AboutOrchids

South Africa’s Mail & Guardian details the problems of soaring vanilla prices in Madagascar. Vanilla is the orchid that we all love to eat, and the cost of vanilla beans has been rising for years. Droughts and cyclones have contributed to increases. But what might be a boon for the economy also brings a lot of danger. One farmer explains that “The higher the price of vanilla, the earlier in the year the robbers come to tear the pods off the vine.” Farmers are often robbed, and sometimes even killed for their crop.

As it’s grown more expensive, vanilla has become tied to other illicit activities as well. The beans are used for money laundering in the illegal rosewood trade, and vanilla farming contributes to deforestation. Speculators hoard beans to await higher prices. Read more about Madagascar’s problems in a separate article in The Guardian.

April is a busy month for orchids, with major events in London, Dublin, Singapore, Philly, Toronto, Capetown and many more. Of course, bigger isn’t always better. I’m guessing that the orchids & chocolate show in little La Capelle, France would be deliciously fantastic, too.

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Moth Orchids are one of the most popular houseplants in the world, and there’s a steady stream of new varieties. These photos highlight some of the latest hybrid trends. Many feature new patterns or color mixes. Others are bigger, rounder, and flatter. Miniatures are smaller than ever, and harlequins continue to flaunt their artistry. Some unusual types result from genetic mutations. Known as “pelorics,” their petals mutate to look like the flower lip, or vice versa. The very first photo and very last photo in this post are pelorics.

These pictures are from last month’s Pacific Orchid Expo and last summer’s Orchids in the Park, both in San Francisco. As new hybrids emerge, and fashions change, expect that there will always be more Moth Orchids.

Check out the video below to immerse yourself in tropical orchid splendor. Foxtail Orchids earn their name from their bushy clusters of flowers. They’re also known for their sweet scents. Having savored the strong perfume of a single plant in bloom, I can’t imagine how powerful the fragrance must be in the Vietnamese garden in this video. Foxtail Orchids are Vanda relatives which belong to the Rhynchostylis genus, and come in white, and many shades of pink and magenta.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRWIJjvmvK8&feature=youtu.be7

Welcome today’s spring equinox with more photos from the recent Pacific Orchid Expo. Northern California has been greeted with a chilly rain to mark the day. Our rainy season was late this winter, but began in earnest a few weeks ago. It should be enough to keep our multi-year drought at bay. Of course, it’s best to always treat clean water as a precious resource, even in years when there’s plenty of precipitation. Enjoy the blooms.

What do rare orchids and particle physics have in common? The folks at Fermilab are in the business of subatomic discoveries, but they’re also part of a project to restore native prairie. On their campus outside of Chicago, they’ve been bringing back native plants like the Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid. This species is endangered throughout its range in Canada and the USA. Fermilab ecologists have recreated its wet prairie habitat, removed invasive species, and started planting the rare orchids. With continued care, they hope to reestablish a healthy ecosystem on their grounds. It should be a great boost for the prospects of the Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid.

The Smithsonian illustrates why orchid conservation is tricky. Orchid seeds require a symbiotic fungus to grow, so saving seeds isn’t enough. Experts need to understand each orchid species’ relation to its essential fungi. “First you have to find the fungus,” says Smithsonian botanist Melissa McCormick, “then you have to figure out what it is, and what it needs to survive, which is of course, what the orchid needs to survive.” In addition, scientists have to study growing conditions and pollinator relationships. Read more about the challenges and successes of orchid conservation, and enjoy great orchid photos, at Smithsonian.com.

There aren’t enough superlatives to do justice to the Pacific Orchid Expo. These photos, and those in the first post, are just a drop in the bucket of the plants that recently adorned the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. Every year, the show features extravagant colors, rich perfumes, and fascinating orchid diversity. With award-winning flowers and elaborate displays, it’s a brilliant orchid spectacle. Enjoy the pictures.

Tropical beauty abounds at the New York Botanical Garden’s annual Orchid Show, running from March 3rd – April 22nd. Check out a preview of the floral artistry in the video below. Visitors can enjoy the blooms during regular daytime hours, or with music, dancing, and cocktails during Orchid Evenings.

March is a busy month for orchids, with events on every continent (ok, except Antarctica.) Majors shows are happening in Taiwan, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Montreal, Paris, and Shanghai. All of these events are great opportunities to enjoy amazing flowers.

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