"An old saying..."Vua choi lan, quan choi tra" (A king collects orchids, a mandarin collects camellias)....anyone with VND40,000-50,000 (US$2.50-3) can buy a pot of orchids – and many Hanoi residents are doing so...To successfully make an orchid bloom, enthusiasts say, the gardener must have a pure heart and the patience of a saint.Orchids won't bring their owners material wealth or social status, they explain. So those with enough dedication to tend to these delicate flowersand wait for their... blooms must do so simply to enjoy the personal challenge and test of their patience.Duong Xuan Trinh, chairman of the Ha Noi Orchid Association, says this challenge gives orchids their appeal... orchids demand daily care...As orchid owners slowly coax their babies to bloom, they can have temporary respite from the stresses of daily life. For a few minutes a day, orchid owners can forget blaring motorbike horns and grumpy clients and concentrate their attention on a single quiet, deliberate task."Nurturing orchids relieves my anxiety after the working day," says Vu Quoc Viet, a 37-year-old orchid lover.For the retired, tending orchids provides a perfect form of personal entertainment. "Growing orchid plants is suitable for the elderly as it doesn't requiretoo much time or physical exertion," Trinh says.Orchids have become so popular that they are joining the list of plants used as Tet (Lunar New Year) decorations, which has long been limited topeach-blossom branches and kumquat trees.... From a handful of original members, the Ha Noi Orchid Association has expanded to over 200 enthusiasts. The group, mostly retired people andamateur orchid growers, meets every two months to exchange ideas and techniques for growing..."Growing orchids requires a great deal of [some...] scientific knowledge," Trinh says...."... based on the diversity of orchid species in Vietnam, it could be said that Vietnam is the world's cradle of orchid growing," says Tran Tuan Anh, an orchid hunter with 20 years' experience....According to the 2003 statistics of Russian researcher Leonid V Averyanov and his daughter Anna L Averyanova, there are 897 orchid species inVietnam. Tuan Anh puts the number over 900, saying that a number of species in the forest and his garden haven't yet been identified....Tuan Anh's orchid-searching adventures in Vietnam's most remote areas have produced a garden with over 300 types of orchids - more varieties than any other garden in Hanoi, he boasts.He even helped to identify four orchid species in Vietnam (and then named three of them after himself): Hoang thao Tran Tuan (Dendrobium trantuanii), Vanda Tuan Anh (Vanda tuananhii), Lan hai Tuan Anh (Paphiopedilum trantuanhii) and Hoang thao Viet Nam (Dendrobium V[v]ietnamica).Tuan Anh still remembers his first glimpse of lan hai (Paphiopedilum) on a trip to Son La, a mountainous province in northern Vietnam, in October 2003. At an elevation of 1,000m above sea level, he happened to spot a bundle of flowers that were distinct from any he had ever seen. The largeblossoms were brownish red in colour, with white calyxes in the front and green in the back. Struck by the beauty of the flowers, he shot photographsuntil he ran out of film and then hurried back to Hanoi.Considered a local expert, Tuan Anh has set up a website on Vietnam's orchids and assists both researchers and amateurs with information.With only a handful of experts like Tuan Anh, however, Vietnam's orchid-growing industry remains in its developing stages. Breedingtechnology and training in Vietnam remain limited, so some orchid growers have headed to Thailand for education.Le Xuan Truong spent two years learning from the expertise of a Thai grower, and the 38-year-old now owns a 1,000sq.m garden and 2ha farmproducing dendrobium. Every day, between 5,000 and 7,000 branches of flowers are sold wholesale, and sales hit 100,000 on special occasions likeWomen's Day. With branches selling for VND30,000 ($2) a piece, Truong's business has proven lucrative.As word gets out that business is booming, others will like[ly] follow suit to supply the many people who have fallen for the flower that plays hard toget."URL : http://english.vietnamnet.vn/lifestyle/2008/02/768024/
http://images.vietnamnet.vn/dataimages/200802/original/images1497903_Ochid.jpg
Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sobralia orchids
"Bruce Rogers has a passion for...Sobralias-- the... tallest [not all...] orchids in the world...
Rogers has been raising, hybridizing and decorating with orchids for morethan 25 years, but it's the Sobralias(sew- BRAIL-eyah [Well, EnglishLatin...]) that have captured his heart...
at next weekend's Pacific Orchid Exposition... He will bring manyexamples... which he says will thrive in California gardens....[Bruce said :] it was love at first sight. I had little glimpses of themfrom afar, illustrations from books and magazines. My first encounter witha blooming plant left me speechless... Years ago, I was asked to decorate alarge urn as a backdrop for a statue unveiling. I used a large eight-footSobralia rogersiana in full bloom, and stood aside ready to receive praiseand compliments. No one there had ever seen a Sobralia before. Peoplethought I had tied Cattleya orchid flowers onto a bamboo plant so well thatthe wires could not be seen. No one believed it was a real plant!...Sobralias... grow very well here and can be found in older gardens andestates...the flowering season lasts all summer and into the fall. They can be grownboth in pots and in the ground, in sun or shade, rain or shine. There areSobralias for every microclimate that occurs in our area, from the warmerareas to the cooler spots. Sobralia macrantha seems the most adaptable withblooming plants reported from the top of the Santa Cruz mountains to theflats of Fresno, the hills of Marin to Santa Rosa and everywhere south....The scarcity of Sobralias has kept them from the public eye. While theyhave been in private and civic gardens for many years, availability hasalways been a problem, as they are difficult to raise from seed and takefrom four to eight years to raise to flowering size. Sobralias only have asmall window for dividing, which also hinders propagation.
After working with several local laboratories with little success, my...friend Terry Root and I decided to form a nursery business specializingonly in Sobralias... after much work we now have production numbers thatcan begin to satisfy demand....Once established, Sobralias are as tough as a jade plant or any othergarden plant. They can take dirty water and dirty air. The only thing fussyabout them is they can only be divided or repotted when showing both newgrowth and new roots...
