Prepare to be amazed at the upcoming 61st Pacific Orchid Expo. The country’s largest orchid show debuts Thursday evening with a preview gala, and is open to all from Friday through Sunday. Fitting for San Francisco, with historically strong ties to Asia, this year’s theme is “East meets West.” Below I’ve posted a few photos […]
At the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia, noted orchid expert Arthur Chadwick pens an informative column about Phals. Phals, a.k.a. Moth Orchids, are the most popular houseplant sold in the USA today, and they’re almost all hybrids. Chadwick details milestones in the past century of Phal hybridization. By combining and recombining Phal varieties, breeders have continued […]
Henry David Thoreau has inspired generations with his writings at Walden Pond. Now, scientists are using his journals to find clues about climate change. Starting in 1852, the author and naturalist recorded the dates for the first spring blooms of different flower species in Massachusetts. Scientists are looking at his 6 years of of data […]
With today’s change of season, it seems appropriate to take an apocalyptic tone. While the latest end-of-the-world fad will pass with tomorrow’s sunrise, many plant and animal species are facing the real thing. Climate change has begun, a danger not only to orchids, but to every species on the planet. Sadly, climate change is only […]
Australian Geographic proudly displays that nation’s most beautiful orchids. The article includes a gallery of brilliant illustrations which bring Australia’s most “stunning, mysterious and diverse” orchids to life. Starting with the bizarre underground Rhizanthella orchid, the detailed botanical drawings feature the flamboyant Queen of Sheba orchid, the weird Large Duck Orchid, and many more. Images […]
This Spiranthes hardly looks like an orchid. Out of bloom, its thin, skinny leaves look like they belong to a weed. Even in bloom, the tiny white flowers bear little resemblance to its grand tropical relatives. Spiranthes’ name hints at its spiral arrangement of flowers. These scented blooms, just over half an inch (1.3 cm) […]
The Timaru Herald in New Zealand has the latest rave review for Singapore’s new Gardens by the Bay complex. It’s no surprise that orchids abound in the recently opened park, which covers 250 acres (101 hectares) of the tiny island nation. Sitting close to the equator with a tropical rainforest climate, Singapore has long been […]
Food52.com takes a close look at the tastiest orchid, vanilla. Just a few drops or seeds add magic to baked goods, candy, and chocolate. Did you know that the vanilla pod itself has more flavor than its seeds? Pods can be used repeatedly to infuse sugar or any liquid. To enjoy vanilla’s flavor without the […]
A new study reveals that the Ancient Romans were orchid lovers. Botanists at Italy’s Roma Tre University have assembled a detailed database identifying plants in old Roman carvings, paintings, and textiles. Their work shows that Mediterranean orchid species were Roman favorites. This pushes back the earliest orchid representations in Western art from the Renaissance to […]
The Winston-Salem Journal posts a thorough response to an orchid virus question. The column covers a lot of details, including how to kill orchid viruses by sanitizing pots and clippers with a 10% bleach / 90% water solution. Streaked colors on flowers and deformed growth might mean an orchid virus has infected a plant, and […]
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