Among the Hawaiian Islands, Kauai is the last refuge for many of the state’s endangered native flora and fauna. They face threats from invasive species, habitat loss, pollution, and climate change. With human help, however, some are recovering and rebounding. During our recent visit, it was a joy to see that many people on the […]
There’s much more to Kauai’s wondrous McBryde Garden than its orchids. Here are some more photos from our recent visit, starting with Dave’s incredible picture of two rare Hawaiian Moorhens looking for lunch in a stream. We were told that they are normally very shy birds, but these two didn’t seem to mind us snapping […]
Orchids may be our favorites, but natural beauty comes in many forms. That certainly includes the stunning fall colors of the Colorado Rockies. Dave and I recently visited Southwest Colorado, and enjoyed awe-inspiring mountains gilded in their autumn foliage. The bright yellow leaves belong to aspens. In the thin mountain air around 10,000 feet (3048 […]
Don’t be confused by the name — an Orchid Cactus isn’t an orchid, but it does have amazing flowers. Orchid Cacti are tropical succulents with big, vivid blooms that earn an orchid comparison. Also known as epiphyllums, epicacti, or just epis, there are many varieties in a range of brilliant colors, including yellows, pinks, reds, […]
The summer solstice brings the longest days and shortest nights of the year. Humans, like plants, love that extra sunshine. To help celebrate today’s solstice, here are more photos from Dave’s recent visit to the Montreal Botanical Garden. I’ve already devoted two posts to the garden, and there’s still more to see. No orchids in […]
Bonsai is the art of growing small trees in containers. Each potted tree is carefully shaped and pruned to evoke an idyllic natural scene. There’s no better place to marvel at them than the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum at the US National Arboretum in Washington DC. I was able to enjoy this spectacular little […]
With the severe drought in California, I can’t complain about today’s chilly solstice rain in the SF Bay Area. However, I can find warm, tropical inspiration in these photos from our summer trip to London. No orchids this time — instead these feature the Waterlily House at Kew Gardens. It’s tough to take a bad […]
As fellow air plants, bromeliads are natural orchid companions in the garden. Many tank bromeliads have fascinating blooms. They earn their nickname by holding water in their leaves, which helps them survive dry periods. This one grows in our garden, and its brilliant, hot pink flower spikes reveal small blooms that look like shiny, purple […]
Bats eat lots of garden pests, work for free, and won’t fly in your hair! Pacific Horticulture explains why bats are garden allies.
What if you could improve the health of your garden by adding more flowers? Washington State University researchers have discovered that Sweet Alyssum attracts lots of beneficial insects. These insects provide natural pest control by hunting bugs which munch on garden greenery. After experimenting with a few types of plants, researchers found that Sweet Alyssum […]
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