The 71st Annual Pacific Orchid Expo runs from this Friday, February 16th through Sunday, February 18th, with a special preview night on Thursday, February 15th. It happens at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park, at 9th Avenue and Lincoln Way, in San Francisco. Tickets are available in advance for a discount, or at […]
Pansy Orchids, or Miltoniopsis, have brilliant colors, sweet scents, and delightful waterfalls. This popular genus resembles pansies, and features pink, yellow, red, purple, or white blooms. Colorful patterns on their flower lips appear to flow downwards, and are called waterfalls. There’s lots of confusion between Miltoniopsis and Miltonia. Miltonias are a closely related genus, requiring […]
The winter solstice comes and goes, but Moth Orchids keep on blooming. This purple beauty was a gift from a neighbor. It’s been flowering over two months already, and doesn’t show any sign of slowing down. Certainly, it inspires warm thoughts on the shortest day of the year. I admit that I’ve sometimes mocked Moth […]
What’s my favorite orchid? My answer to that question has always been “whatever’s in bloom right now.” Of course, there are special ones, but I can’t narrow it down to a single winner. Instead, I’ll invent a few categories to help out. Favorite flowers – Masdevallias are my favorites, but it was a tough call […]
I’m captivated by this legendary Masdevallia veitchiana with its bold colors. In mid-October, it opened a gorgeous flower. A few weeks later, it was followed by a second, and then a third! The oldest blossom has been damaged by the elements, but it’s still standing tall. Together, all three are putting on a great show […]
This elegant Lady Slipper reliably graces me with a single bloom over autumn and winter. It sits high above its mottled leaves on a curving stem, and lasts as long as three months. This year’s flower spike is 14 inches (36 cm) tall, and strong enough that the bloom doesn’t need staking. The rich colors […]
After a few warm, sunny autumn days, we’re delighting in indoor orchids. The first two photos show my Maxillaria marginata, a great intermediate grower. Its flowers are similar to its close relative the Coconut Orchid, but not as fragrant. Long stems hold them away from the plant, so they don’t get lost in the leaves […]
The seasons cycle on as fall arrives today in the northern hemisphere. Autumnal orchid colors include the reds, yellows, oranges, purples, and browns of falling leaves, along with the blues of a crisp, clear sky. These photos are from last winter’s Pacific Orchid Expo in San Francisco. Happy equinox.
This summer’s Orchids in the Park event filled Golden Gate Park with truly extraordinary flowers. My first post simply scratched the surface. Here are more photos, featuring the species, the hybrids, the latest trends, and the classics. It’s tough to pick favorites, but since I’ve grown Masdevallia chaparensis at home for many years, it’s already […]
Dave and I have been so fortunate to vacation in Hawaii over the years, but we’ve only been to Maui once. It was in 2005, before this old blog began. Maybe it’s a cliché to call it paradise, but it’s truly deserving of the title. These photos show a tiny fraction of the botanical wonders […]
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