AboutOrchids

Spathoglottis, or Ground Orchids, are staples of the tropics. They’re sturdy enough to serve as landscaping plants in shopping plazas, like these orchids on the island of Kauai.  Grown alone in pots, or in flowerbeds with other tropicals, they make gorgeous displays.

These terrestrials are easy to keep in the tropics, but hard to grow elsewhere. They need lots of direct sun, warmth, water, and fertilizer to bloom. For tropical gardeners, and others with warm greenhouses, there are several species and an ever-expanding number of hybrids to choose from. Many can become large plants, but there are smaller varieties available, too.

The next photo below shows the only one in this post that’s not part of commercial landscaping. The bloom belongs to a wild plant next to a desert stream in Waimea Canyon. The Philippine Ground Orchid, Spathoglottis plicata, has naturalized in Hawaii. Surviving in a hot, dry environment, it’s demonstrating the same toughness that allows its relatives to thrive in a concrete planter near a parking lot. For gardeners in the tropics, Ground Orchids can provide great blooms for tough spots.

Orchid mantises mimic flowers so well that their lunch flies right to them! Check out two great videos showing these stealthy little predators —

Learn more about orchid mantises in this earlier blog post.

From Alberta to Maui, from Florida to Queensland, there’s a good chance that an orchid show is nearby this month. Don’t miss these amazing opportunities!

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Among the Hawaiian Islands, Kauai is the last refuge for many of the state’s endangered native flora and fauna. They face threats from invasive species, habitat loss, pollution, and climate change. With human help, however, some are recovering and rebounding. During our recent visit, it was a joy to see that many people on the island were working to protect and preserve these rare species. For example, the Hawaiian Monk Seal, dozing in the third photo below, was accompanied by nearby beach volunteers to prevent anyone from disturbing it.

For eons, Hawaiian animals and plants were isolated on the world’s most remote island chain. As the rest of the world has arrived over the past few centuries, native species have faced threats which they had never known. Since many are endemic (found only here,) if they disappear from Hawaii, they’re extinct forever. Sadly, some are already gone. Fortunately, lots of groups like National Tropical Botanical Garden are working to protect Hawaii’s remaining natural heritage.

These photos were taken at McBryde Garden and Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge on Kauai, except for the Hawaiian Monk Seal photo, which was taken at Lawai Beach on the island’s south shore. All of the animals and most of the plants in these photos are threatened with extinction. We’ve never seen any of Hawaii’s three native orchid species, but we’ll keep trying. They’re all very rare and endangered, and conservation efforts for them are continuing. To learn more about Hawaii’s threatened species, explore facts sheets from the state’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife.

Enjoy this beautiful National Geographic article with expert photography advice. Photojournalist Christian Ziegler, whose work includes Deceptive Beauties: The World of Wild Orchids, shares tips for taking great pictures. Don’t miss the photo gallery with his stunning orchid shots.

As today’s equinox brings spring to Northern California, we’re happy to be done with our long drought. Lots of strong storms over the winter have filled reservoirs and piled up the Sierra snowpack, but they have also caused some damage. We’ve had some minor problems in our garden, but most of the bruises on my outdoor orchids have been the result of hailstorms. Fortunately for this post, all these photos are from San Francisco’s recent orchid show, not from our garden. With more heavy rains forecast for us later this week, our outdoors plants won’t be ready to show off their blooms for a little while.

The Pacific Orchid and Garden Expo reliably highlights the best of the orchid world. Blooms abound, from the latest hybrids to obscure species. Dave and I are so busy with our cameras, but we are often stopped in our tracks by the stunning displays. Individual flowers and artful arrangements compete for attention from every direction. It’s an orchid overload!

New orchid species are discovered all the time. One of the latest, a tiny Podochilus species from Vietnam, adds to the tens of thousands already known to science.

There’s much more to Kauai’s wondrous McBryde Garden than its orchids. Here are some more photos from our recent visit, starting with Dave’s incredible picture of two rare Hawaiian Moorhens looking for lunch in a stream. We were told that they are normally very shy birds, but these two didn’t seem to mind us snapping their photos.

Among Hawaii’s main islands, Kauai is the last refuge for many threatened birds and plants. McBryde plays an essential role in preserving endangered species. It’s a sanctuary for many of the islands’ endemics, like the yellow flowers with a honeybee in the next photo below. That’s a plant called Nehe in Hawaiian, one of many natives at risk. These and other imperiled tropical species make the garden a true conservation refuge, and a remarkable place to visit. Don’t miss McBryde Garden if you’re lucky enough to be on Kauai.

The New York Times reports on one of New York City’s hidden jewels, a native orchid species called the Downy Rattlesnake Plantain. This remarkable jewel orchid keeps its leaves over winter. Despite many threats, a few still survive in the city’s green patches.