{"id":16523,"date":"2013-08-29T05:00:56","date_gmt":"2013-08-29T13:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/?p=16523"},"modified":"2013-10-03T14:14:21","modified_gmt":"2013-10-03T22:14:21","slug":"a-decade-of-epidendrums","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/2013\/08\/29\/a-decade-of-epidendrums\/","title":{"rendered":"A Decade of Epidendrums"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>We&#8217;re celebrating a milestone in our garden: orchids which have been in continuous bloom for over a decade! These brilliant red <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/2009\/10\/07\/epidendrum\/\">Epidendrums<\/a> have thrived outdoors here in San Francisco, surviving 10 years of strong winds, heat waves, grey winters, heavy rains, close to freezing temps, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/2010\/11\/27\/hail-no\/\">occasional hailstorms<\/a>, and battles with raccoons. Through it all, they&#8217;ve kept their blooms. Typically, each plant boasts more than a dozen flower clusters rising above it.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_1_800px.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-16527\" alt=\"Epidendrum flower\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_1_800px-96x128.jpg\" width=\"96\" height=\"128\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_1_800px-96x128.jpg 96w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_1_800px-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_1_800px.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 96px) 100vw, 96px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_7_800px.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-16533\" alt=\"Epidendrum flowers\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_7_800px-85x128.jpg\" width=\"85\" height=\"128\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_7_800px-85x128.jpg 85w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_7_800px-199x300.jpg 199w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_7_800px.jpg 533w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 85px) 100vw, 85px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_3_800px.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-16529\" alt=\"Epidendrum flower close up\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_3_800px-96x128.jpg\" width=\"96\" height=\"128\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_3_800px-96x128.jpg 96w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_3_800px-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_3_800px.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 96px) 100vw, 96px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sdorchids.com\/culture_docs\/epi_article01.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Reed-stem Epidendrums<\/a> come in a wide palette of brilliant colors, and are well suited for outdoors in tropical and sub-tropical areas. Individual flowers can last for many weeks, and new ones are constantly opening. And I must admit that they&#8217;ve bloomed for so long that I take them for granted in the garden scenery. They were originally a gift from an acquaintance living in San Francisco&#8217;s Forest Hill neighborhood. She had found them growing wild in her garden many years earlier, when she first moved into her home.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_6_800px.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-16532\" alt=\"Reed stem Epidendrum flowers\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_6_800px-128x96.jpg\" width=\"128\" height=\"96\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_6_800px-128x96.jpg 128w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_6_800px-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_6_800px.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 128px) 100vw, 128px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_2_800px.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-16528\" alt=\"Epidendrum flower\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_2_800px-128x128.jpg\" width=\"128\" height=\"128\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_2_800px-128x128.jpg 128w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_2_800px-300x300.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_2_800px.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 128px) 100vw, 128px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_8_800px.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-16534\" alt=\"Epidendrums in bloom, outdoors in San Francisco\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_8_800px-128x96.jpg\" width=\"128\" height=\"96\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_8_800px-128x96.jpg 128w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_8_800px-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_8_800px.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 128px) 100vw, 128px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>These vigorous plants\u00a0frequently form seed capsules after pollination by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/guide\/annas_hummingbird\/id\" target=\"_blank\">Anna\u2019s Hummingbirds<\/a>. The capsules take several months to swell up, and then burst open, releasing clouds of minuscule seeds to float in the wind. Seedlings can grow to flower in three years. The mature plants also continually make <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/2010\/07\/13\/keiki-a-baby-orchid\/\">keikis<\/a>, so they&#8217;re easy to share, and I&#8217;ve given many to friends and neighbors over the years. It&#8217;s a guarantee that these tough orchids will be around for decades to come.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_4_800px.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-16530\" alt=\"Reed stem Epidendrum flowers\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_4_800px-96x128.jpg\" width=\"96\" height=\"128\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_4_800px-96x128.jpg 96w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_4_800px-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_4_800px.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 96px) 100vw, 96px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_5_800px.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-16531\" alt=\"Epidendrum flowers with water drops\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_5_800px-128x128.jpg\" width=\"128\" height=\"128\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_5_800px-128x128.jpg 128w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_5_800px-300x300.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_5_800px.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 128px) 100vw, 128px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_seedpod_800px.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-16535\" alt=\"Epidendrum seed pod\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_seedpod_800px-85x128.jpg\" width=\"85\" height=\"128\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_seedpod_800px-85x128.jpg 85w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_seedpod_800px-199x300.jpg 199w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Epidendrum_x_obrienianum_seedpod_800px.jpg 533w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 85px) 100vw, 85px\" \/> <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We&#8217;re celebrating a milestone in our garden: orchids which have been in continuous bloom for over a decade! These brilliant red Epidendrums have thrived outdoors here in San Francisco, surviving 10 years of strong winds, heat waves, grey winters, heavy rains, close to freezing temps, occasional hailstorms, and battles with raccoons. Through it all, they&#8217;ve [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cool-growers","category-photos"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16523","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16523"}],"version-history":[{"count":55,"href":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16523\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16586,"href":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16523\/revisions\/16586"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}