There is no other orchid genus that is so diversified in terms of size [?],from Sobralia elegans, which grows less than a foot tall to Sobraliaaltissima, which is over 40 feet tall. The most popular group, the fieldtype with species such as xantholuca, macrantha veitchii and their hybridsgrow from 2 to 6 feet tall. There are new hybrids, which grow from 2 to 4feet, making them ideal for patios and gardens....I often tell people that Sobralia flowers are so big, you can use them towrap gifts, as tablecloths, or as clothing for small children. The modernSobralia field types have huge Cattleya-looking flowers from one to 10inches across, with some species such as Sob. rosea and Sob. rogersianahaving flowers as large as dinner plates. When you read orchid reports fromVictorian times, you read about even larger Sobralia flowers and onewonders what is now extinct in the wild [in the literature / smile...]....Sobralia flowers and plants are divided into two groups: the ephemeralgroup, where the flower lasts only one day, and in some cases just amorning, and the field group, where the flower lasts from three to 10 days.With both types, the individual canes carry many flowers that are displayedsingularly, so the overall display lasts for many months with a matureplant carrying multiple canes. Some ephemeral species such as Sob.klotzscheana carry 20-plus flowers and bloom for over a year, although thejasmine scented flowers last only a day. The longest lasting flowers in thefield group are probably Sob. undatocarinata and Sob. pulcherrima, with10-day flowers, with five to seven flowers per stem, which give you twomonths of heaven. We are breeding for flower longevity also, and speciessuch as these are very intriguing building blocks....Although I have seen them grown beautifully in full sun, I prefer morningsun or filtered shady afternoon sun. Water drainage must be perfect.Sobralias love water and when in active growth, it is hard to over-water.They also love fresh air....When... grown outside, pests leave these alone except when they are inflower. Snails and slugs will travel miles and lie, cheat and steal to getto the flowers... Either use a safe product like Sluggo, or take a littlecopper garden tape and wrap the stem below the buds or new growth. Whengrown inside as a house plant in dry conditions, one must watch for mites,but this is seldom a problem in California....with Sobralias it's all about the roots. A strong root system is key forsuccess. You might hear from old garden talk that they need to be pot-boundto bloom well, but that is because usually a pot-bound plant will have agood root system. They do not have to be pot-bound, they just need goodroots. If growing outside, plant Sobralias in raised beds and pre-checkyour drainage....Sobralias are like women [and men...], there are many kinds... To pick asingle one as a favorite is impossible, so here are my three favorites.Sobralia fimbriata is an ephemeral type with beautiful dark green pleatedleaves. The 2- to 3-foot plant blooms twice a year with pastel flowers witha beautiful fimbriated (fringed) lip. The fragrance is incredible andunique. It is the only orchid flower that I will pick and carry with methrough the day just for the fragrance. Sobralia rogersiana var. Bolin ismy obsession. Sobralia callosa is my favorite miniature. Perfect littleflower, perfect little plant. It is truly a jewel of nature....I was not bitten by the orchid bug. I was assaulted by the orchid bug many,many moons ago. I've been growing, hybridizing and decorating with orchidsfor over 25 years. I began my professional career in the late 1970s whenthe city of Atlanta Parks Department hired me to work with its orchids inthe greenhouses in Piedmont Park. Returning home to the Bay Area, I washired by the Rod McLellan Co. as the head grower for the boardingdepartment and to hybridize Vanda orchids. In the early 1980s, I left tostart Bruce Rogers Orchids, an orchid consulting and management companybased in San Francisco. In 2002, I joined Terry Root of the Orchid Zone andco-founded OzGardens, a business devoted exclusively to hybridizing andgrowing Sobralias...
They will be available at the Pacific Orchid Exposition from severalvendors and at the San Francisco Orchid Society sale table. This isprobably the best venue in the world for Sobralias right now with speciesand hybrids, ephemeral and field types and both mature plants andseedlings. Sobralias can be found at nurseries such as BerkeleyHorticulture Nursery, Flora Grubb Nursery and Sloat Nurseries in Marin andSan Francisco. Large specimens can also be found at Living Green in SanFrancisco. In San Jose, Serene Orchids has Sobralia seedlings... expect topay around $15 for a seedling in a three- to four-inch pot...
in the entrance exhibit. We will have a few of the giants like Sob.calloglossa and Sob. cattleya and a few of the miniature and mid-sizedhybrids. Elleanthus is a close relative to Sobralia, with identicalfoliage, but pine cone-shaped flowers, and they should have flowers (butthe really big flowers don't come along until summer)...
Growing orchids is one of the few socially acceptable art forms that mencan get involved in and their masculinity is never questioned [except by...]."
URL : http://www.mercurynews.com/lifeandstyleheadlines/ci_8342105
photo : ["Sobralia mirabilis"]
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site568/2008/0223/20080223__orchids23~1_Gallery.JPG
Rogers has been raising, hybridizing and decorating with orchids for morethan 25 years, but it's the Sobralias(sew- BRAIL-eyah [Well, EnglishLatin...]) that have captured his heart...
at next weekend's Pacific Orchid Exposition... He will bring manyexamples... which he says will thrive in California gardens....[Bruce said :] it was love at first sight. I had little glimpses of themfrom afar, illustrations from books and magazines. My first encounter witha blooming plant left me speechless... Years ago, I was asked to decorate alarge urn as a backdrop for a statue unveiling. I used a large eight-footSobralia rogersiana in full bloom, and stood aside ready to receive praiseand compliments. No one there had ever seen a Sobralia before. Peoplethought I had tied Cattleya orchid flowers onto a bamboo plant so well thatthe wires could not be seen. No one believed it was a real plant!...Sobralias... grow very well here and can be found in older gardens andestates...the flowering season lasts all summer and into the fall. They can be grownboth in pots and in the ground, in sun or shade, rain or shine. There areSobralias for every microclimate that occurs in our area, from the warmerareas to the cooler spots. Sobralia macrantha seems the most adaptable withblooming plants reported from the top of the Santa Cruz mountains to theflats of Fresno, the hills of Marin to Santa Rosa and everywhere south....The scarcity of Sobralias has kept them from the public eye. While theyhave been in private and civic gardens for many years, availability hasalways been a problem, as they are difficult to raise from seed and takefrom four to eight years to raise to flowering size. Sobralias only have asmall window for dividing, which also hinders propagation.
After working with several local laboratories with little success, my...friend Terry Root and I decided to form a nursery business specializingonly in Sobralias... after much work we now have production numbers thatcan begin to satisfy demand....Once established, Sobralias are as tough as a jade plant or any othergarden plant. They can take dirty water and dirty air. The only thing fussyabout them is they can only be divided or repotted when showing both newgrowth and new roots...
