AboutOrchids

Orchid-gami lets everyone to create great orchid art. It’s an educational project from the North American Orchid Conservation Center and the United States Botanic Garden. They’re created templates for 3D models of native North American orchids. Download the files for free, then print, cut, fold, and glue. Teachers, parents, and kids will love assembling orchids. In the process, they learn about fascinating native plants and their conservation issues. Put a Ghost Orchid in your window, or a Spotted Lady’s Slipper on your table. There are different difficulty levels indicated in the instructions, so start with easier ones. Many models are available as punch-outs, ready to assemble, so that you don’t need to print them yourself. Happy folding!

I’ve got garden pictures to share, but mostly this post is a chance to brag about my Epidendrum, which has been in constant bloom for over 17 years. It began flowering in early 2003, and has never stopped. Through heat waves, driving rains, light frosts, strong winds, pounding hailstorms, pest attacks, and smoky conditions, it persists. Each red and yellow blossom lasts a week or more. A constant resupply of buds crowns the flower spikes, which grow taller until they exhaust themselves. Then they’re replaced by new growth and fresh spikes. The plant itself is about 4 feet (1.2 m) tall by 3 feet (0.9 m) wide, and it lives outdoors all year. It’s a keiki factory, and for years, I’ve given babies to friends and neighbors.

The other garden pictures begin with a brilliant orange California Poppy. There’s also a bright pink Cochlioda vulcanica. It’s a very reliable miniature cool grower, now known as Oncidium vulcanicum. The last two photos show a praying mantis that’s been happily living in one of my Cymbidiums. No matter its alien appearance, I’m happy to have this predator making its home in our garden. It can help itself to all the pests it wants. Whenever I water, it runs up the leaves like it’s greeting me. Really, it’s just trying to escape the cool shower from the hose.

This is the first events post since March. These are virtual except for the Singapore show, which promises to follow COVID19 safety guidelines. Check with your local orchid society for more shows, meetings, talks, and sales which have gone online.

In The Guardian, British botanist James Wong offers tips on figuring out if that rare plant you’re buying is illegal. Rare plants, including endangered orchids, are taken from the wild by unscrupulous sellers. It’s illegal, and contributes to extinctions. In addition, wild plants are unlikely to survive in cultivation. So how can responsible gardeners know if a purchase is legal? Wong’s advice includes buying plants with mass-produced perfection, with all leaves and flowers in great shape.

Plants grown in nursery “captivity” will be cosseted, meaning perfectly symmetrical growth, an upright habit, and zero damage from pests or diseases; in other words, an incredibly standardised, “showroom-new” look. But wild-collected plants have a contorted, asymmetrical character that being grown in a harsher environment gives – which is precisely why they are considered so valuable; and this is a sign that you may be viewing something illegal.

Be especially wary of online purchases from unknown vendors and social media sites. Illegal plants may be included among listings of legitimate plants. Some sellers are blatant enough to show photos of the plants they’ve removed from the wild. If the seller is in another country but doesn’t mention plant import or export certificates, that could be a red flag that the sale is illicit. Additionally, it’s important to hold tech companies responsible for illegal plants listed on their sites. Demand that they responsibly police their sellers to root out illegal plant sales.

We’ve got the equinox blues. No, no, there aren’t any blue flowers here. These blues are the sadness kind, arising from a pandemic, climate change catastrophes, and a fascist government in this country that’s already cheating in the next election. Fortunately, pretty flowers are a great distraction. Celebrate today’s equinox, and enjoy these stunning blooms from an old orchid show. They’re a momentary respite from all the bad things that are happening. Draw strength from them. We all need it.

Fuchsias have lots of flower power, and are perennial garden favorites for humans and hummingbirds. They feature charming blooms which dangle like bells in soft pastel colors, or bright reds, pinks, or purples. They’re great companion plants for orchids, too. Our fuchsias, shown in the first two photos above, grow happily in the sun alongside the cool-growing Cymbidiums, Epidendrums, and Dendrobiums that live on our back patio all year.

Fuchsias are native to mountains from South America into Mexico, with a few varieties from New Zealand and South Pacific islands. They need cool summers, high humidity, and regular waterings, which is why they do well in the San Francisco Bay Area, Pacific Northwest, and other locales with mild temperatures and cooling fog. In warmer climates, give these plants more shade, with little or no full sun. In colder climates, they should be brought indoors over winter, or treated as annuals. They’re fairly easy to start from cuttings, making them ideal for sharing with fellow gardeners.

