Moth Orchids, or Phals, have been popular Mother’s Day gifts for years, but sometimes it’s time for something different. The orchid world has endless variety to choose from; these photos show just a tiny sample of what’s available besides Phals. Other popular varieties include Dendrobiums, Cymbidiums, Dancing Lady Orchids, Lady Slippers, Pansy Orchids, and Epidendrums. Each […]
The San Francisco Botanical Garden is bursting with new growth after a rainy winter. Covering about 55 acres (22 hectares) of Golden Gate Park, the garden is always full of life. During a recent visit, there were lots of spring blooms, and everything from tree ferns to giant redwoods were sporting new greenery. Also known […]
There’s a saying that you become an orchid expert when you’ve killed your weight in orchids. Some people wince in horror when I repeat that, but orchid lovers usually just laugh and nod. Growing orchids means sometimes making mistakes and killing plants. I’ve grown them for over 25 years, and earned my expert status a […]
Spathoglottis, or Ground Orchids, are staples of the tropics. They’re sturdy enough to serve as landscaping plants in shopping plazas, like these orchids on the island of Kauai. Grown alone in pots, or in flowerbeds with other tropicals, they make gorgeous displays. These terrestrials are easy to keep in the tropics, but hard to grow […]
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 […]
As today’s equinox brings spring to Northern California, we’re happy to be done with our long drought. Lots of strong storms over the winter have filled reservoirs and piled up the Sierra snowpack, but they have also caused some damage. We’ve had some minor problems in our garden, but most of the bruises on my […]
The Pacific Orchid and Garden Expo reliably highlights the best of the orchid world. Blooms abound, from the latest hybrids to obscure species. Dave and I are so busy with our cameras, but we are often stopped in our tracks by the stunning displays. Individual flowers and artful arrangements compete for attention from every direction. […]
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 […]
The Pacific Orchid and Garden Exposition was a great success this past weekend. After many years at Fort Mason, the event returned to its old home in Golden Gate Park’s Hall of Flowers. Even as visitors managed tougher parking and big crowds, it was still obvious that the flowers were just as magical as previous […]
McBryde Garden on the island of Kauai is one of Hawaii’s extraordinary places. Set in a verdant valley, it’s part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, with a mission of conservation and research, especially for Hawaii’s endangered native flora. Dave and I were lucky enough to visit recently and enjoy its amazing sights. The garden […]
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