There is no other orchid genus that is so diversified in terms of size [?],from Sobralia elegans, which grows less than a foot tall to Sobraliaaltissima, which is over 40 feet tall. The most popular group, the fieldtype with species such as xantholuca, macrantha veitchii and their hybridsgrow from 2 to 6 feet tall. There are new hybrids, which grow from 2 to 4feet, making them ideal for patios and gardens....I often tell people that Sobralia flowers are so big, you can use them towrap gifts, as tablecloths, or as clothing for small children. The modernSobralia field types have huge Cattleya-looking flowers from one to 10inches across, with some species such as Sob. rosea and Sob. rogersianahaving flowers as large as dinner plates. When you read orchid reports fromVictorian times, you read about even larger Sobralia flowers and onewonders what is now extinct in the wild [in the literature / smile...]....Sobralia flowers and plants are divided into two groups: the ephemeralgroup, where the flower lasts only one day, and in some cases just amorning, and the field group, where the flower lasts from three to 10 days.With both types, the individual canes carry many flowers that are displayedsingularly, so the overall display lasts for many months with a matureplant carrying multiple canes. Some ephemeral species such as Sob.klotzscheana carry 20-plus flowers and bloom for over a year, although thejasmine scented flowers last only a day. The longest lasting flowers in thefield group are probably Sob. undatocarinata and Sob. pulcherrima, with10-day flowers, with five to seven flowers per stem, which give you twomonths of heaven. We are breeding for flower longevity also, and speciessuch as these are very intriguing building blocks....Although I have seen them grown beautifully in full sun, I prefer morningsun or filtered shady afternoon sun. Water drainage must be perfect.Sobralias love water and when in active growth, it is hard to over-water.They also love fresh air....When... grown outside, pests leave these alone except when they are inflower. Snails and slugs will travel miles and lie, cheat and steal to getto the flowers... Either use a safe product like Sluggo, or take a littlecopper garden tape and wrap the stem below the buds or new growth. Whengrown inside as a house plant in dry conditions, one must watch for mites,but this is seldom a problem in California....with Sobralias it's all about the roots. A strong root system is key forsuccess. You might hear from old garden talk that they need to be pot-boundto bloom well, but that is because usually a pot-bound plant will have agood root system. They do not have to be pot-bound, they just need goodroots. If growing outside, plant Sobralias in raised beds and pre-checkyour drainage....Sobralias are like women [and men...], there are many kinds... To pick asingle one as a favorite is impossible, so here are my three favorites.Sobralia fimbriata is an ephemeral type with beautiful dark green pleatedleaves. The 2- to 3-foot plant blooms twice a year with pastel flowers witha beautiful fimbriated (fringed) lip. The fragrance is incredible andunique. It is the only orchid flower that I will pick and carry with methrough the day just for the fragrance. Sobralia rogersiana var. Bolin ismy obsession. Sobralia callosa is my favorite miniature. Perfect littleflower, perfect little plant. It is truly a jewel of nature....I was not bitten by the orchid bug. I was assaulted by the orchid bug many,many moons ago. I've been growing, hybridizing and decorating with orchidsfor over 25 years. I began my professional career in the late 1970s whenthe city of Atlanta Parks Department hired me to work with its orchids inthe greenhouses in Piedmont Park. Returning home to the Bay Area, I washired by the Rod McLellan Co. as the head grower for the boardingdepartment and to hybridize Vanda orchids. In the early 1980s, I left tostart Bruce Rogers Orchids, an orchid consulting and management companybased in San Francisco. In 2002, I joined Terry Root of the Orchid Zone andco-founded OzGardens, a business devoted exclusively to hybridizing andgrowing Sobralias...
They will be available at the Pacific Orchid Exposition from severalvendors and at the San Francisco Orchid Society sale table. This isprobably the best venue in the world for Sobralias right now with speciesand hybrids, ephemeral and field types and both mature plants andseedlings. Sobralias can be found at nurseries such as BerkeleyHorticulture Nursery, Flora Grubb Nursery and Sloat Nurseries in Marin andSan Francisco. Large specimens can also be found at Living Green in SanFrancisco. In San Jose, Serene Orchids has Sobralia seedlings... expect topay around $15 for a seedling in a three- to four-inch pot...
in the entrance exhibit. We will have a few of the giants like Sob.calloglossa and Sob. cattleya and a few of the miniature and mid-sizedhybrids. Elleanthus is a close relative to Sobralia, with identicalfoliage, but pine cone-shaped flowers, and they should have flowers (butthe really big flowers don't come along until summer)...
Growing orchids is one of the few socially acceptable art forms that mencan get involved in and their masculinity is never questioned [except by...]."
URL : http://www.mercurynews.com/lifeandstyleheadlines/ci_8342105
photo : ["Sobralia mirabilis"]
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site568/2008/0223/20080223__orchids23~1_Gallery.JPG
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Lady's Slipper Orchid
One of the easiest orchids to grow at home is the Lady's Slipper Orchid, Paphiopedilum sp.
The unmistaken physical characteristic of this tropical orchid is the slipper or moccasin shape of the lip (largest of the three flower petals). These exotic flowers do not resemble any others of the vast orchid clan.
It is not to be confused with the native wildflower Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchid, Cypripedium calceolus, which grows in wetlands, woodlands and swampy areas throughout
Lady's Slipper is a terrestrial orchid with handsome, compact foliage. This orchid thrives in bright, indirect light with day temperatures in the 70s and night readings in the 60s.
An east window would be ideal, but a south or west window is a good location if a sheer curtain is used to soften the light. If the leaves begin to turn a pale green color, the plant is getting too much light.
Keep the soil mix moist, but not wet. Water once or twice a week, depending on the season. Less water is better than too much. Humidity levels of 50 percent or more are ideal. Misting is not suggested as a method of raising the humidity. This may cause the terminal growth to rot.
Repot the plants annually in the spring following bloom. Fertilize every month, using a balanced fertilizer at half strength.
During the summer, this orchid can vacation on the patio or deck in the shade. Just remember, the vacation is over when night temperatures go below 50 degrees.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080223/COLUMNISTS18/802230312/1007/LIVING
Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Moth Orchid - Phalaenopsis
The moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) is one of the most common orchids. Its popularity can be traced to the plant's elegant long-lasting flowers and ease of maintenance. The almost 60 species are responsible for the thousands of hybrids available today. In Latin, the word phalaen refers to a moth, opsis to an appearance. It has been said that a cluster of these flowers at dusk resembles a group of fluttering moths. The plant's large rounded petals lie flat, allowing the intricate lip -- with two wispy tails -- to gain attention. Moth orchids have been bred in a multitude of colors and combinations, including lavender, peach, pink, white and yellow as well as with stripes and spots. The plant grows as an epiphyte in the lower canopy, protected from direct sunlight. In the home, the ideal location is a window with eastern or southern exposure and protection from direct sun. Watering intervals depend on the plant's growing medium. The mix should be allowed to dry slightly before the next watering. After the last flower fades, the stem should be cut just above the first node, under where the first flower opened. Often, a second spike will form from this node and develop into a second flush of flowers. Moth orchids "flutter" throughout the Orchid Forest at the Franklin Park Conservatory.
-- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/home_garden/stories/2008/02/03/plant03x_ART_02-03-08_I7_B99795S.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com
-- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/home_garden/stories/2008/02/03/plant03x_ART_02-03-08_I7_B99795S.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com
Friday, February 22, 2008
Singapore Will Be The Theme of the New York Botanical Garden's annual orchid show
"the
The theme of this year's show is
...
The major design elements of the exhibition... inspired by the classical parks and gardens of
pond, as well as a lane of trees arching overhead, covered with flowers.
Of the 4,000 or 5,000 plants that will be on display over the course of the show, a majority come from the Garden's own collection... Others by necessity are purchased from nurseries around the country...
The Garden has around 8,000 plants in its collection, many of them rare species and some over 100 years old. The Garden is also a federally
designated rescue center for plants confiscated by the Department of Agriculture. In 2005, for instance, 1,100 wild orchids were confiscated at
The plants were sent to the Garden... dehydrated, shriveled, and torn ? and the gardeners... immediately went to work to save as many as possible. In the end, around 80% of the plants survived... Some will be on display in
this year's exhibition.
...
The first known hybrid was created in 1856 by John Dominy, a grower for the English nursery of James Veitch & Sons.
...
orchid collectors... The most famous... was Benedict Roezl, a Czech botanist who worked for an English importer and commercial grower of orchids, Frederick Sander. Roezl, who traveled throughout North, Central, and
adept at prying orchids out of trees."
URL: http://www.nysun.com/article
photo : [caption : "Gardener Gary Bendykowski installs orchids for the upcoming orchid show at the
http://www.nysun.com/pics
"
The sixth annual orchid exhibition... fills the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory and much of the LuEsther T. Mertz Library building, will run from Feb. 23
to April 6...
The exhibition... will feature miniature orchids... and a gallery devoted to the orchids of
worldwide supply. The library will feature more orchid plants and displays about the garden's efforts to save rare plants, scientific studies involving
orchids, and 18th- and 19th-century botanical illustrations."
URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02
"the
This... show will be the biggest scheduled in
producing its annual International Orchid Show for the first time in 27 years. For the past six years, that show was held at
...
No date for resumption of the show has been proposed. "
URL:
http://www.nj.com/living
"The New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show, Feb. 23-April 6, Bronx, N.Y.,
www.nybg.org
Atlanta Botanical Garden "Orchid Daze, Gargoyles & Grace," through March 30,
www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org
URL: http://www.usatoday.com/travel
Wild Orchids of Alberta Canada on Display at the MacEwan College's South Campus
"26 or more - grow wild... in Alberta, a good number of them just outside Edmonton.The Wagner natural area is a haven for orchids, says Ben Rostron, an associate professor of earth and atmospheric sciences at the University ofAlberta. He'll be talking about those orchids and how to find them at the Orchid Society of Alberta's annual show and sale this weekend at theMacEwan College's South Campus.About 16 different varieties of orchids can be seen at the Wagner natural area, located along Highway 16, just east of Spruce Grove. A 1.5-kilometretrail with a boardwalk over the wet areas provides great viewing.The best time to see the orchids is around the end of May and beginning of June, says Rostron. Yellow Lady's Slippers are easy to spot from the trail,with their small, yellow, slipper-shaped flowers...the striped coralroot orchid, with its pinkish-orange stripes, or pink lady's slippers, which grows around Fort McMurray. The bog candle orchid can grow one metre tall, with white flowers that smell like cloves...Many of the orchids found in Alberta are boreal plants that have found their way down from the Arctic Circle and originally came across [walking ?/ smile...] the land bridge from Asia, he says. In Alberta, one can find orchids in Elk Island, Banff and Jasper national parks."URL :http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=b8005eab-3ecc-4e77-a36c-8019fa6795d0&k=32331
Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com
Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com
Thursday, February 21, 2008
OrchidSpecies.com now has 7902 species
OrchidSpecies.com has passed another milestone. I now have 7902 species in 702 genera. 8000 is just around the corner. I will be adding reference material over the next 2 months so expect lots more species information. I purchased close to 2000.00 in books at the WOC and was able to get Foldats 5 vol Venezuela set, Summerhayes East africa 2 volumes, Popes Flora zambesiaca, A Corybas monograph, The Ethiopian field guide, Orcids of Samoa, Orchids of Vanuatu, Orchidaceae Brasilensis vol 2, Orchids of Mt Kinabalu, Orchids of Ceylon, Orchids of the Dominican Republic, Angraecoid orchids, Orchids of Madagascar Dupuy, and all of Cribbs new books on Cyps, Paphs and Cymbidium.
Because of the expenditure I am in need of new funds so if your subscription has run out please renew or if you use the site and you have not subscribed please consider doing so. I have a set of Dunstervilles Orchids of Venezuela 5 vol set aside at 600.00, Hoehne's Brazilian flora and many other's awaiting purchase.
Thanks for your time
Jay Pfahl
OrchidSpecies.com
Because of the expenditure I am in need of new funds so if your subscription has run out please renew or if you use the site and you have not subscribed please consider doing so. I have a set of Dunstervilles Orchids of Venezuela 5 vol set aside at 600.00, Hoehne's Brazilian flora and many other's awaiting purchase.
Thanks for your time
Jay Pfahl
OrchidSpecies.com
Friday, February 15, 2008
South Africa will host the World Orchid Conference (WOC) in 2014
"South Africa will host the World Orchid Conference (WOC) in 2014...
This...will be confirmed at the next conference, to be held in Singapore in
2011.
... the Thebe Exhibitions and Events Group... with Thebe Conferences will
manage the event on behalf of the South African Orchid Society...
Approximately 3 000 delegates, many of them with spouses, are expected to
attend the September 2014 event at the Sandton Convention Centre in
Johannesburg, with some 80 exhibitors. The event will extend over five or
six days and include meetings of several international bodies, including
the International Orchid Commission.
The first WOC was held in St Louis, Missouri in 1954. Ever since it's been
held every three years, each time in a different city [two times in Miami /
1984 and 2008]... It was held in Durban in 1981.
...
Displays at the WOC include plants by amateur orchid societies and
professional and commercial growers, educational and scientific displays
and illustrations and fine, applied and decorative arts featuring orchids,
including photography, jewellery, ceramics and postage stamps."
URL : http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/94/21950.html
Steve
1888Orchids.com
This...will be confirmed at the next conference, to be held in Singapore in
2011.
