Archive for July, 2009

Summer Garden

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

Our summer garden is in full swing, with lots of great blooms. There are plenty of big flowers, like these giant lilies. When a neighbor had some old bulbs destined for the trash, Dave rescued them and stuck them in the garden, hoping they would survive. Imagine our surprise when the plants grew 6 ft. […]

Compost Happens

Saturday, July 25th, 2009

The best methods to fertilize orchids are constant subjects of debate. Many orchid experts subscribe to the maxim “weakly, weekly,” meaning that a weak mixture of fertilizer given on a regular basis can go a long way to improving orchid growth and blooms. With my own orchids, I’ve used specialized orchid fertilizer, diluted regular plant […]

Orchid Post Mortem: Sedirea

Monday, July 20th, 2009

A major emphasis of this blog is demonstrating that orchids are easy to grow and flower, but we’re all human, and mistakes are always going to be part of the process. Many mistakes can be fixed, but unfortunately some may be fatal. These photos show my Sedirea in happier times, before it died a few […]

Delicious, Delicious Orchids

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

You might laugh if asked if you eat orchids. So you’d probably be astonished to learn that you might be eating orchids everyday, possibly hundreds or even thousands of them. There could be orchids in your kitchen right now, and you might eat them at every meal. That’s because natural vanilla extract comes from the […]

Ghost Orchid

Saturday, July 11th, 2009

The typically elusive ghost orchid, made famous in the bestselling book The Orchid Thief and the movie Adaptation, is readily visible for those near Naples, Florida. For decades, some orchid lovers have braved mosquito and alligator-infested swamps, only to leave disappointed without even a glimpse of the rare and unusual beauty. Now, a trip to […]

Orchid Conservation Coalition

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

The Orchid Conservation Coalition (OCC) is a grassroots organization devoted to raising awareness and money for orchid conservation. The OCC directs donations to conservation groups all over the world, including those working in the Amazon and other orchid hotspots. As a coalition of individuals, orchid societies, businesses, and non-profits, the OCC provides vital support for […]

Miltonidium

Sunday, July 5th, 2009

At an orchid show several years ago, I spotted a neglected plant on a back table for only $3. Since it had a flower spike starting to grow, it seemed like a great bargain to me, and I bought it. The orchid was this beautiful Miltonidium, which has bloomed repeatedly for me, so I definitely […]

July Orchid Shows

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

From Chattanooga to Honolulu to Warrawong, orchid shows are a fun way to see beautiful tropical blooms, meet local orchid experts, and otherwise feed any orchid addiction. Don’t miss these great events taking place all over the globe. July 3 – 4 Alfred County Orchid Society Show, Margate Methodist Church Hall, Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa […]