Archive for the 'Photos' Category

More Photos from Pacific Orchid Expo 2024

Tuesday, March 12th, 2024

By the time I leave an orchid show, like last month’s Pacific Orchid Expo, I’m on orchid overload. Sorting through our photos, I find fascinating details I hadn’t noticed, and I’m even more amazed. Brilliant colors, showy flowers, and strange shapes reveal themselves. And there are always new hybrids, and species I’ve never seen before. […]

Timeless Orchids at Pacific Orchid Expo 2024

Tuesday, February 20th, 2024

San Francisco’s Pacific Orchid Expo is always spectacular, and this past weekend’s event did not disappoint. It was full of stunning flowers, and the eager visitors included a few old friends. We all enjoyed the exhibits, the awarded orchids, and the sales area. Among the vibrant colors, there was a purple Dendrobium with an FCC, […]

Don’t Miss the Pacific Orchid Expo This Weekend

Monday, February 12th, 2024

The 71st Annual Pacific Orchid Expo runs from this Friday, February 16th through Sunday, February 18th, with a special preview night on Thursday, February 15th. It happens at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park, at 9th Avenue and Lincoln Way, in San Francisco. Tickets are available in advance for a discount, or at […]

Pansy Orchids and Spectacular Waterfalls

Wednesday, January 24th, 2024

Pansy Orchids, or Miltoniopsis, have brilliant colors, sweet scents, and delightful waterfalls. This popular genus resembles pansies, and features pink, yellow, red, purple, or white blooms. Colorful patterns on their flower lips appear to flow downwards, and are called waterfalls. There’s lots of confusion between Miltoniopsis and Miltonia. Miltonias are a closely related genus, requiring […]

Moth Orchid Warms up the Winter Solstice

Thursday, December 21st, 2023

The winter solstice comes and goes, but Moth Orchids keep on blooming. This purple beauty was a gift from a neighbor. It’s been flowering over two months already, and doesn’t show any sign of slowing down. Certainly, it inspires warm thoughts on the shortest day of the year. I admit that I’ve sometimes mocked Moth […]

What’s My Favorite Orchid?

Wednesday, December 13th, 2023

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 […]

More Blooms from a Legendary Masdevallia Orchid

Tuesday, November 28th, 2023

I’m captivated by this legendary Masdevallia veitchiana with its bold colors. In mid-October, it opened a gorgeous flower. A few weeks later, it was followed by a second, and then a third! The oldest blossom has been damaged by the elements, but it’s still standing tall. Together, all three are putting on a great show […]

An Elegant Lady Slipper Orchid

Monday, November 13th, 2023

This elegant Lady Slipper reliably graces me with a single bloom over autumn and winter. It sits high above its mottled leaves on a curving stem, and lasts as long as three months. This year’s flower spike is 14 inches (36 cm) tall, and strong enough that the bloom doesn’t need staking. The rich colors […]

Delighting in Indoor Orchid Blooms

Tuesday, October 10th, 2023

After a few warm, sunny autumn days, we’re delighting in indoor orchids. The first two photos show my Maxillaria marginata, a great intermediate grower. Its flowers are similar to its close relative the Coconut Orchid, but not as fragrant. Long stems hold them away from the plant, so they don’t get lost in the leaves […]

Autumn Orchid Colors

Friday, September 22nd, 2023

The seasons cycle on as fall arrives today in the northern hemisphere.  Autumnal orchid colors include the reds, yellows, oranges, purples, and browns of falling leaves, along with the blues of a crisp, clear sky. These photos are from last winter’s Pacific Orchid Expo in San Francisco. Happy equinox.