... the Thebe Exhibitions and Events Group... with Thebe Conferences will
manage the event on behalf of the South African Orchid Society...
Approximately 3 000 delegates, many of them with spouses, are expected to
attend the September 2014 event at the Sandton Convention Centre in
Johannesburg, with some 80 exhibitors. The event will extend over five or
six days and include meetings of several international bodies, including
the International Orchid Commission.
The first WOC was held in St Louis, Missouri in 1954. Ever since it's been
held every three years, each time in a different city [two times in Miami /
1984 and 2008]... It was held in Durban in 1981.
...
Displays at the WOC include plants by amateur orchid societies and
professional and commercial growers, educational and scientific displays
and illustrations and fine, applied and decorative arts featuring orchids,
including photography, jewellery, ceramics and postage stamps."
URL : http://www.bizcommunity.com
Steve
1888Orchids.com
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Orchids - America's Most Popular Flowering Plant? At Least I Think So...
Every morning I have the privilege of entering a large greenhouse filled with one of the world's most amazing plants - Orchids! Just being around these plants makes me feel good. I can't help but smile when I admire there elegance and beauty.My name is Delia Villegas and I am the "orchid picker" or the person that hand selects Orchid plants and flowers for a large Orchid mail order company. The plants I select are sent all over the country to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and other special events. One day when I was selecting Orchid plants, I thought... what is America's most popular flowering plant? It has to be the Orchid! I set out to do some research to find out what is America's most popular flowering plant.
First of all, I must confess that I am biased (so much for journalistic guidelines). More than any other plant, I love Orchid plants and as I learn more about them, my attraction becomes even stronger. There is always something new to be learned about Orchids. For example, did you know that Orchids existed when dinosaurs roamed the earth? This discovery was made when a prehistoric bee was found in amber and when analyzed they found Orchid seeds on the bee. Pretty cool, huh? Does this mean orchids have always existed? Ok, back to my story - What is America's most popular flowering plant?
The top three potted flowering plants in terms of 2005 sales in the United States are Poinsettias, Orchids and Chrysanthemums. California accounts for 25 percent of this category's total value. Poinsettia value, which adds $242 million to this category, is down 2 percent from 2004. The value of Potted Orchids is $144 million, up 11 percent from the previous year. Go Orchids! Florist Chrysanthemum value is up 1 percent, to $68.9 million. Through my research I have discovered that sales of potted Orchids have improved over the previous years sales, year after year. That means orchids are becoming more and more popular! Woo-hoo!!In an article in FloraCulture International titled "The world’s fascination with potted Orchids" the author writes, "The United States Department of Agriculture reports that 15.6 million pots of Orchids valued at $121 million were sold in 2003, up 18% in units from 2002. By value, California potted Orchid growers sold 40%, Florida growers sold 33% and Hawaii growers sold 14%. Orchids have become the second most popular flowering plant (after the Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) sold in the United States. In other words, sales of potted Orchids around the world are booming."
In terms of sales, the potted Poinsettia is the most popular flowering plant with almost double the sales of potted orchids. There, I said it! But, the Poinsettia's 2005 sales are down 2% from 2004 sales yet the wholesale value of potted orchids grew by 5 percent and the number of pots sold increased by 14 percent to 17.2 million pots. If sales continue at the same rate, orchids will exceed the value of poinsettias by 2020 to become the most valued flowering plant - that's only 12 years from now! Hey, maybe if we declare orchids the official plant for Mother's Day we'll be there sooner. Heck, let's include Valentine's Day too.
Sales statistics for potted Poinsettias is down. Sales statistics for potted Orchids is up. That means Orchids are becoming more and more popular. Nevertheless, Poinsettias are popular plants otherwise we wouldn't buy them. I love Poinsettia plants too - they're beautiful! But, I have a feeling if we conducted a survey that asked, "What do you think is America's most popular flowering plant: the Poinsettia, the Orchid or the Chrysanthemum" I think the Orchid may come up on top. Why? Because we are seeing more orchids in markets and flower shops. They're everywhere. Don't worry, Orchids will never be a commodity. There are too many varieties some highly prized and rare. This adds to their mystic and umm... popularity.
Sales statistics for potted Poinsettias is down. Sales statistics for potted Orchids is up. That means Orchids are becoming more and more popular. Nevertheless, Poinsettias are popular plants otherwise we wouldn't buy them. I love Poinsettia plants too - they're beautiful! But, I have a feeling if we conducted a survey that asked, "What do you think is America's most popular flowering plant: the Poinsettia, the Orchid or the Chrysanthemum" I think the Orchid may come up on top. Why? Because we are seeing more orchids in markets and flower shops. They're everywhere. Don't worry, Orchids will never be a commodity. There are too many varieties some highly prized and rare. This adds to their mystic and umm... popularity.
Delia Villegas
OrchidGram! Newsletter Contributing Writer & Orchid Lover
www.1888orchids.com
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Miltonia Orchid
"Miltonia orchids are native of [Colombia] South America... Miltoniopsis roezlii...
fragrant...
bloom once or twice a year, and the flowers of the miltonia orchid often remain attractive for a
month or more [or less...].
... roots must be kept evenly moist.
Too much water will cause root rot.
Too little causes the plants to dehydrate and die.
... lack of moisture. The new leaves will become crinkled.
Smooth leaves indicate the proper amount of water.
... difficult to grow in the typical home...
can best be enjoyed in Hilbert Conservatory at White River Gardens
[Indianapolis]
URL :
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080126/COLUMNISTS18/801260386/-1/LOCAL17
Enjoy,
Steve
1888Orchids.com
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Our itty bitty orchid shop on Blogger
Buy an orchid so I can retire to a sunny beach. Ehem... you can also share this application and add it to your profile. :)
Applications like this (known as ShopBots) can be found all over the internet. Now that you have come across mine, click "Share" and follow the instructions.
Applications like this (known as ShopBots) can be found all over the internet. Now that you have come across mine, click "Share" and follow the instructions.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
"You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
South Florida's Winter Orchid Extravaganza - Tamiami International Orchid Festival
Miami International Orchid Festival, a major orchid event now in its
fifth year, is coming to the Sunshine Pavilion of Tamiami Fair Expo
Center(10900 Coral Way) on January 25th, 26th, and 27th 2008. The Festival has become in some aspects the largest annual orchid event of the season and
hence is billed as "South Florida's Winter Orchid Extravaganza".
