What’s my favorite orchid? My answer to that question has always been “whatever’s in bloom right now.” Of course, there are special ones, but I can’t narrow it down to a single winner. Instead, I’ll invent a few categories to help out. Favorite flowers – Masdevallias are my favorites, but it was a tough call […]
Would you like to name a new orchid? The American Orchid Society (AOS) has teamed up with expert growers who will let you name a new hybrid for a $1000 USD donation to the AOS. It’s the perfect gift for yourself or another orchid lover. The donations will be used to fund conservation, research, and […]
Victorian England was obsessed with orchids. The trend was called Orchidelirium, like Dutch Tulip mania centuries before. Fortunes were made and lost, and tropical rainforests were deliberately stripped bare to ship plants to Britain. Many orchid hunters died in the process, and most of the orchids died, too. The few surviving plants which made it […]
You can build orchids … with Legos! The beloved children’s toys aren’t just for kids anymore. All sorts of great designs are available, even Moth Orchids. They’ve become fun home and office decorations, often popping up in the backgrounds of Zoom calls. In addition to orchids, botanical models include bonsais, succulents, and floral bouquets, all […]
Take a mind-blowing vacation and help endangered orchids at the same time! The Orchid Conservation Alliance (OCA) offers Orchids in the Wild Ecotours, expert-led trips to see orchids in their native homes. They range as far away as Madagascar, and as close as Ohio. This year’s itinerary also includes Italy, Brazil, and South Africa. The […]
Lots of hard work goes into winning orchid awards. Growers spend long hours mastering plant care in order to coax out exceptional blooms. Orchid judges spend years studying and training to find and evaluate those perfect flowers. It’s challenging work. These photos spotlight winners at recent shows. The first row of pictures above features an […]
Kids will get stuck on orchids with the American Orchid Society’s (AOS) engaging gifts for children. The Stuck on Orchids sticker book includes stickers, basic info, and opportunities for coloring. It covers seven of the most common orchid varieties. The Orchid Nonsense Coloring Book features over 40 designs of orchids, animals, and characters, ready for […]
Variegated plants are in vogue these days, just like they have been many times throughout history. Centuries before Instagram made them the latest fad, orchid lovers in East Asia noticed leaf color variations in Cymbidiums and Samurai Orchids, and began cultivating them. Of course, many plant varieties besides orchids have colorful leaves, too. Gardens around […]
Did you know that birds can’t smell sweet scents, so orchids instead use bright reds, oranges, yellows, or purples to attract them? The brilliant minds of Smithsonian Gardens have made a great resource about orchid pollination. The charming webpage explains how birds, moths, butterflies, bees, wasps, and flies fertilize flowers. It also includes beautiful photos, […]
Botanical illustration is both an art and a science. It emphasizes scientific accuracy, but also captures the magic of plants. The Smithsonian video below highlights three important women who were botanical illustrators. They painted precise details of orchid blooms, but often didn’t receive credit or professional respect. Sarah Drake, Blanche Ames, and Regina Olson Hughes […]
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