Archive for the 'Botanical Gardens' Category

The Power of Local Orchid Conservation

Saturday, May 16th, 2020

The Pink Lady Slipper, or Cypripedium acaule, used to grow wild in the Philadelphia area, but now is uncommon. It’s one of the most enchanting and elegant orchids native to the Eastern USA and Canada. When local plants were discovered last June, experts from nearby Longwood Gardens jumped into action. They hand-pollinated the flowers, and […]

Happy 150th Birthday to Golden Gate Park

Saturday, April 4th, 2020

Happy birthday, Golden Gate Park! It’s one of the most famous parks in the world, and it’s turning 150 years old. Formerly barren sand dunes, it’s now full of plants, animals, museums, statues, hiking trails, lakes, and meadows. It’s one of our favorite destinations. (Of course, much of it is shut down because of the […]

Buy First-Class Orchids at the Post Office

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020

You can now buy first-class orchids at the post office. The US Postal Service has just released 10 new stamps featuring wild orchids. All the species represented are native to the USA. My photos show both sides of a 20-stamp booklet and the cover image. There are nine orchid species depicted. Three Birds Orchid, Triphora […]

March Orchid Events

Saturday, February 29th, 2020

As I was preparing March’s list, some events in East Asia were being cancelled over fears about coronavirus. Most significantly, the World Orchid Conference in Taiwan has been postponed. Around the world, dozens of other events this month are continuing, as of this writing. March 1 Harrogate Orchid Society Show & Sale, The Pavilions of […]

Pacific Orchid Expo 2020

Monday, February 24th, 2020

The San Francisco Orchid Society puts on fantastic shows. This past weekend’s Pacific Orchid Expo was another great success, full of astounding blooms and friendly orchid lovers. It was also full of gasps of amazement as visitors saw how much more there is to the orchid world than standard grocery store varieties. I came home […]

Even More Winter Orchid Exhibits

Saturday, February 15th, 2020

In addition to the earlier listings here and here, more orchid exhibits are starting in New York City and Washington DC. February 15 – April 19 Experience the Orchid Show: Jeff Leatham’s Kaleidoscope at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. Each gallery in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory creates “a different color experience […]

More Photos from RHS Garden Wisley

Saturday, February 8th, 2020

In my first post about RHS Garden Wisley, I focused on orchids, but there was certainly plenty more to enjoy. There’s only one more orchid in this post, a Stanhopea in the first picture. Stanhopeas are known for their bizarre but short-lived flowers, only lasting a few days. We certainly were lucky to find so […]

February Orchid Events

Friday, January 31st, 2020

This month features two of the world’s biggest orchid shows in Tokyo and San Francisco. Others are well-timed for Valentine’s Day gifts and activities. All these events are wonderful opportunities to enjoy amazing flowers. February 1 – 2 Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis Show & Sale, Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, […]

More Winter Orchid Exhibits

Wednesday, January 29th, 2020

Botanical gardens offer these extended exhibits to show off their orchid collections, and to provide a refuge from winter’s chill. Check out this season’s previous listing here. All of them make excellent Valentine’s Day activities. February 1 – March 15 Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden’s Art & Orchids presents orchids with the works of North Carolina […]

More from Oxford Botanic Garden

Saturday, January 18th, 2020

Oxford Botanic Garden has great orchids, and many other impressive plants, too. The photos in this post include a couple of orchids, more from the glasshouses, and sights from the surrounding grounds. The glasshouses feature fantastic collections of exotic tropical flowers, carnivorous plants, desert plants, and more. Outdoors, the gardens offer ample winter interest, with […]