Archive for April, 2013

May Orchid Shows

Tuesday, April 30th, 2013

From Albuquerque to Zululand, orchid shows fill every corner of the globe. Many are perfectly timed for Mother’s Day. Among this month’s great events, London’s Chelsea Flower Show is the most famous flower show in the world, and showcases plenty of orchids. The San Jose Orchid Expo pairs floral beauty with wine tasting. Canada’s Bruce […]

Philippine Ground Orchids

Friday, April 26th, 2013

Spathoglottis, or Philippine Ground Orchids, are hallmarks of the tropics. This great terrestrial orchid family offers a range of colors and sizes for tropical gardeners. The best known member of the family is the species Spathoglottis plicata. Shown in the first photo below, its purple and yellow flowers are a common sight in moist tropical […]

A Child’s Garden of Orchids

Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013

Daily Kos offers a tropical respite from a chilly New York spring. Skilled photographer Eddie C shares his visual obsession with an overview of the New York Botanical Garden’s orchid show. At the outset, he declares “For me the Orchid Show in the New York Botanical Garden is like Christmas is to a child.” Hunting […]

Orchid Urban Myths

Saturday, April 20th, 2013

Orchid myths are nothing new. Some myths cause problems for growers, so I’m going to bust these common misunderstandings about orchid care. Myth: Orchids are only suited for gardeners with greenhouses or tropical climates. Growers who have an understanding of basic care can make orchids thrive anywhere. With diverse choices from cool growers to warm […]

More from Foster Botanical Garden

Monday, April 15th, 2013

During our recent visit to Foster Botanical Garden in Honolulu, Dave and I took plenty of photos. Since my first post was almost all orchids, this post highlights Foster’s other natural wonders. Don’t worry — there are more orchids at the end. The crown jewels of Foster’s extensive collections are undoubtedly its exceptional trees, many […]

Spring Orchid Care

Thursday, April 11th, 2013

With the change of seasons, orchid care changes, too. Even if your thermometer still shows winter, it’s time for some spring orchid chores. Move plants into shade. Move orchids from their brighter winter homes to shadier areas for spring and summer. Many types enjoy morning sun. Orchids leaves should be a light green color. Dark […]

Honolulu Zoo

Saturday, April 6th, 2013

In Waikiki, just across the street from the world’s most famous beach, the Honolulu Zoo welcomes visitors from around the globe. It’s full of tropical animals and plants, many of them rare, endangered, or extinct in the wild. Dave snapped lots of great shots during our visit last month. The zoo includes an orchid garden […]

April Orchid Shows

Monday, April 1st, 2013

No April Fools — the whole world loves orchids, and this month’s massive show list proves it. Big cities like London, Johannesburg, Sao Paulo, Chicago, Budapest, and Brisbane always put on remarkable events. Shows in small town and remote corners of the world are reliably full of orchid delights, too. April 5 – 6 Garden […]