This fragile-looking Dendrobium species is tougher than it looks. Queen Victoria’s Dendrobium was named to celebrate the British monarch. It’s nicknamed the Blue Orchid, since some specimens have a blue hue, but my plant is decidedly purple. In four years since I bought this orchid, it’s been through the mill, but somehow survived and flowered. […]
Tennessee officials are trying to save a rare, indigenous orchid species. The White Fringeless Orchid is hanging in the balance as government officials weigh its fate. Native to the Southeastern USA, this species is endangered by habitat loss and illegal poaching of wild plants. Its scientific name is Platanthera integrilabia, and it grows in wooded […]
Orchid casualties are inevitable in any collection, even for experienced growers. My latest loss was this adorable mini Oncidium species, a victim of some devilish raccoons. I bought this plant many years ago, and always grew it outdoors. It’s been a stubborn species, and only bloomed for me twice. A couple weeks ago, I found […]
Orchids grow all over the world, not just in the tropics. High in the mountains, canyons, and plateaus of Southwest Colorado, many remarkable native orchid species thrive, despite the harsh conditions. Dave’s mother lives in the Four Corners area of Colorado, and, like her son, has a great photographic eye. She and her hiking pals have […]
Bee Orchids know how to appeal to bees. In the first video below, a botanist from London’s Natural History Museum explores the elaborate deceptions of these fascinating plants. Also known as Ophrys apifera, Bee Orchids mimic the appearance and pheromones of their namesake bugs to trick them into pollinating their flowers. The video also shows a […]
Much to everybody’s surprise, there’s a rare, native Lady’s Slipper blooming in Central Park. The New York Times reports that a dozen flower buds have been growing over the past few weeks, and they’re starting to open. The plant is the Yellow Lady’s Slipper, also known as Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens. This orchid species is […]
It’s no wonder why we love Masdevallia orchids. These two stunning examples are now in bloom on our patio, with their big, neon flowers atop tall stems, bobbing in the breeze. Thanks to Dave’s great photography, it’s easy to enjoy their charms. Believe it or not, both of these plants are the same species, Masdevallia […]
Help the Orchid Conservation Alliance save Dracula orchids! A few months ago, I blogged about work to preserve a piece of the Chocó rainforest in Ecuador, one of the most biodiverse places in the world. A new nature reserve there could save 5% of all orchid species on earth, including many rare and fascinating Draculas. […]
The next Santa Barbara International Orchid Show will recall how World War II turned the area into an orchid haven. England was the world’s leading Cymbidium grower before World War II. During the war, the UK’s valuable plants were threatened by aerial bombings and fuel shortages. To help save them, orchid enthusiasts in California purchased […]
With dense clusters of little purple blooms, this looks like a hyacinth. On closer inspection, however, each flower reveals itself as a tiny, perfect orchid. Known as the Giant Hyacinth Orchid, this has been a very reliable bloomer in our garden, opening in late autumn and continuing for several months into winter. This year’s incredible […]
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