AboutOrchids

San Francisco’s recent summer orchid show featured plenty of incredible sights. These photos highlight some amazing flowers on the strange fringes of the orchid family. They also demonstrate that no other flowering plant family can hold a candle to the astounding diversity of orchids. If we didn’t know better, would anybody guess that these organisms […]

Last weekend’s Orchids in the Park was another success. San Francisco’s summer orchid show featured great display tables, vendors, talks by experts, and more. This first set of photos just hints at the show’s riches. I’ve been growing and studying orchids for over two decades, and I can still reliably find fascinating colors, shapes, and […]

Lovers of North American native orchids won’t want to miss the Native Orchid Conference. This year’s event is happening July 26-30 at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Maryland. The annual conference features lectures and field trips to see native orchids in the wild. Online, you can find Everything You Need to Know About […]

Don’t miss Orchids in the Park this weekend!  The SF Orchid Society’s summer show and sale is happening Saturday & Sunday, July 21 – 22, at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. These photos are a small sample of the incredible sights from last year’s event (see more from last year here and here.) […]

For many people, life has changed on Hawaii’s Big Island since Kilauea’s latest eruption began in May. Among the property damage, the Honolulu Star Advertiser highlights an orchid business which lost greenhouses and plants. Other growers in the area have also been affected. Besides the threat of flowing lava, volcanic gases can be dangerous for […]

Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, California is packed with incredible cacti and succulents. As my mother-in-law said, “This garden just screams OUCH!” Spines, thorns, and barbs abound, along with stunning flowers, brilliant leaf colors, and striking plant forms. The 2.5 acre (1 hectare) public garden features thousands of drought tolerant plants, from tiny succulents […]

Orchid events are happening from San Francisco to Sweden to South Australia this month. Don’t miss these great opportunities to enjoy incredible flowers, take photos, talk to experts, and buy orchids. July 4 – 6 Newcastle Orchid Society Show, Stockland Jesmond, Blue Gum Rd., Jesmond, NSW, Australia July 5 – 6 Maitland & Coalfields District […]