AboutOrchids

Grammatophyllum orchids make a big impression. These large beauties are native to hot, steamy jungles in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Dave and I have seen them in Hawaii before, but never in bloom until our recent visit to Foster Botanical Garden in Honolulu. We not saw only one, but three different Grammatophyllum varieties flowering at Foster. I’ve already blogged about the first one, the Tiger Orchid, which is the largest orchid in the world. Here are the other two we saw — not as big, but no less splendid in their tropical grandeur. The first one is the Leopard Orchid, Grammatophyllum scriptum, named for its spotted flowers.

Leopard Orchids are smaller than their Tiger Orchid relatives, but they can still take lots of space, especially with their tall flower spikes. The photos for the second variety below show the same species as above, but this cultivar has greenish yellow blossoms instead. If you look closely, you can see the faint outlines of the leopard spot patterns. For good measure, there’s one more photo of the Tiger Orchid at the end, so all three types are in the same post.

To grow Grammatophyllums, give them lots of full sun, warm temps, regular waterings, regular fertilizer, and high humidity. Besides being known for the size, Grammatophyllums are also known for their stubbornness. Most bloom only once every two or three years. So, if you have lots of space and patience, Grammatophyllums may be the orchids for you.

From Fresno to Florida, and Prague to Tasmania, these shows demonstrate orchids’ global appeal. The world’s largest, most diverse flower family awaits visitors at every event.

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In the verdant Manoa Valley above Honolulu, Lyon Arboretum boasts a rainforest full of botanical treasures. Over 5000 plant varieties fill almost 200 acres (81 hectares) of jungle. There aren’t many orchids, but there are many other incredible tropical flowers and gorgeous views.

Almost a century ago, the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association set this land aside to protect the watershed for growing sugarcane. Now, Lyon Arboretum is run by the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, and shines as a world leader in tropical plant conservation. For visitors, there are over 7 miles (11 km) of hiking trails, which weave through different gardens, and up to a small waterfall. The grounds include a native Hawaiian garden, herb & spice garden, bromeliad garden, children’s garden, a palm garden with one of the largest collections in the world, and much more. With so many exotic plants, it’s jammed-packed with tropical beauty, especially when some leaves are colorful enough to compete with flowers.

We found some orchids mounted on trees and branches, like the vanilla orchid vine climbing up a tree trunk in the next photo. Unfortunately, none of the orchids were in bloom, but there was much more to capture our attention in the jungle trails. Besides the trees, plants, and birds, mosquitoes were another reminder of our rainforest location, and unfortunately we forgot to bring the bug spray. We got lots of itchy bites, so remember yours if you visit. We noticed that some locals hiking the trails were wearing long sleeves and long pants, which is a good alternative if you’re not fond of pesticides.

In case these photos aren’t enough to convince you to visit Lyon Arboretum, I’ll have more pictures coming soon. Check out the Friends of Lyon Arboretum to help support the gardens and keep them thriving.

Welcome today’s change of seasons with the Tiger Orchid, the biggest orchid in the world! Dave and I spotted this jumbo beauty during our recent visit to Foster Botanical Garden in Honolulu. This was the first time we’ve ever seen one in bloom. The Tiger Orchid’s Latin name, Grammatophyllum speciosum, seems to fit this large plant.

These giants are native to rainforests from Thailand and Myanmar through Southeast Asia to Malaysia, Singapore, New Guinea, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Believe it or not, they’re air plants, although they can grow larger than a ton. This specimen at Foster wasn’t a ton, but we estimated it was about 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, 8 feet (2.4 m) across, and very heavy. It held hundreds of flowers, each about 4 inches (10 cm.)

Grammatophyllums are Cymbidium relatives. They need warm temps, lots of full sun, and regular water. In Hawaii, we’ve seen them growing in large, specially constructed, wooden baskets. Sometimes they’re set on elevated platforms made of wood, stone, or brick.

This plant had purplish brown spots on a white background, but most of this species’ photos and descriptions depict spots on a golden yellow background. Those colors inspire the common name Tiger Orchid. To learn more about the biggest orchid in the world, check out the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s story and photos about repotting their 300 pound (136 kg) Tiger Orchid.

Australian Geographic exposes Deceptive Orchids: Luring Wasps for Pollination. The diverse orchid family employs a wide range of pollination strategies, including trickery. Using special perfumes and flower shapes, some orchids fool male wasps into thinking they’ve found a female. While visiting the flowers, the wasps transfer pollen, and fertilize the orchids. Several groups of orchids around the globe use this ruse, but Australia is home to the most of these tricksters, with over 250 native species adopting the strategy. Their nicknames, like Hammer Orchid, Flying Duck Orchid, Purple Enamel Orchid, and Elbow Orchid, describe how they appear to human eyes. Male wasps, however, see seductive lures. Be sure to check out the great deceptive orchids photo gallery. Do these flowers fool you?

