Archive for the 'Fragrant Orchids' Category

Try Saying “Coelogyne”

Monday, August 4th, 2008

Say “sah-LODGE-en-ee.” Kind of rhymes with “progeny.”
It may have a tough name, but these fragrant white and yellow flowers make up for it. This Coelogyne mooreana originates in the cloud forests of the mountains of Vietnam, and can handle a wide range of temperatures. Mine lives outside all year long here in San Francisco, and […]

Mini Orchid Gastrochilus

Friday, July 25th, 2008

Living in a city where space is at a premium, I can always appreciate the virtues of a small orchid. If it doesn’t need much room, it’s so much easier to rationalize why I should buy it. Many an orchid purchase has been preceded by the statement “I can squeeze it in somewhere since it’s […]

More Phipps photos

Monday, April 28th, 2008

Here are some more pictures from our recent visit to Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, PA.
Cymbidium flowers

Originally I mis-identified this orchid. Its correct name is Bifrenaria harrisoniae. The center looks like a smiley face with a fuzzy beard.

In high humidity at Phipps, orchid roots grow exposed to the open air. The roots growing around a wooden […]

Orchid of the Day: Maxillaria

Wednesday, April 16th, 2008

It’s a sign of springtime that I have so many orchids starting to bloom. This little red Maxillaria tenuifolia may not look as impressive as larger orchids, but it packs a big scent. This single flower fills our front room with a sweet coconut aroma. It is native to Central American jungles, and enjoys warm […]

Orchid of the Day: Jumellea

Thursday, March 20th, 2008

… and the day is the first day of Spring. These beautiful Jumellea arachnantha blooms made for a great equinox celebration. It’s native to the Comoros Islands by Madagascar, and the flowers have a strong fragrance during the day.

Orchids among the Mayan Ruins

Monday, February 18th, 2008

Did I mention that my time away involved laying on a beach in Mexico? ‘Cause that’s what we did. We did do lots of exploring, too, including orchid hunting. We were disappointed not to find orchids within Cancun, but our visit to the ancient Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza made up for […]

Orchid of the Day: Diplocaulobium

Monday, February 4th, 2008

This Diplocaulobium is a great little Dendrobium relative that flowered today, and went a long way to pick me up from my winter doldrums. Its spider-like flowers last less than a day, opening in the morning and closing the same evening. But it more than makes up for its short-lived flowers by blooming […]