Archive for the 'Photos' Category

Don’t Miss Orchids in the Park This Weekend

Wednesday, July 26th, 2023

The San Francisco Orchid Society presents Orchids in the Park this Saturday and Sunday, July 29th-30th. The event happens at the SF County Fair Building, 1199 9th Avenue near Lincoln Way, in Golden Gate Park. In addition to amazing orchids, there will be great vendors, hands-on demos, expert growing advice, kids’ activities, and conservation info. […]

More Photos from San Francisco’s Conservatory of Flowers

Saturday, July 22nd, 2023

When I said we had more photos from the Conservatory of Flowers, I wasn’t kidding. There are a lot of magnificent plants packed under that elegant metalwork and white glass. With all the lush greenery, it’s easy to miss some of the orchids, especially the miniatures. To take it in, it’s best to go slowly […]

A Legendary Masdevallia Orchid

Friday, July 7th, 2023

It only takes one look at this orchid to understand why it’s nicknamed the King of the Masdevallias, and is considered a national treasure of Peru. I bought this plant at last winter’s Pacific Orchid Expo, and was thrilled when it recently opened its first bloom, a brilliant orange flower with tiny purple hairs which […]

Lawsuit Launched to Speed Endangered Species Protection for Ghost Orchid

Tuesday, June 27th, 2023

Florida’s rare and fascinating Ghost Orchid features in a best-selling book and an Oscar-winning movie starring Meryl Streep and Nicolas Cage. But somehow it’s still not listed as an official endangered species in the USA. A lawsuit by three conservation groups aims to fix that. George Gann, executive director of the Institute for Regional Conservation, […]

These Coral Root Orchids Are Welcoming Summer

Wednesday, June 21st, 2023

The warm and sunny colors of these Coral Roots Orchids are a perfect way to welcome the first day of summer. Coral Roots, or Corallorhizas, are strange, leafless orchids. They live underground except when they flower. With no chlorophyll, they instead take nourishment from fungi in the soil. The wild orchids in these photos are […]

San Francisco’s Magical Conservatory of Flowers

Saturday, June 17th, 2023

San Francisco’s Conservatory of Flowers is one of the many gems in Golden Gate Park. I’ve blogged about our past visits, but it had been a few years since we were there. Last week, Dave and I remedied that, and we were again in awe of their astounding collection. The glasshouse is magnificent on the […]

More Photos from the Gold Coast Cymbidium Society Show

Sunday, May 28th, 2023

It wasn’t a big event, but there was plenty to enjoy at last month’s Gold Coast Cymbidium Society Show in Redwood City. The variety of Cymbidiums was impressive. Their blooms ranged from large to small, and from spots to stripes to splashes of colors. Of course, there were other orchids there, too. They included a […]

Spring Orchids in Our Garden

Wednesday, May 10th, 2023

After a wet winter, our spring garden is full of orchids, especially Cymbidiums. Some of the flowers were mangled by strong rains, winds, and hail, but there’s still an impressive display. Along with the Cymbidiums in this post, there are also Masdevallias, a Coelogyne, an Epidendrum, and a Dendrobium. Originating from the Himalayas, the Andes, […]

Salesforce Park Adds Life to Downtown San Francisco

Sunday, April 23rd, 2023

Four stories above the streets of San Francisco, a beautiful garden oasis sits among the Financial District’s skyscrapers. Salesforce Park is a living roof for the city’s new transit center. This public park covers 5.4 acres (2.2 hectares,) and features thousands of trees and plants. It also contains walking trails, seating, a children’s play area, […]

More Than Cymbidiums at the Gold Coast Cymbidium Society Show

Friday, April 7th, 2023

Last Saturday’s Gold Coast Cymbidium Society Show in Redwood City wasn’t all Cymbidiums, but there were plenty to be found. Arriving at the event shortly after it began, Dave and I were warned at the front door that the sales area was almost bare, having been quickly bought out by eager shoppers. I didn’t mind, […]