Archive for September, 2013

October Orchid Shows

Monday, September 30th, 2013

Orchid shows are happening everywhere from San Diego to Rio, from Montreal to Helsinki, and from Canberra to Prague. These events provide great opportunities to enjoy stunning flowers, meet local orchid experts, take photos, and find special plants for your own collection. October 1 Plantation Orchid Society Annual Auction, Volunteer Park, 12050 West Sunrise Blvd., […]

‘Orchids in the Park’ This Weekend

Thursday, September 26th, 2013

Don’t miss this weekend’s Orchids in the Park!  On September 28th – 29th, Golden Gate Park hosts a smaller version of San Francisco’s huge winter orchid show. The event includes plenty of orchids to enjoy, as well as vendors, demos, and seminars. The photos below are only a small sample of last year’s exciting offerings. […]

Autumn Colors

Sunday, September 22nd, 2013

Celebrate today’s equinox with these brilliant orchid colors. Autumn arrives as the northern half of the globe tilts away from the sun, and nights grow longer. These flowers represent only a few of those on display at a recent monthly meeting of the San Francisco Orchid Society. On the first Tuesday evening of every month, […]

Rare Native Orchids Get a Helping Hand

Friday, September 20th, 2013

Door County, Wisconsin cares about its native orchids. Starting in the 1930’s, a 40 acre (16 hectare) sanctuary was preserved to save rare wildflowers. Over the decades, the preserve grew to 1500 acres (607 hectares,) and it’s home to 25 of the 40 orchid species native to Wisconsin. Despite the nature sanctuary, orchid populations have […]

Pleurothallids

Tuesday, September 17th, 2013

These magical gems are Pleurothallids, a large, diverse orchid family from Central and South America. They’re popular with orchid growers who enjoy their brilliant colors, fantastic shapes, and compact sizes. Many have names which seem larger than the plants themselves. Masdevallias are the best known Pleurothallids. The first row of photos below shows just a […]

Domingoa

Friday, September 13th, 2013

Considering its tiny flowers, this unusual Domingoa can really put on a show. Its thick, speckled leaves produce long stems with tiny purple blossoms. This plant can stay in bloom for more than two months, putting out successive flowers over late summer and early autumn. I’ve had this Domingoa growing outdoors and blooming well for […]

Orchids Require Special Treatment To Look Their Best

Tuesday, September 10th, 2013

In the Richmond Times-Dispatch, orchid expert Arthur Chadwick explains how to make orchids look their best. Whether you want your blooms to win a ribbon or to dazzle in a photo, it helps to know orchid grooming basics. Good presentation enhances orchid beauty. Some of the tips include: Stake flower spikes upright. Add stakes to […]

Adjust Your Latitude

Thursday, September 5th, 2013

Orchids can grow just about anywhere, but growers need to consider their latitude. Degrees of latitude show distance north or south from the equator. Sunlight levels and day length vary greatly at different locations, and knowing your latitude helps you understand how much or how little sunlight is available over the seasons. Find your latitude […]

September Orchid Shows

Sunday, September 1st, 2013

From Alabama to Zululand, September is a busy month for orchid shows. Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa have packed schedules. There’s plenty in the Northern Hemisphere, too. Here in San Francisco on September 28-29, Orchids in the Park combines a show and sale with seminars and demos. September 2 – 6 Eastwood and District […]