AboutOrchids

The enormous orchid family grows larger all the time, with new scientific discoveries happening on a regular basis. Still, it’s surprising when a showy species is identified for the first time. Solenangis impraedicta has hidden in Madagascar’s forests, despite a 13 inch (33 cm) nectar spur. Growing from the back of a 3/4 inch (2 cm) flower, the spur is proportionally the longest of any plant. It’s reminiscent of its relative, Darwin’s Orchid, Angraecum sesquipedale. That species has an impressively long nectar tube with a much bigger flower, and is also from Madagascar.

Sadly, Madagascar’s unique wildlife is being devastated by habitat loss and climate change. These orchids are threatened by mining activities. Fortunately, the mining company involved has helped create a conservation program. They’ve monitored the species, and set aside protected forest habitat. Tariq Stévart from the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Africa and Madagascar program stated “I feel confident that the species will not disappear if they continue to support all these conservation actions.” He added “I really hope this species will help to draw people’s attention to Madagascar and to the current situation, which is not good.”

The San Francisco Orchid Society put on its annual Orchids in the Park show at the end of July. It was a great event, crowded with plants and with people. The displays included lots of amazing flowers, like the Lady Slippers shown in the first row of photos above.

An impressive variety of orchids, from Anguloa species to Zygo hybrids, were also on display and on sale. Many plant lovers were enjoying the sights and scents all around. It seems like more and more folks are fascinated by orchids. Check back again soon for additional pictures from Orchids in the Park 2024.

Orchid shows, expos, and extravaganzas are happening all over the globe this month. Be sure to take advantage of any near you.

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San Francisco’s annual Orchids in the Park sale happens this weekend! It will be held on Saturday, July 27th and Sunday, July 28th, in the SF County Fair Building at 9th Avenue and Lincoln Way. There will be lots of vendors, orchid care demonstrations, activities for kids, and loads of amazing flowers. These photos from last year’s event offer just a taste. Buy discounted tickets in advance online, or buy them at the door. Don’t miss it!

British scientists have discovered that some orchids can feed their seedlings. The Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) is a widespread terrestrial in Europe and parts of Asia. Mature plants of this species enlist underground networks of fungi to share sugars with nearby seedlings. Senior study author Katie Field, a biologist at the University of Sheffield, stated that “This finding is exciting because why these orchids are often found in clumps, despite their seeds being wind dispersed, has been a puzzle for hundreds of years.”

It’s been known for over a century that wild orchid seeds need a fungus partner to germinate. Many plants, in addition to orchids, use fungal networks to transfer water, nutrients, and even chemical messages. Future studies hope to better understand the process, and to see if other species also nurture their seedlings.

A dozen orchids in my previous post about the US Botanic Garden (USBG) were just the start. The first row of this post includes three more. There’s a great Pabstia species, and then a sunny, dangling Dendrobium. The third picture shows a very unusual orchid. Eulophia petersii is a desert species. Few orchids live in hot, dry deserts, but this orchid does, ranging from Yemen through eastern and southern Africa. Its blooms stood atop a tall flower spike, well above our heads, and were challenging to photograph. With menacing serrated edges on thick, succulent leaves, this Eulophia looked at home in the Desert Gallery alongside pointy cacti and succulents.

The rest of the photos feature a few of the USBG’s non-orchid sights. There are views inside the glasshouse, with cacao pods, a star-shaped coffee flower, and lots of luscious greenery. The glasshouse is divided into 17 different zones, including a Children’s Garden, Mediterranean Gallery, Medicinal Garden, and of course, Orchid House. The largest zone is the Tropics House, which offers great perspectives from above in its second-story canopy walk. There are also spectacular outdoor gardens, but we were focused on the indoor ones for our visit. Even though it’s a small botanic garden, they pack lots of amazing plants into the USBG.

This month offers orchid events on six continents, with Australia being the busiest. They’re great opportunities to enjoy amazing flowers, take photos, meet other orchid lovers, and buy plants for your own collection. Dave and I are looking forward to San Francisco’s Orchids in the Park show at the end of the month.

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Mark Twain didn’t actually say “the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco,” but that quirky quote certainly describes our unusual weather. With chilly fog blowing in from the cold Northern Pacific, today we’re greeting summer in Pacifica with a high temperature of 52°F (11°C.) While other parts of the country are baking in a heat wave, our furnace is running. Contrary to popular belief, we do sometimes get heat and sun in the summer, but autumn is usually the season when our fog recedes and temperatures heat up.

Of course, I’ll still welcome summer, and the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. Maybe these photos from April’s Peninsula Orchid Society Show will inspire Mother Nature to send some summer heat our way. Happy solstice.

Did you know that you can find remarkable orchids only a few steps from the US Capitol? The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) sits on the National Mall, just across from Congress. It’s the oldest botanic garden in the country, and has great outdoor and indoor plant collections, including orchids. Dave and I recently visited, and the amazing displays left us in awe.

The USBG’s Orchid House is packed with an impressive variety of stunning specimens, rare species, and wonderful fragrances. The orchids are all artfully displayed, many mounted as air plants at every level of the garden. It’s a very dense jungle, and very photogenic, too.

There are also orchids in the Tropics glasshouse and the Garden Court. They include a 3-story tall vanilla vine growing attached to the brick wall by the gift shop entrance, shown in the last photo. With all the botanical wonders in every direction, we almost didn’t notice it. These dozen photos are only a quick glance of our visit. I’ll post more from the USBG soon. If you’re in Washington DC, be sure to visit this wondrous garden.

The orchid schedule slows down in June, but there are still events listed for five continents below. Check with your local orchid society for more in your area, as some don’t put out their publicity until the last minute.

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