If you want to see orchids in Honolulu, visit Foster Botanical Garden. Hawaii’s oldest botanical garden showcases exotic orchids in several areas of its 13.5 acre (5.5 hectare) grounds. Photos from our recent visit start below with three spectacular blossoms: a Tiger Orchid, a Leopard Orchid, and a purple Miltonia. These warm growers are the epitome of tropical beauty. I’ll have much more about the Tiger Orchid and the Leopard Orchid in another post coming soon!

Brilliant orchid colors and bizarre flower shapes abound at Foster. An Antelope Dendrobium earns its nickname from petals spiraling up like horns. Spider Orchids with long, skinny petals entice spider-hunting wasps to attack their flowers, and then pollinate them. The Clamshell Orchid looks more like an octopus orchid to me, admittedly with only five legs.

Warm growers at Foster live both indoors and out. In the next photo, a cheery pink and yellow Spathoglottis basks in the sun outside Foster’s Conservatory. Inside the glasshouse, the next two Moth Orchids enjoy protection from the elements. Two Vandas and a Dendrobium hybrid also help fill Foster with tropical beauty. This garden is definitely worth a visit!

Hawaii’s beauty takes many forms. During a recent trip to Honolulu, Dave and I enjoyed warm sun and the clear, blue ocean, but with our cameras, we found much more. Amid the hotels, restaurants, and souvenir shops, busy Waikiki is a good place to find botanical beauty. These first three photos came from our hotel and nearby shopping area.

To truly explore the island’s botanical treasures, however, you need to step out of Waikiki. A short drive away, in a different neighborhood, the tropical paradise of Foster Botanical Garden abuts Honolulu’s skyscrapers. We visited Foster in early 2013, but we enjoyed different summer blooms this time. In the next set of photos, a Spathoglottis, a Dendrobium hybrid, and a colorful gecko are a small fraction of Foster’s incredible collections.

If you don’t explore beyond Waikiki, you’ll also miss treasures like Lyon Arboretum, a tropical rainforest located at the upper end of Honolulu’s Manoa Valley. This 200 acre (81 hectare) garden is run by the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. It’s often overlooked on tourist maps, so you’ll mostly share the hiking trails with island locals. The final six pictures show views from Lyon Arboretum. Dave and I returned with more photos from all of these locations, so check back soon as I sort through them to find the best.

It might have been easier to list towns in Australia which don’t have orchid shows this month. In between the Aussies, there are plenty from the USA, UK, New Zealand, and Brazil. Even Sweden, Lithuania, and Costa Rica get in on the action. South Africa hosts three events this month, including one of the biggest orchid shows in the world. All over the globe, these are great chances to enjoy orchids, take pictures, talk with experts, and buy great plants.

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South Africa will host the 21st World Orchid Conference (WOC21) next month. Also known as the Orchid Olympics, WOC21 runs from September 10th – 14th in Johannesburg’s Sandton Conference Centre. The event is held every three years, with the last one in Singapore in 2011. It’s one of the biggest flower shows in the world, and attracts tens of thousands of visitors. The theme for this year is “Orchids: Gold in the Green Age,” tying into the area’s gold-mining history. Apart from WOC21, there will also be displays of South African plants, including cycads, aloes, proteas, and succulents. South Africa is home to a wide range of unusual orchids, like Disas, Stenoglottis, Mystacidiums, Angraecums, and more. Check the WOC21 website for additional info.

As Dave and I explore our new hometown, we’ve been enchanted by this beautiful area. We recently took a short hike on Devil’s Slide Trail. Until recently, this was part of California Route 1, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway. Nicknamed Devil’s Slide, this stretch endured decades of landslides, road closures, and drivers occasionally plunging down steep cliffs. With the recent opening of tunnel bypasses, the county turned this bit of old roadway into a great hiking trail. Now, instead of driving along steep cliffs, we can walk, and enjoy the views at a slower pace.

These gorgeous sights illustrate Pacifica’s coastal climate, with strong winds, salt spray, and rocky soil. There’s little rain, but lots of fog. Plants and animals need to be tough to survive the ceaseless wind and harsh conditions.

For years, I only knew these views as they passed by in a flash from a car window. There was hardly time to enjoy the scenery, or watch a soaring hawk ride thermals without once beating its wings. Even the crumbling cliff side holds fascinations when there’s time to study it. Slowing down makes for a great pace of life in Pacifica.