Archive for October, 2016

Orchids from Another Planet

Friday, October 28th, 2016

If we ever found flowers on another planet, could they possibly be stranger than these earthly orchids? Some of these blooms look like visitors from Mars or Neptune. Despite their alien facades, they’re simply members of the enormous orchid family, which has diversity beyond measure. Their long Latin names, like Masdevallia caudivolvula and Sigmatostalix posadarum, […]

Orchids for Hillary

Monday, October 24th, 2016

AboutOrchids only dabbles in politics related to orchid conservation, and this post is no exception. If you’re an orchid lover, the only choice for president this November is Hillary Clinton. The Republican nominee would be a disastrous decision for many reasons, but the one that’s most important on this blog is saving our endangered planet. […]

New Parasitic Orchid Discovered

Wednesday, October 19th, 2016

Japanese scientists have discovered a new parasitic orchid species whose flowers never open.  This strange new Gastrodia species doesn’t photosynthesize, instead stealing nutrients from fungi in the soil. In addition, its peculiar flowers stay closed, and pollinate themselves.

A Big Purple Sobralia Orchid

Sunday, October 16th, 2016

Sobralia flowers never fail to impress. Recently I mentioned this plant in a post about Growing Orchids Outdoors in Pacifica. This Sobralia species bloomed for years outside in our San Francisco garden. It didn’t do so well after our move to the coast, so I finally brought it indoors. After a quick growth spurt, it flowered […]

Orchids Hiding in Plain Sight

Monday, October 10th, 2016

Australia is home to many unusual plants, including some orchids which hide in plain sight. They grow leaves year after year, but rarely flower, until there’s a bushfire. Pyrorchis nigricans, also known as the Fire Orchid or Red Beak, bursts into bloom in the year after a fire. Learn more about these scorched orchids in […]

Fall Color in Colorado

Friday, October 7th, 2016

Orchids may be our favorites, but natural beauty comes in many forms. That certainly includes the stunning fall colors of the Colorado Rockies. Dave and I recently visited Southwest Colorado, and enjoyed awe-inspiring mountains gilded in their autumn foliage. The bright yellow leaves belong to aspens. In the thin mountain air around 10,000 feet (3048 […]

October Orchid Shows

Saturday, October 1st, 2016

All over the globe, these events offer great opportunities to see incredible flowers, take photos, talk to orchid experts, and buy plants for your own collection. Don’t miss an orchid show happening near you! October 1 Deep Cut Orchid Society Auction, Dearborn Market, 2170 Route 35, Holmdel, New Jersey October 1 Lincolnshire Orchid Group Autumn […]