Singapore’s Cloud Forest Conservatory is a great place for orchids. It houses large displays of orchid species and hybrids, along with ferns, carnivorous plants, and other tropical greenery. The enormous glasshouse replicates a cloud forest, which is a high mountain forest bathed in constant mist and cool temperatures. Some of these varieties, like Masdevallias, Odonts, […]
The Singapore Botanic Gardens (SBG) is one of the most popular gardens in the world. Founded in 1859, it’s played a pivotal role in Singapore’s orchid industry, but there’s more than orchids in its 203 acres (82 hectares.) This tropical paradise is home to the National Orchid Garden, and also a Ginger Garden, Children’s Garden, […]
Earlier this month, Dave traveled to Singapore for work, and had some time to play tourist, too. It was his first trip to Asia, his first time across the international dateline, and his first visit to the tiny, tropical island nation. He returned with lots of photos, including many, many orchids. This first post shows […]
The earth has seasons because it’s tilted. If the planet’s axis weren’t tipped over by 23.5°, we wouldn’t have long daylight hours over summer, or long hours of darkness over winter. If we were perfectly upright, we might have slight seasonal weather changes, but the climate probably wouldn’t vary much. Every day might be like […]
It’s always a pleasure to see orchids growing happily in the wild. During a recent family hike in Colorado’s San Juan National Forest, we spotted a couple of native orchid varieties. The first three rows of photos show the charming Goodyera oblongifolia, or Western Rattlesnake Plaintain. It’s named for its reticulated leaves which resemble snakeskin. […]
I’ve sorted through more photos from last month’s Orchids in the Park event in San Francisco, and it’s easy to see why I always rave about it. With thousands of flowers, it’s a veritable feast for the eyes, nose, and mind. The vast orchid family provides a constant new supply of wonders, even for those […]
The International Odontoglossum Alliance (IOA) is a great resource for everyone who loves this family of cool growing orchids. Odontoglossums, called Odonts for short, are native to high elevations in the Andes. There are many popular varieties like the species and hybrid in the photos above. Foggy climates, like the San Francisco Bay Area, suit […]
Orchids are not just denizens of the tropics; they live almost everywhere in the world. Even the high elevations of Colorado’s Four Corners region host many native species. Two of them are shown here: the Fairy Slipper, or Calypso bulbosa, and the Bog Orchid, or Platanthera. My mother-in-law took these photos in early July while […]
Orchids in the Park is San Francisco’s summer orchid show, and it’s always full of delights. At last month’s event, I heard many visitors gasping in wonder as they walked though the front door. Everyone from novices to experts could find something to marvel at. The weird and wonderful flowers in this post were only […]
Mark your calendars for Orchids in the Park next weekend! These photos from last year’s event are just a small taste of what to expect. In addition to the show, there will be vendors from around the world, orchid care classes, and a class on botanical illustration. Orchids in the Park takes place July 20th […]
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