Archive for June, 2023

Lawsuit Launched to Speed Endangered Species Protection for Ghost Orchid

Tuesday, June 27th, 2023

Florida’s rare and fascinating Ghost Orchid features in a best-selling book and an Oscar-winning movie starring Meryl Streep and Nicolas Cage. But somehow it’s still not listed as an official endangered species in the USA. A lawsuit by three conservation groups aims to fix that. George Gann, executive director of the Institute for Regional Conservation, […]

These Coral Root Orchids Are Welcoming Summer

Wednesday, June 21st, 2023

The warm and sunny colors of these Coral Roots Orchids are a perfect way to welcome the first day of summer. Coral Roots, or Corallorhizas, are strange, leafless orchids. They live underground except when they flower. With no chlorophyll, they instead take nourishment from fungi in the soil. The wild orchids in these photos are […]

San Francisco’s Magical Conservatory of Flowers

Saturday, June 17th, 2023

San Francisco’s Conservatory of Flowers is one of the many gems in Golden Gate Park. I’ve blogged about our past visits, but it had been a few years since we were there. Last week, Dave and I remedied that, and we were again in awe of their astounding collection. The glasshouse is magnificent on the […]

Orchids’ Ability To Grow on Other Plants Independently Evolved Multiple Times

Saturday, June 10th, 2023

Penn State biologists have determined that orchids evolved the ability to grow on other plants at least 14 times. They studied the genetics of 610 orchid species, representing all five orchid subfamilies. Over two-thirds of orchids are epiphytes, or air plants. They’re not parasites, but grow attached to tree trunks and branches. This gives them […]

June Orchid Events

Thursday, June 1st, 2023

Summer brings a slower show schedule in the Northern Hemisphere, but there are still plenty of events to be found on six continents. Be sure to check out any of these shows, sales, festivals, auctions, and workshops near you. June 2 – 4 Long Island Orchid Festival, Conference Center, Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park, […]