AboutOrchids

Are they birds, planes, or alien spaceships? No, they’re just more photos from last month’s Orchids in the Park show in San Francisco. They include a few which are bizarre or otherworldly, and others which just don’t look like flowers. With fantastic shapes and brilliant colors, some seem to stretch the boundaries of what flowers […]

Frozen inside ancient amber from Mexico and the Dominican Republic, tiny beetles are carrying orchid pollen. Their modern beetle relatives are not known to help pollinate any orchids, but 20-million-year-old amber proves that they once did. Some of the amber may be 45 million years old, stretching their connection back even further.

Check out the blog of nature writer and photographer Jon Dunn, featuring lots of great photos and stories of native British orchids in the wild. Some of his recent posts include “Epipactis Heaven and Helleborine”, “Orchids of the Highlands and Islands”, “To Bee or Not Too Bee”, and “Lady, Man, Monkey and Chimaera Orchids”, and […]

This isn’t just a miniature orchid — it’s a micro orchid! When we went to Orchids in the Park a couple weeks ago, nobody was expecting to see one of the tiniest orchid flowers in the world. Dave didn’t have his macro lens, but he did pretty well with his regular camera. This mini Platystele […]

Scientists are working to restore wild populations of Florida’s native orchids, including the famous Ghost Orchid. Seedlings grown in labs are being transplanted in the Everglades. So far, results have been promising, with many young plants surviving the move. For most of the year, these bizarre, leafless orchids are simply masses of roots attached to […]

I’ve found more great flowers from Orchids in the Park 2016. Fragrant orchids, mini orchids, jewel orchids and more filled the County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park. Moth Orchids and Lady Slippers abounded, too. Check back soon for more photos from this spectacular event.

Orchid shows, auctions, and conferences abound this month. From Canada to Brazil, from Australia to Sweden, these events provide opportunities to enjoy beautiful flowers, talk to orchid experts, take photos, and buy plants for your collection. August 1 – 4 Native Orchid Conference, Cochise College Benson Center, Benson, Arizona August 3 – 7 Exposición Orquídeas, […]