AboutOrchids

For every hue of an autumn forest, there’s an orchid with that color. The orchid family spans the rainbow, so there are plenty of autumn matches to be found. Vibrant red maple, rich yellow gingko — orchids boast them all, every shade. Enjoy the colors of autumn, and happy equinox.

This orchid doesn’t win any points for being showy. Nobody gasps in delight when they see its flowers, or gushes over its colors. Epidendrum peperomia is a mini orchid species with flowers that remind me of beetles. It’s quite distinct from its larger orchid relatives, like the reed-stem Epidendrums, which flaunt tall clusters of brilliant […]

We moved from San Francisco to Pacifica over two years ago, and ever since, I’ve been learning how to grow orchids next to the ocean. Since I keep my cool growers outdoors, they’re subjected to all the elements which Mother Nature can throw at them. These outdoor orchids prove their toughness day after day, and […]

Are they birds, planes, or alien spaceships? No, they’re just more photos from last month’s Orchids in the Park show in San Francisco. They include a few which are bizarre or otherworldly, and others which just don’t look like flowers. With fantastic shapes and brilliant colors, some seem to stretch the boundaries of what flowers […]

This isn’t just a miniature orchid — it’s a micro orchid! When we went to Orchids in the Park a couple weeks ago, nobody was expecting to see one of the tiniest orchid flowers in the world. Dave didn’t have his macro lens, but he did pretty well with his regular camera. This mini Platystele […]

Scientists are working to restore wild populations of Florida’s native orchids, including the famous Ghost Orchid. Seedlings grown in labs are being transplanted in the Everglades. So far, results have been promising, with many young plants surviving the move. For most of the year, these bizarre, leafless orchids are simply masses of roots attached to […]

I’ve found more great flowers from Orchids in the Park 2016. Fragrant orchids, mini orchids, jewel orchids and more filled the County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park. Moth Orchids and Lady Slippers abounded, too. Check back soon for more photos from this spectacular event.

Orchids in the Park always bring incredible orchids to Golden Gate Park. This past weekend’s event featured both modern hybrids and spectacular, unusual species. Enjoy the photos from this dazzling show. If this blog sometimes sound like a broken record about the endless diversity of the orchid family, these photos illustrate why. Even veteran orchid […]

Don’t miss Orchids in the Park this weekend! San Francisco’s annual summer orchid show takes place in the County Fair Building at 9th Avenue & Lincoln Way, near the entrance to Strybing Arboretum. These photos from recent years hint at the botanical wonders to expect at this weekend’s event. Besides orchid displays, there will also […]

Don’t be confused by the name — an Orchid Cactus isn’t an orchid, but it does have amazing flowers. Orchid Cacti are tropical succulents with big, vivid blooms that earn an orchid comparison. Also known as epiphyllums, epicacti, or just epis, there are many varieties in a range of brilliant colors, including yellows, pinks, reds, […]