Truly national and international in scope, the Miami International Festival brings
together fifty growers from the US and around the world. Orchidists from
Malaya, Taiwan, the Philippines will join growers from Brazil, Venezuela,
Equador, Singapore and Peru as well as local and national growers. Some of
these leading orchid nurseries have never before exhibited in South Florida
and will be offering the public new varieties of orchid species and hybrids
not previously available here.
The Tamiami Festival is a community based event with the sponsorship of the
not for profit Greater Miami Orchid Festivals, and with participation by
Orchid Society of Coral Gables, the South Dade Amateur Orchid Society, the
American Orchid Society's Florida Carribean Judging Center, the Coalition on
Orchid Species and Orchid Mania(the children's AIDS charity), all of whom
will be contributing to the staffing of the event and sharing in its
success. An overwhelming majority of local commercial orchid growers will
also be exhibiting and vending. The event is intended to bring the entire
orchid community of South Florida together.
Staged exhibits will be mounted by both commercial and amateur groups. The
latter will, in a unique feature, be competing for cash prizes for the best
exhibits. Both individual plants and exhibits will be eligible for ribbons,
trophies and the much coveted American Orchid Society awards. The public is
also invited to bring plants for exhibit and judging on Thursday January
24th between 12 and 5 PM.
Orchid theme arts and crafts will be offered for sale as well as a full
range of supplies, materials and tools for all the orchid grower's needs.
Lectures by internationally renowned experts as well as growing classes for
amateurs and more advanced hobbyists will be presented. Local orchid
societies will be there during the entire show to recruit new members and to
help the public with their orchid related problems.
Miami's first orchid event of the year promises in many aspects to be not
only the first but the best!
The festival is open to the public from 10:00AM- 8:00 PM Friday and Saturday
and 10-6 on Sunday. Plan to be there! Take either the 8th Street or Bird
Road exits of the Fla. Turnpike and follow the signs about a mile and a half
to the Fair Expo Center. The Festival is also easily accessed from the
Palmetto Expressway(826) at Coral Way. Proceed West to 109St.
Admission is only $7.00 and there is ample free parking convenient to the
fully air conditioned hall.
For further information or to arrange photo shoots or other extended
coverage of this colorful tropical event, contact Dr. Martin Motes at 305
2474398 or email at vandas@mindpring.com or visit
Blue orchid at 1888Orchids.com
www.miamiorchidfestival.com.
fifth year, is coming to the Sunshine Pavilion of Tamiami Fair Expo
Center(10900 Coral Way) on January 25th, 26th, and 27th 2008. The Festival has become in some aspects the largest annual orchid event of the season and
hence is billed as "South Florida's Winter Orchid Extravaganza".
Truly national and international in scope, the Miami International Festival brings
together fifty growers from the US and around the world. Orchidists from
Malaya, Taiwan, the Philippines will join growers from Brazil, Venezuela,
Equador, Singapore and Peru as well as local and national growers. Some of
these leading orchid nurseries have never before exhibited in South Florida
and will be offering the public new varieties of orchid species and hybrids
not previously available here.
The Tamiami Festival is a community based event with the sponsorship of the
not for profit Greater Miami Orchid Festivals, and with participation by
Orchid Society of Coral Gables, the South Dade Amateur Orchid Society, the
American Orchid Society's Florida Carribean Judging Center, the Coalition on
Orchid Species and Orchid Mania(the children's AIDS charity), all of whom
will be contributing to the staffing of the event and sharing in its
success. An overwhelming majority of local commercial orchid growers will
also be exhibiting and vending. The event is intended to bring the entire
orchid community of South Florida together.
Staged exhibits will be mounted by both commercial and amateur groups. The
latter will, in a unique feature, be competing for cash prizes for the best
exhibits. Both individual plants and exhibits will be eligible for ribbons,
trophies and the much coveted American Orchid Society awards. The public is
also invited to bring plants for exhibit and judging on Thursday January
24th between 12 and 5 PM.
Orchid theme arts and crafts will be offered for sale as well as a full
range of supplies, materials and tools for all the orchid grower's needs.
Lectures by internationally renowned experts as well as growing classes for
amateurs and more advanced hobbyists will be presented. Local orchid
societies will be there during the entire show to recruit new members and to
help the public with their orchid related problems.
Miami's first orchid event of the year promises in many aspects to be not
only the first but the best!
The festival is open to the public from 10:00AM- 8:00 PM Friday and Saturday
and 10-6 on Sunday. Plan to be there! Take either the 8th Street or Bird
Road exits of the Fla. Turnpike and follow the signs about a mile and a half
to the Fair Expo Center. The Festival is also easily accessed from the
Palmetto Expressway(826) at Coral Way. Proceed West to 109St.
Admission is only $7.00 and there is ample free parking convenient to the
fully air conditioned hall.
For further information or to arrange photo shoots or other extended
coverage of this colorful tropical event, contact Dr. Martin Motes at 305
2474398 or email at vandas@mindpring.com or visit
Blue orchid at 1888Orchids.com
www.miamiorchidfestival.com.
Orchids - America's Most Popular Flowering Plant? At Least We Think So
Every morning I have the privilege of entering a large greenhouse filled with one of the world's most amazing plants - orchids! Just being around these plants makes me feel good. I can't help but smile when I admire there elegance and beauty. My name is Delia Villegas and I am the "orchid picker" or the person that hand selects orchid plants and flowers for a large orchid mail order company. The plants I select are sent all over the country to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and other special events. One day when I was selecting orchid plants, I wondered, what is America's most popular flowering plant? I thought, it has to be the orchid! I set out to do some research to find out what is America's most popular flowering plant.
First of all, I must confess that I am a biased. More than any other plant, I love orchid plants and as I learn more about them, my attraction becomes even stronger. There is always something new to be learned about orchids. For example, did you know that orchids existed when dinosaurs roamed the earth? This discovery was made when a prehistoric bee was found in amber and when analyzed they found orchid seeds on the bee. Pretty cool, huh? Ok, back to my story - What is America's most popular flowering plant?
The top three potted flowering plants in terms of sales in the US are Poinsettias, Orchids and Chrysanthemums. California accounts for 25 percent of the category's total value. Poinsettia value, which adds $242 million to this category, is down 2
percent from 2004. The value of Potted Orchids is $144 million, up 11 percent from the previous year. Florist Chrysanthemum value is up 1 percent, to $68.9 million.
In an article in FloraCulture International titled "The world’s fascination with potted orchids" the author writes, "The United States Department of Agriculture reports that 15.6 million pots of orchids valued at $121 million were sold in
2003, up 18% in units from 2002. By value, California potted orchid growers sold 40%, Florida growers sold 33% and Hawaii growers sold 14%. Orchids have become the second most popular flowering plant (after the poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) sold in the United States. In other words, sales of potted orchids around the world are booming."
