AboutOrchids

Like all living organisms, orchids adapt to survive. An orchid arrived on a remote island, without the bumblebee species which pollinates it. Goodyera henryi lives in parts of east Asia, including the Japanese mainland. When it reached Kozu Island, it might have died out without reproducing. However, Goodyera similis, a closely related species, also lives on the island, along with its wasp pollinator. The wasps managed to cross-fertilize the new arrival. This created a hybrid, which looks similar to Goodyera henryi, but has a slightly different flower shape that accommodates wasps. Kobe University researchers were surprised to find the natural hybrid when they ran a genetic analysis. The discovery can help scientists understand how plants evolve in changing circumstances. If pollinators like bees become extinct, orchids may be able to adapt and survive. Be sure to click on the informative graphic at the top of the article.

Happy New Year! There are big shows in Tokyo and Miami this month, as well as extended exhibits in Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Filoli Gardens in the SF Bay Area. Many events are designed to counter winter’s chill with lush, tropical beauty.

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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 Orchids as “supermarket orchids.” Even though they may be common nowadays, they’re still stunning and fantastic. I love this orchid’s rich color, its elegant display, and that fascinating lip. As daylight returns, I’m looking forward to enjoying more months of flowers. Happy solstice.

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 to choose just one. It’d be easy to pick Masdevallia coccinea or Masdevallia veitchiana, but I’m going to say it’s Masdevallia chaparensis. My plant was a gift from a friend. Its charming spots look like they could belong to a purple jaguar.

Favorite fragrance – Dendrobium x delicatum is an Australian hybrid. Its flowers aren’t big or colorful, but they have a rich, sweet honey perfume. Mine grows outdoors all year, reliably blooming for a couple months each spring. I can often smell it from halfway across the garden.

Favorite overall plant – Paphiopedilum venustum var. album is a showstopper, boasting dramatic green and white flowers. The beautifully mottled leaves guarantee this Lady Slipper is attractive even when out of bloom.

Favorite for sentimental reasons – I don’t even remember when or where I got this big pink Cymbidium hybrid. It must have been during the 1990’s. I don’t know its name. Dave and I repotted this enormous plant a couple years ago into a 2-foot (61 cm) wide pot. Sometimes it stays in bloom for 11 months, only taking a short break before it begins again.

Favorite for toughness – My big red Epidendrum has flowered constantly outdoors for over 20 years, enduring heat waves, hail storms, powerful winds, cold spells, and raccoon mischief. Unusually, it readily grows from seed in the garden. It may be Epidendrum x obrienianum, but I’m not sure. I’ve shared its keikis with many friends and neighbors over the decades.

Favorite that I’ve lost – The original white Moth Orchid that got me hooked on orchids was a gift from a friend who later died. It bloomed regularly for over 20 years, but I sadly lost it to a virus. Fortunately, I still have photos and memories.

Despite being the slowest month for orchid events, December has shows, classes, and festivals listed on four continents. Many orchid societies have holiday parties, so check with your local group for more festivities.

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 in our backyard. And, there are three more flower buds emerging. You can rest assured that I’ll be blogging and bragging about this beauty as its show goes on.

Would you like to name a new orchid? The American Orchid Society (AOS) has teamed up with expert growers who will let you name a new hybrid for a $1000 USD donation to the AOS. It’s the perfect gift for yourself or another orchid lover. The donations will be used to fund conservation, research, and education. Your chosen name will be officially registered with the UK’s Royal Horticultural Society. To start, go to the AOS donation page, and choose “Petals of Generosity: Legacy Orchid Program” from the “Distribution” field. You can also contact the AOS directly at TheAOS@aos.org, or call 305-740-2010 for more info. Hybrids available include Cattleyas, Cymbidiums, Phals, Paphs, Catasetums, and more. This is a limited time offer. And just in case you can’t think of a good name, I’ll suggest that Cattleya Marc Cohen would sound really great.

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 are augmented by rich textures, as well. This is a bumpy, fuzzy flower. The stem is fuzzy, and the intricate bloom has hairs along the petals, lip, and staminode. The striking green stripes on the dorsal sepal (the top of the flower) aren’t just colors; they’re also raised lines. Reddish-purple spots on the petals are raised bumps. Everything about this bloom is elevated, curved, or fringed.

You can see the last time I gushed over this flower in this previous post.

Shows, sales, classes, and conferences fill this month’s calendar. Don’t miss these great orchid events.

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The IUCN Orchid Specialist Group does vital conservation work. IUCN stands for the International Union for Conservation of Nature, a global organization which strives to preserve nature and promote sustainable development. Thousands of experts volunteer their time to support IUCN’s projects, including the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Red List scientifically assesses the extinction risk for plants, animals, and all living creatures. The Orchid Specialist Group (OSG) was first created in 1984 to focus on orchid conservation. Thousands of orchid species have been studied, and many are listed as endangered, close to extinction, or already extinct. Most orchid species still need to be surveyed.

Orchid experts can volunteer with the OSG by contacting them online. Everyone can enjoy their wonderful orchid photo gallery, newsletters, and informative info on their website. Their work is essential to save endangered orchids.