Cymbidium orchid - "Dream Therapy"

Another beautiful cymbidium orchid just finished it's flowering season and it's a cross of cymbidium "Dream Therapy" - very nice and unusual. It's parentage is quite complicated, giving a kind of two-tone effect to the blooms. It's a cross of Dream Therapy x Eazan Shining "Ginger Kisses" x Glittering Gold .

The flowers have a bit of oriental feel to them, displaying interesting color of bronze/ yellow and a touch of green with wide white/red middle and the whole effect of the blooms have very pleasing to the eye combination. It also have very nice light scent that is difficult to describe, it smells of "freshness" - crisp, clean and bright.

Some time ago I purchased couple of seedlings of this orchid hopping to see unusual flower and this season it's flowering first time. The plant is still small and as it matures I expect to see more of these interesting and special blooms.

Native Dendrobiums in flower

Being first month of spring, my native dendrobiums orchids currently in bloom. They are some of the easiest orchids to grow and every year reward me with many scented and sculptured flowers.

All of my natives grow outside under the shade of the trees and exposed to all elements, they don't get any special treatments - just an occasional watering during hot summer months, other than that they are very tough and enjoy all kind of weather. In nature they grow attached to the trees or on the rocks and used to surviving harsh weather making them ideal orchids to grow for the beginner.

They are rather un-complicated , have the beauty all of their own and every year, in early spring put up a show and a display heralding the new growing season.

Trip to Far North Qld

I've just returned from my trip to Far North Qld, been away for a while visiting this beautiful part of the world. Took many trips and excursions and seen many natural wonders of that protected World Heritage area. Learned so much from passionate people and local guides who really care and preserve this delicate environment and was given an opportunity to share in their knowledge and wisdom.

Seen whales frolicking in the ocean and crocodiles in Proserpine river, visited some sacred Aborigines sites and learned about healing properties of many native plants, seen beautiful native orchids growing in canopies of trees in Daintree river and was introduced to many species of birds and animals that are at home in these protected areas. Walked in the rainforests that are thousands years old and learned many old legends, as old as the "time" itself. Tried many exotic foods and fruits and seen the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef in all it's splendor.

Met many local and native guides and shared their knowledge and experiences, legends and stories, promised Tui of Daintree River Cruise Centre to thank him via this blog for his passionate love of the Daintree river and for manuvering and taking the boat so much closer to the edges so that I can look at the plants and orchids, while snakes were resting on the overhead branches and crocodiles lurking in the water below. The local guides and local guided commentary is so important on the trip like that and all these people share such passion and love of the area, delicate eco-system and their real love for environment. There is so much healing energy in that part of the world, energy that is bold, uncompromising, sacred, primeval, majestic, spectacular, unusual, unchanged, confident and I feel enormous privilege to be able to share and experience that healing energy.

Cymbidium Henri Choo

Winter in our part of the world is cymbidium orchids flowering time and this beautiful cymbidium Henri Choo is currently blooming in my greenhouse. It's one of the novelty cymbidiums that have a lot of splashes and stripes on it's petals. At the moment it's one of the "collector's items" but I am sure that in the near future it will be available everywhere.

There is definite trend in cymbidium orchids and current one is to have many stripes and different blotches on the blooms and "Henri Choo" splendidly represents this trend.

It's parentage is Enzan Shining x Death Wish and the blooms have this oriental appearance to them, the color predominantly orange/bronze with many markings with large lip slightly lighter color and the whole effect displayed as if been painted by a paint brush. Another beautiful creation by a breeder who can see so much potential in both parents.

My plant is only a couple of years old, I got it some time ago as seedling and it's interesting for me to discover it's beauty and it's potential. It's been growing strong and this season "Henri Choo" started to show off it's beauty - large, bold blooms, unusual markings and strong, vigorous plant with repeat flowering - another winner for cymbidium world of orchids.

Coelogyne mooreana orchid - "Wild One"

My Coelogyne mooreana "Wild One" in flower at the moment. It's one of the beautiful varieties that are easy to grow for a beginner, as well as experienced orchid collector. It flowers with these large pristine white blooms that are sweetly scented, and quite a delight to see in the middle of our winter.

Coelogyne genus currently consist of about 150 different species, native to India to the Pacific Islands and as far north as southern China and the Philippines. They grow in the habitats from sea level to the high mountains and prefer semi-shade conditions and situations and in our climate quite happy to grow outside under the shade of the trees.

They are one of the easiest orchids to grow and to bring to flower and can grow quite quickly into large, bulky plants producing many sprays of sweetly scented blooms. They can also be planted in hanging baskets to show off their special flowers.

My plant is var "Wild One" native to Vietnam where it grows at moderate to high altitudes. It have upright inflorescence that usually develops from the new growth and have fragrant flowers, each about 8cm across. I've been growing it quite a few years now, it's quite constant performer and lives up to it's name, I divide it every couple of years and many of my friends share the beauty of the "Wild One" now.

Cymbidium Orchid - "Night Angel"

This is the first month of winter in our part of the world and it means that fabulous cymbidium orchids started it's seasonal flowering again. Many of my plants very busy at the moment, developing new flower spikes and ready to to put up a show. It's nice to see some of my old plants growing strong as well as discovering new and unusual first-time for me bloomers.

