Archive for the 'Fragrant Orchids' Category
Monday, October 16th, 2017
Madagascar is the home of so many fascinating plants and animals, and scientists have discovered even more orchids. Ten new Cynorkis species have been found in a remote area of northern Madagascar, including one with a champagne fragrance. Check out the story and great photos at The English Garden.
Categories: Fragrant Orchids, In the News, QuickPost
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Wednesday, July 5th, 2017
Despite wind, fog, bugs, raccoons, and other gardening obstacles, our backyard in Pacifica is full of blooms for the start of summer. There’s lots of lush growth from our drought-busting winter. Even orchids that like a dry winter dormancy didn’t seem to mind the heavy rains, like the purple Zygo and white Dendrobium in the […]
Categories: Cool Growers, Fragrant Orchids, General Gardening, Photos
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Monday, June 5th, 2017
Ever heard of Chain Orchids? Also called Dendrochilums, they’re an unusual orchid family, lesser known than their close relatives, the Coelogynes. With multitudes of small, densely clustered flowers, they’ve earned the nickname Chain Orchids. Each “chain” consists of mini star-shaped blooms. Some people may sneer at tiny flowers, but massed by the dozens, or hundreds, […]
Categories: Dormancy, Fragrant Orchids, Growing, Photos
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Friday, April 21st, 2017
Its flowers resemble maggot-infested meat, and its scent has been compared to “a thousand dead elephants rotting in the sun.” Meet the orchid species Bulbophyllum phalaenopsis, which attracts carrion flies as pollinators.
Categories: Fragrant Orchids, In the News, QuickPost, Warm Growers
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Saturday, February 18th, 2017
Wild vanilla is disappearing. On top of that bad news, farmers in Madagascar have had poor harvests.
Categories: Conservation, Fragrant Orchids, In the News, QuickPost
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Sunday, December 18th, 2016
As winter’s chill arrives, this brilliant tropical Cattleya is inspiring lots of warm thoughts in our home. It’s been boasting vivid purple and white blooms for over a month. In addition to their stunning colors, they emit a sweet, spicy fragrance. It’s no wonder that Cattleyas have been favorite corsage orchids for decades. Along with […]
Categories: Fragrant Orchids, Intermediate Growers, Orchid Names, Photos
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Monday, December 5th, 2016
The Chinese artistic theme of the Four Gentlemen refers to four plants, including an orchid. Recently, while Dave and I were enjoying dinner at a local restaurant, I spotted a nearby flowerpot illustrating the Four Gentlemen. I can’t read Chinese, so I don’t know what the writing says, but I recognized each plant. The first […]
Categories: Books, Cool Growers, Fragrant Orchids, Misc, Photos
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Saturday, November 19th, 2016
Coelia bella is a great orchid species, both easy to grow and easy to pronounce. Its charming purple, white, and yellow flowers give off a light marzipan or almond oil fragrance. To say Coelia, ignore the “o” and say Celia like the woman’s name, SEE-Lee-Ah. The second part of its Latin name, bella, translates as […]
Categories: Dormancy, Fragrant Orchids, Intermediate Growers, Photos, Watering
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Sunday, October 16th, 2016
Sobralia flowers never fail to impress. Recently I mentioned this plant in a post about Growing Orchids Outdoors in Pacifica. This Sobralia species bloomed for years outside in our San Francisco garden. It didn’t do so well after our move to the coast, so I finally brought it indoors. After a quick growth spurt, it flowered […]
Categories: Cool Growers, Fragrant Orchids, Photos
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Tuesday, August 9th, 2016
Scientists are working to restore wild populations of Florida’s native orchids, including the famous Ghost Orchid. Seedlings grown in labs are being transplanted in the Everglades. So far, results have been promising, with many young plants surviving the move. For most of the year, these bizarre, leafless orchids are simply masses of roots attached to […]
Categories: Conservation, Fragrant Orchids, In the News, Photos, Warm Growers
Comments: 1 Comment