Fuchsia gall mites can be a big problem, causing deformed and stunted leaves and flowers. These pests are difficult to control, but fortunately some varieties are resistant. I find that it’s easier to grow resistant ones than it is to constantly spray insecticides.

Beyond the colorful hybrids grown by most gardeners, there are some fascinating species. The first two photos in the row above show Fuchsia procubens, a marvelous New Zealand native that I’ve kept for many years. Its petite blossoms are bright green, yellow, and red, capped off with blue pollen. The final photo shows another remarkable variety, Fuchsia paniculata, also known as the Fuchsia Tree. When we lived in San Francisco, our garden had a vigorous Fuchsia Tree which was two stories tall. Its clusters of small flowers were much beloved by butterflies, birds, and bees. Both of these species are resistant to mites.

Orchids are one of the largest plant families in existence, and that family is still growing. There’s always a steady stream of orchids which are new to science. Recent discoveries include a Vanilla species from Vietnam, a Palmorchis from the Amazon, and a bright orange Dendrochilum from the Philippines. There’s also a fascinating little Corybas, or Helmut Orchid, with bright pink stripes on its leaves.

Most scientists are clearer nowadays about saying that these species are “new to science,” not “new discoveries.” This is, of course, because many of these plants have long been known to indigenous peoples. Indeed, botanical papers describing new finds often talk about traditional uses of those plants by native peoples, for food, medicine, or cultural purposes. That’s proof that many “undiscovered” species were well known by locals long before they were found by botanists. Catch up on more orchids new to science at Novataxa.com.

For over 120 years, the UK’s Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has employed an official artist to render portraits of award-winning orchids. This stunning art is not only beautiful, but also precise in its botanical elements, making it better than photographs for discerning floral details. Since 1897, there have been nine official artists who have painted over 7,000 plants. The first was Nellie Roberts, whose superb watercolors left a high standard for those who followed her. The current artist, Deborah Lambkin, began the job in 2005. She creates art that captures the flowers’ award-winning qualities in perfect detail. Paintings show the exact size of the original blooms. Lambkin says “My aim is to achieve the highest level of scientific accuracy and the closest colour match possible.” To enjoy your own collection of these botanical masterpieces, check out The Orchid: From the Archives of the Royal Horticultural Society.

Six months ago, I did a regular post about March’s upcoming orchid events. It included a note about a few cancellations because of COVID19. I certainly had no idea how much the world would change since then. By April, almost everything was cancelled, and it would have been irresponsible for me to publicize any remaining shows that could become contagion hotspots. For the first time in many years, I didn’t do a monthly events post. I haven’t done one since. I’m looking forward to the day when shows, auctions, seminars, and conferences can resume in person. In the meantime, enjoy these photos from the last show I attended, Pacific Orchid Expo 2020, back in February.

Of course, there are far greater tragedies than orchid shows being cancelled. Fortunately, Dave and I are doing fine. We live in a great town near San Francisco. Most people here are taking the virus seriously. Almost everybody wears masks and respects distancing. So far, the Bay Area has avoided the worst of the pandemic as a result. But with a monstrously incompetent, corrupt, and immoral president in charge, this country has no chance of getting this virus under control. For now, it’s all about virtual events. Many orchid societies, like the San Francisco Orchid Society, have monthly virtual meetings. The American Orchid Society has a catalog of recorded orchid care webinars, and regularly offers new ones. We are all becoming creative, and figuring out how to hold more gatherings online. Here’s hoping for the day when we can resume enjoying orchids together in person.

As the world’s largest tropical island, New Guinea has over 13,000 plant species, more than even Madagascar or Borneo. With varied habitats, like coastal jungles, tropical rainforests, high cloud forests, and alpine grasslands, there’s incredible biodiversity. Two-thirds of the island’s species are found nowhere else. Using their botanical riches, ancient New Guineans domesticated two of the world’s most valuable crops, bananas and sugarcane.

As for orchids, New Guinea is home to over 2400 native varieties. The article includes great pictures of two weird Bulbophyllums: the only known night-blooming orchid, Bulb. nocturnum, and Bulb. tarantula, with spidery flowers.

The native peoples of New Guinea have done well as stewards of the land, but the modern world is encroaching. Sadly, their incredible heritage is threatened by deforestation, roads which fragment forests, and climate change. Scientists are working to safeguard the island’s wildlife, but also need more funding. They have taken this primary step of creating a conservation checklist. Indonesia, which controls the western half of the island, has pledged to protect 70% of remaining forests. If scientists, governments, and local peoples work together, they can save this marvelous place. Read more about New Guinea’s natural wonders at Mongabay.