has not forgotten his followers in the blog and written up his observations and experiences interspersed with some fine visuals. I am posting them here for all viewers to enjoy. Here goes:
The South Florida Orchid Show
By Indra Anandasabapathy
Several years ago while growing up in Colombo, I came across a news item that referred to the orchid society in Colombo that was celebrating a major anniversary. So they had planned to do so by planting orchid plants on the trees lining Bullers road ( now Bauddhaloka Mawatha ). The conditions were perfect with diffuse sunlight, humidity and shade. The motive was laudable and ambitious. I used to travel to school that way, so was able to see their work. There was one epiphytic orchid on each tree. One thing was missing however. So what happened later was predictable and sad. Almost all of them vanished almost overnight from those magnificent old trees. So much for citizenship.
Whoever stole the plants probably saw them perish as orchids are not easy to take care of without some basic knowledge. The story always intrigued me to the point several years later, I made growing them as a hobby in New York.
Is it difficult . Somewhat, but not hard as long as one has the right conditions, diffuse sunlight, humidity and shade. I do not have the conditions all perfect but have over the years managed to nurse and coax to flower about twenty five plants.
Orchidaceae is a family with about 28,000 species (in fact one of the most successful plant species) and orchids grow from the tropics to the foothills of the Himalayas. Most are epiphytes, but several are terrestrial. Orchids are among the largest of plant species encompassing about 6-11% of all seed plants. After man got involved with their cultivation, there are over 100,000 hybrids.
There are over 175 species of orchids in Sri Lanka and about 75 are endemic to the island. Two of the most famous here are the scorpion orchid (worn on lapels) and the Vesak orchid, Dendrobium McCarthea.
The source of Vanilla is an orchid plant - a trailing or climbing plant. While some plants have large flowers, yet there are others with tiny flowers in inflorecenses. The photographs show both forms. Some orchid flowers have sweet scents.
Annexed are pictures from my recent visit to the annual orchid show in South Florida. It attracts about a hundred vendors and exhibits. The largest I have been to is the New York Orchid Society annual show which was free and attracted over 750 vendors and exhibits and is held usually in April.
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| Best exhibit |
An uncommon pink Catteleya
More Catteleyas
Catteleya Orchid
Different coloured Vandas in bloom
Cattleyas
Prize winner - Cattleya
Selby Gardens
Dendrobium (Dancer)
Dendrobium in bloom
