AboutOrchids

Dave’s work takes him to lots of interesting places, and he occasionally gets a free day when he can explore. Last month he visited Hortus Botanicus, which is Amsterdam’s Botanical Garden. It’s one of the oldest in the world, dating to 1638. There weren’t many orchids on display, but in the midst of a Northern […]

Perfectly timed for spring repotting, Better Homes & Gardens explains Everything You Need to Know About Orchid Pots. The helpful advice includes the importance of great drainage, and that most orchids prefer small pots. Terra cotta, plastic, ceramic, and mesh pots all have advantages and disadvantages to consider. The article also contains this clever tip: […]

Celebrate today’s spring equinox with these astounding orchid prints. Rankafu, which means Orchid Flower Album in Japanese, consists of 83 works done in 1946 by orchid lover Shotaro Kaga and artist Zuigetsu Ikeda. These woodblock prints are considered masterpieces for their exquisite colors, fine details, and expert use of difficult ukiyo-e printing techniques. In addition […]

Smithsonian magazine reveals the secret orchids of Palau. The tiny South Pacific nation is spread across 344 small islands. With sun-drenched beaches and coral reefs full of vibrant fish, it’s known as one of the best dive sites in the world. But Palau is more than a biodiversity hotspot for fish. It’s also a hotspot […]

The Pacific Orchid Expo is an annual immersion into orchids of all kinds. Whether it’s a stunning, green-flowered Sudamerlycaste with a delicately fringed lip, or brilliant Cymbidium flowers framed by graceful leaves, the floral diversity is remarkable. Big, small, colorful, drab, right-side up, or upside-down, it can be hard to believe that they’re all orchids. […]

There are lots of edible orchids besides vanilla. I’ve blogged about chikanda before, a traditional African dish made from orchid tubers. The tubers are ground up with peanuts and chilies, and cooked into a savory loaf. Over the past few decades, chikanda has gone from being a rural famine food to a trendy urban staple. […]