Ok, so it’s not really Jurassic Park, just the Tree Fern Garden in Golden Gate Park. But this small corner of San Francisco sure feels prehistoric. Having grown up with cold northeastern winters, I only saw ferns as houseplants until I moved to California. Seeing a fern the size of a tree still makes me […]
January’s chilly start has been perfect for this beautiful Arpophyllum. Here on the California coast, this Cattleya relative is blooming outdoors on our back deck, and it’s easy to see how it acquired the nickname “Hyacinth Orchid.” This gorgeous plant was a gift from Dave’s parents, and it’s proving to be a reliable bloomer over […]
On the longest night of the year in the northern half of the planet, we mark the winter solstice. With short days, many holidays celebrate this season with lights. Changing day length occurs because the earth is tilted as we orbit around the sun, so you could say that we’re celebrating the fact that we’re […]
With a San Francisco rainy winter kicked into gear, the Cymbidiums in the back garden have bloomed right on schedule. About 50 Cymbidium species are native to an area from India to Japan, and south to Australia. They have been symbols of virtue and friendship in China since Confucius praised them 2500 years ago, and […]
Continuing the topic of mini orchids, here’s one with a name that’s bigger than the plant itself. Trichosalpinx may be a mouthful, but it’s an easy orchid to grow. Its tiny reddish-purple flowers bloom in tightly packed clusters. Each flower is just 1/10 inch (2.5 mm) tall. Dave’s macro photography skills make it possible to […]
My good friend and fellow orchid nut Kim lives a few blocks away. She’s just on the other side of Dolores Park in San Francisco’s Mission District, and our microclimates are very close. Like me, she’s run out of room for orchids inside, so she enjoys cool growing varieties that can stay outside all year. […]
Sobralia flowers never fail to impress. Many species in this genus have big blooms. With flowers as large as 10 inches (25 cm,) this species is one of the most remarkable in the family. The flowers look like Cattleyas, but the similarities end there. Unlike Cattleyas, this Sobralia species likes heavy water and fertilizer, and […]
Pseudo-what? That word is pseudobulb, pronounced “SOO-doh-bulb.” Like the bulbs of tulips and daffodils, orchid pseudobulbs store water and nutrients during the dormant season. Many popular orchids, like Cattleyas, Miltonias, and Oncidiums, have them at the bases of their leaves. Pseudobulbs come in a wide variety of forms. They can be egg-shaped, spherical, or flat. […]
San Francisco’s mild climate has been true to form this fall, with recent warm and sunny November days. Even though we’re lacking red and yellow autumn leaves, the garden has both bright colors and muted tones. Fuchsias in the first 2 photos enjoy our cool, foggy climate. It’s no wonder we always have some in […]
These tiny, charming flowers belong to a Stenoglottis, one of the easiest African orchids to grow. With purple polka dots and fringed lips, the flowers provide an enchanting show from late summer though autumn. Dozens of blooms are crowded onto each flower spike, and open sequentially over a few months. This Stenoglottis is not an […]
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