In terms of sales, the potted Poinsettia is the most popular flowering plant with almost double the sales of potted orchids. There, I said it! But, the Poinsettias 2005 sales are down 2% from 2004 sales yet the wholesale value of potted orchids grew by 5 percent and the number of pots sold increased by 14 percent to 17.2 million pots. If sales continue at the same rate, orchids will exceed the value of poinsettias by 2020 to become the most valued flowering plant - that's only 12 years from now! Hey, maybe if we declare orchids the official plant for Mother's Day we'll be there sooner.
Delia Villegas
OrchidGram! Newsletter Contributing Writer & Orchid Lover
The top three potted flowering plants in the US are poinsettias, orchids and chrysanthemums.
poinsettia U.S. Total: $242,305,000
orchid U.S. Total: $143,968,000
crysanthenum U.S. Total: $68,944,000
2005
2004
With the poinsettia being the most popular. I'll discuss the attributes of each plant and then you decide which you consider most popular.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Rare orchid found in South Island
"rare endangered North Island native orchid has been rediscovered in the South Island.
... Georgina Upson, of Nelson, found the 10cm orchid while searchingscrubland at the base of Farewell Spit.
... Upson presented photographic evidence of her find of Pterostylispuberula... She... recognised the plant as one only found in the far north of the North
Island and near Thames... She was looking for another orchid when she stumbled across a colony of 120 plants, which were last seen south of Motueka 20 years ago.
Before her discovery only 200 of the plants were known to exist in the North Island...
the tiny plant lived in poor soil amid manuka and gorse scrub... up there -- it's windy and cold and exposed, an unpleasant place, and will
take quite a lot of work to relocate it...
unusual to find a plant so far outside its known range"
FULL STORY URL : http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4357481a19754.html
... Georgina Upson, of Nelson, found the 10cm orchid while searchingscrubland at the base of Farewell Spit.
... Upson presented photographic evidence of her find of Pterostylispuberula... She... recognised the plant as one only found in the far north of the North
Island and near Thames... She was looking for another orchid when she stumbled across a colony of 120 plants, which were last seen south of Motueka 20 years ago.
Before her discovery only 200 of the plants were known to exist in the North Island...
the tiny plant lived in poor soil amid manuka and gorse scrub... up there -- it's windy and cold and exposed, an unpleasant place, and will
take quite a lot of work to relocate it...
unusual to find a plant so far outside its known range"
FULL STORY URL : http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4357481a19754.html
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
The Orchid Conservatory at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
"Art at the Garden 2008, presented by Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden... in honor of the opening of the garden's Orchid Conservatory.
The art celebration will continue through March 18 and include paintings on silk, photographs and watercolors.
Featured artists include Silk Synergy artists Janet Haefner, Julianne Jennings, Karen Sistek and Merridee Joan Smith. Silk Synergy is a group of
four artists who work individually and as a group specializing in paintings
on silk.
... Greg Allikas will display a variety of his... photographs. His work appears regularly in "Orchids" magazine and in several books,
including three he co-authored with Ned Nash.
Rose Ganucheau has been painting orchids in watercolor for 20 years...
The Orchid Conservatory at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is scheduled to open at noon Jan. 19.
...
The conservatory will... serve as a learning environment introducing visitors to... biology of orchids."
URL: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/breaking_news/story/440631.html
Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
The art celebration will continue through March 18 and include paintings on silk, photographs and watercolors.
Featured artists include Silk Synergy artists Janet Haefner, Julianne Jennings, Karen Sistek and Merridee Joan Smith. Silk Synergy is a group of
four artists who work individually and as a group specializing in paintings
on silk.
... Greg Allikas will display a variety of his... photographs. His work appears regularly in "Orchids" magazine and in several books,
including three he co-authored with Ned Nash.
Rose Ganucheau has been painting orchids in watercolor for 20 years...
The Orchid Conservatory at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is scheduled to open at noon Jan. 19.
...
The conservatory will... serve as a learning environment introducing visitors to... biology of orchids."
URL: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/breaking_news/story/440631.html
Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
Sunday, January 13, 2008
11th World Orchid Conference - Miami, Florida January 23-27
"Robert Fuchs...
In 1984, the third generation orchidist won the Grand Champion award at the 11th World Orchid Conference in Miami with his Vanda Deva 'Robert.'
... Fuchs, president of R.F. Orchids in Homestead and one of the... vandal breeders in the United States.
Fuchs is now president of the 19th World Orchid Conference set for Jan. 23-27 at the Exhibition Center of the Sheraton Miami Mart Hotel &
Convention Center in Miami... Sponsors are the Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society and the South Florida Orchid Society.
... there will be more than 100 displays from the world's leading orchid houses. More than 50 countries will be represented...
the Quilt Guild of America and the Cake Decorators of South Florida (smile...) will sponsor competitions and demonstrations.
The United States Postal Service is offering five orchid design cancellations for collectors.
Conference organizers estimate the show will attract 200,000 attendees.
Gordon Dillon, former executive secretary of the American Orchid Society, is credited with the idea of creating an international, weeklong event that
would attract the best amateurs, professionals and botanists in the orchid world. His idea grew into the first World Orchid Conference that was held
in October 1954 in St. Louis. Since then, the conferences have been held in locations as varied as Honolulu, London, Singapore, Sydney, Medellin,
Frankfurt, Bangkok, Durban, Miami, Tokyo, Auckland, Glasgow, Rio de Janeiro, Vancouver, Shah Alam, Dijon and Long Beach, Calif."
URL:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/home/sfl-flhg12orchidsbjan12,0,610868.story
Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
www.1888orchids.com
In 1984, the third generation orchidist won the Grand Champion award at the 11th World Orchid Conference in Miami with his Vanda Deva 'Robert.'
... Fuchs, president of R.F. Orchids in Homestead and one of the... vandal breeders in the United States.
Fuchs is now president of the 19th World Orchid Conference set for Jan. 23-27 at the Exhibition Center of the Sheraton Miami Mart Hotel &
Convention Center in Miami... Sponsors are the Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society and the South Florida Orchid Society.
... there will be more than 100 displays from the world's leading orchid houses. More than 50 countries will be represented...
the Quilt Guild of America and the Cake Decorators of South Florida (smile...) will sponsor competitions and demonstrations.
The United States Postal Service is offering five orchid design cancellations for collectors.
Conference organizers estimate the show will attract 200,000 attendees.
