When I first bought this unusual Japanese species at Pacific Orchid Expo 2009, I didn’t know if I could grow it. My purchase consisted of 3 tiny Orchis tubers, each smaller than a pea. Along with planting instructions for this mini terrestrial, the vendor included its Japanese name, uchouran, meaning “butterfly wing orchid.” I planted […]
To celebrate spring’s arrival, here are some flora and fauna pictures from our recent visit to Strybing Arboretum in Golden Gate Park. We didn’t see any orchids, but we did find a few of the garden’s other natural wonders. For much of the country, winter has hardly made an appearance. San Francisco’s weather has been […]
As winter winds down, it’s still the dry season in the native homes of many orchids. They often take the opportunity to flower before the wet season begins. Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, Oncidiums, and others need this dormant period to bloom. Even when dormant orchids spring into bloom, resist the urge to water more. Many dormant types, […]
When it’s easy to find Phals, Oncidiums, and Epidendrums in any supermarket, it is possible to become jaded by orchids. Fortunately, the vast orchid family is always full of surprises, and these photos from Pacific Orchid Expo 2012 certainly prove my point. Whether it’s an eye-catching hybrid, an unusual species, or a fresh color combination, […]
The Pacific Orchid Expo, the largest orchid show in the USA, delighted thousands of visitors in San Francisco this past weekend. To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge, this year’s theme was “A Salute to the Golden Gate.” Dave and I enjoyed a sunny view of the world’s most famous bridge on […]
A single blog post can only scratch the surface of Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden (HTBG), so here’s a second post with more photos from our recent visit. Of course, HTBG has plenty of orchids, large and small. However, in this garden even the orchids have competition. Breathtaking flowers line the garden paths. Tropical colors steal […]
Many regular readers of this blog already know that, for me, heaven has an address. A short drive up from Hilo on the Big Island, Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden (HTBG) is an earthly paradise. In the natural greenhouse of Onomea Valley, HTBG offers meandering trails through a tropical rainforest. The flowers may look unreal, but […]
Orchid make beautiful, elegant, and fashionable Valentine gifts. Whether for love or friendship, they’re popular holiday flowers. However, picking the best one can be tricky. Orchid buying tips can be helpful for smart shoppers, but many orchid purchases aren’t about logic. Most of us have succumbed to the impulse buy. For me, it usually involves […]
Coelia bella has a graceful beauty, a rich fragrance, and a musical name. Its delightful purple, white, and yellow flowers emerge like little trumpets, and have the sweet scent of marzipan or almond oil. This species is native to Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Honduras. Coelia is easy to pronounce; just ignore the “o” […]
I’ve already blogged about my objections to watering orchids with ice cubes. It doesn’t take a degree in botany to see that tropical plants, especially warm growers like the Phal in the first photo below, don’t like cold temps. But there’s another, less obvious reason why ice isn’t right for orchids — ice cubes don’t […]
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