 feet (3048 m) in the high mountains of Mexico and Central America. Alpine plants stay small in their harsh, windy environments, resulting in compact versions of plants compared to lower elevations. That explains how two very different plants can be the same species.

Four years ago, many, including me, predicted that Trump would be a catastrophe for the USA. Certainly, he has been. He has failed to face a worsening pandemic, an economic collapse, and climate change disasters. His blatant corruption, incompetence, nepotism, and immorality are on display every day. His poisonous bigotry will continue to do damage to our country long after he is gone. He’s given a green light to bullies and tyrants alike, and the world is much worse off for his example. If you think he’s done a good job, then you have terrible news sources, and they have deceived you.

Specific to this website, the election matters to orchid lovers because this president has dismantled dozens of environmental protections. His actions will result in many extinctions, likely including orchids. If you’re a nature lover, this alone is a deal-breaker for supporting the incumbent. Joe Biden has an extensive, proven record, as a senator and a vice president, of supporting essential environmental laws.

For another opinion, here’s the admiral who oversaw the bin Laden raid, a lifelong Republican, on why he’s voting for Biden.

I’m afraid that 2020 will be the most dangerous election in this country since 1860 because of right wing extremists, abetted by this president. We may have violence during and after election day as a result. If the president wins reelection, he will continue to damage our democracy, this country, and the rest of the world. Please vote for Joe Biden for president.

Orchid-gami lets everyone to create great orchid art. It’s an educational project from the North American Orchid Conservation Center and the United States Botanic Garden. They’re created templates for 3D models of native North American orchids. Download the files for free, then print, cut, fold, and glue. Teachers, parents, and kids will love assembling orchids. In the process, they learn about fascinating native plants and their conservation issues. Put a Ghost Orchid in your window, or a Spotted Lady’s Slipper on your table. There are different difficulty levels indicated in the instructions, so start with easier ones. Many models are available as punch-outs, ready to assemble, so that you don’t need to print them yourself. Happy folding!

I’ve got garden pictures to share, but mostly this post is a chance to brag about my Epidendrum, which has been in constant bloom for over 17 years. It began flowering in early 2003, and has never stopped. Through heat waves, driving rains, light frosts, strong winds, pounding hailstorms, pest attacks, and smoky conditions, it persists. Each red and yellow blossom lasts a week or more. A constant resupply of buds crowns the flower spikes, which grow taller until they exhaust themselves. Then they’re replaced by new growth and fresh spikes. The plant itself is about 4 feet (1.2 m) tall by 3 feet (0.9 m) wide, and it lives outdoors all year. It’s a keiki factory, and for years, I’ve given babies to friends and neighbors.

The other garden pictures begin with a brilliant orange California Poppy. There’s also a bright pink Cochlioda vulcanica. It’s a very reliable miniature cool grower, now known as Oncidium vulcanicum. The last two photos show a praying mantis that’s been happily living in one of my Cymbidiums. No matter its alien appearance, I’m happy to have this predator making its home in our garden. It can help itself to all the pests it wants. Whenever I water, it runs up the leaves like it’s greeting me. Really, it’s just trying to escape the cool shower from the hose.