Gordon Dillon, former executive secretary of the American Orchid Society, is credited with the idea of creating an international, weeklong event that
would attract the best amateurs, professionals and botanists in the orchid world. His idea grew into the first World Orchid Conference that was held
in October 1954 in St. Louis. Since then, the conferences have been held in locations as varied as Honolulu, London, Singapore, Sydney, Medellin,
Frankfurt, Bangkok, Durban, Miami, Tokyo, Auckland, Glasgow, Rio de Janeiro, Vancouver, Shah Alam, Dijon and Long Beach, Calif."
URL:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/home/sfl-flhg12orchidsbjan12,0,610868.story
Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
www.1888orchids.com
Friday, January 11, 2008
Orchid Discovery of the Century
Almost every orchid grower dreams of seeing the rarest of orchids, the Holy Grail, just once in their lifetime. Alexandria resident Ken Meier is one such lucky grower.
A fiber optic technician by profession, he has been growing orchids for more than two decades. His backyard greenhouse is crammed with orchids that spill out into his yard during the warm summer months. Ken, who has more than two thousand orchids in his collection, is constantly in pursuit of new and unusual orchids.
While others kick back and head for the beach during their summer vacation, Ken can be found deep in the jungles of Asia and South America looking for orchids growing wild in their native habitat.
Meier has the distinction of being one of the few westerners to have seen what has been called the “orchid discovery of the century,” growing wild in its native habitat; an orchid so spectacular, that many wonder how it could have gone undiscovered for so long.
The tale of its discovery is one filled with the drama and passion that only orchids can inspire. This orchid was brought into the United States and described as a new species by Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in 2002. It was named Phragmipedium kovachii in honor of its American discoverer, Michael Kovach, of Goldvein, Va. Eventually, its “discoverer” would be indicted for smuggling the plant into the United States, the prestigious Selby Gardens disgraced, and the original habitats of this orchid plundered by illegal collectors.
Recently, Meier led an orchid expedition to the Andes in the remote northern region of Peru. His guide knew of two habitats were the fabled phragmipedium could still be found. “We hiked for about five hours through the jungle to reach the first habitat,” recalls Ken. “It was tough going and only a few members of our group made it—the rest turned back.”
Disappointingly, while they found several of the rare orchid plants, none were in flower. While the rest of his team gave up, Meier pressed on with his guide. “It was a strenuous hike up almost vertical cliffs, shrouded in mist. We finally reached the second habitat, and there on a mossy outcrop, I saw a single flower that simply took my breath away, though I was already out of breath from the low oxygen levels at that altitude.”
Meier is as excited today, as he describes the orchid that he saw a year ago: a voluptuous fuchsia flower almost half a foot across. “The color was so rich and deep, the flower could have been made out of velvet,” he enthuses. After about half an hour of admiring the flower and taking photos it was time to leave and carefully climb back down the slippery treacherous cliffs before darkness fell.
When asked, Meiei said he had no seeds or plants of Phragmipedim kovachii from his trip. It’s illegal to remove any slipper orchid plants or seeds from their native habitat, especially so endangered a species. Soon, legally propagated plants from Peru will be exported and available in United States,” Meier said.
Even so, it will be several more years before they bloom. Meier smiles with the patience that only orchid growers know. “It’s worth the wait…and until then I have my photographs and memories from Peru to remind me why.”
Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com
A fiber optic technician by profession, he has been growing orchids for more than two decades. His backyard greenhouse is crammed with orchids that spill out into his yard during the warm summer months. Ken, who has more than two thousand orchids in his collection, is constantly in pursuit of new and unusual orchids.
While others kick back and head for the beach during their summer vacation, Ken can be found deep in the jungles of Asia and South America looking for orchids growing wild in their native habitat.
Meier has the distinction of being one of the few westerners to have seen what has been called the “orchid discovery of the century,” growing wild in its native habitat; an orchid so spectacular, that many wonder how it could have gone undiscovered for so long.
The tale of its discovery is one filled with the drama and passion that only orchids can inspire. This orchid was brought into the United States and described as a new species by Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in 2002. It was named Phragmipedium kovachii in honor of its American discoverer, Michael Kovach, of Goldvein, Va. Eventually, its “discoverer” would be indicted for smuggling the plant into the United States, the prestigious Selby Gardens disgraced, and the original habitats of this orchid plundered by illegal collectors.
Recently, Meier led an orchid expedition to the Andes in the remote northern region of Peru. His guide knew of two habitats were the fabled phragmipedium could still be found. “We hiked for about five hours through the jungle to reach the first habitat,” recalls Ken. “It was tough going and only a few members of our group made it—the rest turned back.”
Disappointingly, while they found several of the rare orchid plants, none were in flower. While the rest of his team gave up, Meier pressed on with his guide. “It was a strenuous hike up almost vertical cliffs, shrouded in mist. We finally reached the second habitat, and there on a mossy outcrop, I saw a single flower that simply took my breath away, though I was already out of breath from the low oxygen levels at that altitude.”
Meier is as excited today, as he describes the orchid that he saw a year ago: a voluptuous fuchsia flower almost half a foot across. “The color was so rich and deep, the flower could have been made out of velvet,” he enthuses. After about half an hour of admiring the flower and taking photos it was time to leave and carefully climb back down the slippery treacherous cliffs before darkness fell.
When asked, Meiei said he had no seeds or plants of Phragmipedim kovachii from his trip. It’s illegal to remove any slipper orchid plants or seeds from their native habitat, especially so endangered a species. Soon, legally propagated plants from Peru will be exported and available in United States,” Meier said.
Even so, it will be several more years before they bloom. Meier smiles with the patience that only orchid growers know. “It’s worth the wait…and until then I have my photographs and memories from Peru to remind me why.”
Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Red Orchids
Red orchids will bring a big smile to even the orchid collector! Since Valentine's Day is right around the corner, I would like you to preview our collection of red orchids for Valentine's Day 2008.
Preview them here: http://www.1888orchids.com/red_orchids_s/146.htm
Sincerely,
Steve Peralta
www.1888Orchids.com
Preview them here: http://www.1888orchids.com/red_orchids_s/146.htm
Sincerely,
Steve Peralta
www.1888Orchids.com
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Orchid Craze
THE ORCHID CRAZE AT ITS HEIGHT IN FASHIONABLE NEW YORK; Unknown a Generation Ago, the Beau Brummel of Blossoms Reigns Supreme The Danger and Romance of Orchid-Hunting Millionaires Among those who Raise it for the Market
Here's the link again: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A05E2DF123EE033A25754C1A9649C946697D6CF
Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com
Here's the link again: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A05E2DF123EE033A25754C1A9649C946697D6CF
Enjoy,
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com
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