The UK’s Wildlife Trusts make it easy for nature lovers to enjoy wild British orchids. There are dozens of Wildlife Trusts throughout the UK, which help promote conservation, manage nature preserves, and provide educational activities. Many of the groups offer expertly guided tours of Britain’s wonderful native orchids. Simply search their upcoming events for “orchids” […]
Wouldn’t it be great to take an orchid vacation? The Orchid Conservation Alliance (OCA) regularly sponsors trips to exotic lands with experts who guide orchid tours. These trips feature orchids in their native habitats, and raise money for conservation projects. Tours are limited to 15 people maximum. Future trips include Yunnan, China in May, and […]
What do rare orchids and particle physics have in common? The folks at Fermilab are in the business of subatomic discoveries, but they’re also part of a project to restore native prairie. On their campus outside of Chicago, they’ve been bringing back native plants like the Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid. This species is endangered throughout […]
The Smithsonian illustrates why orchid conservation is tricky. Orchid seeds require a symbiotic fungus to grow, so saving seeds isn’t enough. Experts need to understand each orchid species’ relation to its essential fungi. “First you have to find the fungus,” says Smithsonian botanist Melissa McCormick, “then you have to figure out what it is, and […]
The Botanic Gardens of South Australia are asking for donations to help save the Flying Duck Orchid. You may have seen its bizarre flower, which truly looks like a flying duck. Unfortunately, like many other fascinating Australian species, it’s endangered by habitat destruction and invasive species. Over 40% of South Australia’s orchids are threatened with […]
Looking for a worthwhile organization that deserves an end-of-the-year donation? The American Orchid Society (AOS) is raising funds for vital research, conservation, and education efforts. They’ve set a $40,000 goal by the end of the year, and you can help with a contribution. As a 501c3 non-profit group, donations to the AOS are tax-deductible as allowed […]
Botanists in Western Australia discovered two new orchid species while out for a walk. At first, they thought that they were seeing color variations of known orchids. But Caladenia lateritica and Caladenia rosea are new to science. Both are fragrant, and both were found south of Perth near Dwellingup. The area is known as a […]
National Geographic reports alarming news about the disappearance of wild orchids. Many species are disappearing from their native habitats because wild plants are being poached. In fact, illegal traffickers are so good at hunting rare orchids that scientists often discover new species for sale in a market before finding them in the wild. Some varieties are […]
An endangered orchid has reappeared for the first time since 1938! The rare species, Liparis hostifolia, is known as shimakumokiriso in Japanese, and is only found on the Ogasawara Islands bordering the tropics, 620 miles (1000 km) south of Tokyo. It hadn’t been seen in decades, but a specimen was found over the summer, and […]
Want to go to a fantastic party and help orchids at the same time? Enjoy the Dracula Ball: Gala under Glass on October 19th at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. This fundraiser celebrates Draculas — not the Transylvanian kind, but the Latin American orchids with the same name. Tickets start at $75 […]
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