AboutOrchids

Two of the world’s largest orchid shows happen this month, in Tokyo and here in San Francisco. Many events are perfectly timed for Valentine’s Day shopping and romantic excursions. February 4 – 7 Exposición Nacional de Orquídeas, Cerveceria Centro, Salón José Arzú Castillo, 3a. Ave 7-16, Zona 2, Guatemala City, Guatemala February 6 Orchid Society […]

No matter how cold it is outside, it’ll be warm inside all of these winter orchid exhibitions. Check my earlier list for more of these events which run for weeks. January 30 – March 6 Cleveland Botanical Garden features the sights and sounds of Cuba for Orchid Mania. Don’t miss Orchids After Dark on Wednesdays […]

Disposable orchids are part of modern life. Once the blooms finish, the plant goes into the trash or the compost bin. If you want more flowers, then buy a new plant. That’s the idea behind most orchids sold today, like these modern hybrids in today’s photos. Each new and improved variety is a glorious work […]

What life lessons can we learn from orchids? The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center explains how North American orchid species have plenty to teach us.

Don’t hate us because we can garden year-round on the California coast! As a peace offering, please enjoy these pictures of a few orchids blooming outside on our back patio. I snapped these photos during a recent break in the rainy weather. The small Pleurothallis in the first two photos had just opened its strange […]

These orchid exhibitions offer brilliant blooms and a refuge from the cold weather. They all make great Valentine’s Day excursions, too. January 8 – February 22 The Denver Botanic Gardens offers a winter escape with its Orchid Showcase. Enjoy a floral wonderland in the Orangery and Marnie’s Pavilion. January 9 – March 6 Franklin Park […]

Taiwan is one of the biggest commercial orchid producers in the world, and it’s looking to expand. Learn about the complicated challenges facing its orchid business at Taiwan Today.

If you’re thinking that I’ve gone astray with photos from the Zurich Succulent Plant Collection (Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich,) I’ll remind you that orchids often turn up in unexpected places. After all, many orchids share traits with succulent plants, and that’s why they’re included here. Dave took these pictures last month. His work sometimes takes him to […]

Kew scientists discovered over 140 plant species last year, twice as many as they found the year before. Their discoveries include some fascinating new orchids, like a 10 foot (3 m) tall Lady Slipper from Ecuador!