Right now earlier flowering varieties started to show their flowers and one of them this cymbidium Night Angel. It's parents "Sylvania" x "Something Fabulous" and it looks like a very interesting cross. The flowers predominantly pink with slight stripes and a bit of luminous quality to them offset by darker velvety middle - very nice combination.

I got a couple of small seedlings of this variety some time ago and this is it's first flowering, so only a few blooms on each flower spike this season, but it looks like "Night Angel" will be another beautiful addition to my cymbidium orchid collection.

Turkish wild orchids ice cream

My first taste of salepi dondurma, a unique Turkish ice cream made from tubers of wild orchids was many years ago in Grand Bazaar of Istanbul during school trip to this vibrant, beautiful colorful city. Since then, I've tried it many times at different international Food and Wine shows here in Sydney and always love an opportunity to taste it again and again.

Dondurma is the Turkish word for ice cream and salep is the whitish flour milled from the dried tubers of wild, terrestrial orchids grown through Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor. Local people collect the orchid tubers for this uniquely Turkish delicacy and this dessert made from tubers flour, milk and sugar. The frozen mixture then beaten with metal rods until it's very elastic in texture and can be eaten with a knife and fork. The taste - slightly sweet, nutty, subtle earthy and comes in many flavors - apricot, pistachio, peach, vanilla, red currant and many others.

Originally, salepi dondurma was mixed by hand. It was then pounded to a smooth consistency with metal rods, and then stretched by hand. These days gelato machines used for freezing and mixing, but the final product is still beaten and kneaded with metal rods for some time, to achieve the proper degree of elasticity.

This delicacy, I was told, also have unique medicinal properties and according to Gioscorides, Greek Physician from First-Century AD and other more recent experts in this field, salepi dondurma can " heal the spleen, prevent cholera and tuberculosis, facilitate childbirth, stop your hands and feet from shaking, prevent getting lump on your back, keep your chest soft, heal bronchitis and used as an aphrodisiac when needed." For many years now I've been evaluating long-term benefits of wild orchids ice-cream and look for it anytime opportunity presents itself.

Ahh, but perhaps the best medical advice about the properties of salepi dondurma I received from colorful ice-cream vendor in Istanbul all these years ago - "it will cure those who mentally fallen crazy in love"... No comment.

Here is a short video showing traditional serving of ice-cream by Turkish ice-cream vendors:

Oncidium chrysomorphum orchid x Oda.(Cherubino x Wearside Pattern)

There are many hundreds of handsome hybrids made with Oncidium orchids and with closely to them related genera. Some of them quite complex and complicated and this is one of them. It's Onc. Chrysomorphum x Oda. (Cherubino x Wearside Pattern) and it's currently in flower.

My orchid flowers at the end of our autumn/ early winter with masses of bright, yellow/orange blooms with many long flowering arching spikes that about 50 cm long. It's slightly fragrant, just a hint of cinnamon , not overpowering and very pleasing. It's always nice to see vibrant flamboyant colors in autumn and winter and I get my "color therapy" fix from this one.

Despite its complicated background it's quite easy to cultivate and to bring it to flower, it like well-drained bark mix and plenty of moisture during warm weather with less watering during colder months. It can be mounted on tree-fern slabs or cork mounts.

It's another beautiful orchid to have in one's collection that rewards with exotic, special, colorful, flamboyant blooms.

Odontoglossum nobile orchid ( Full Moon x Tiffany)

Another of my beautiful Odm. nobile orchid currently in flower - it's very nice cross named 'Full Moon x Tiffany" and it flowers with huge white pink dotted blooms. The flowers are large and free flowing relaxed petals and plant producing many long sprays of them during it's blooming season. It's also a scented orchid that have strong smell of jasmine that lingers for a long time - an absolute delight!

The flowers stay on the plant for about three weeks or so and many new flower spikes develop during it's flowering time, giving an opportunity to really enjoy this beautiful and special creation.

Odontoglossum nobile native to clouded forests of Colombia, found in an high elevation of 2400m and in our climate perfectly suited to greenhouse cultivation - it needs moderate light, dry conditions between watering and free flowing orchid compost so it can drain freely. Odm. nobile have pristine white large blooms and this variety of Full Moon x Tiffany displaying larger ( 8.5cm) and more colorful flowers.

It's another beautiful orchid that easy to cultivate for experienced orchid grower as well as beginner and will reward year after year with it's special, majestic scented blooms.

Oncidium orchid Sharri Baby "Sweet Fragrance"

My wonderful Oncidium Sharri Baby currently in flower - it's variety "Sweet Fragrance" and have beautiful scented blooms, reminiscent of "sour cherries" - what a delight! It flowers with masses of small sculptured flowers on long arching flower spikes and flowers are burgundy color with just a touch of white on the petals.

Sharri Baby is one of the most famous of the Oncidium hybrids ( Jamie Sutton x Honolulu) and "Sweet Fragrance" lives up to it's name, it's one of the best known fragrant orchids on the market today. It's very generous in it's growing habit, producing many new bulbs and leaves and flower spikes during it's growing season and can get quite large specimen in short period of time. This never a problem to me - I just divide it and share it with friends and other orchids growers and collectors.

It's one of the easiest orchids to grow for the beginners - it likes a lot of water during it's growing time and to be a little bit drier when it's resting, in our climate it's quite happy to grow outside under the shade of the trees, but in colder climates it loves sunny window situation. It have large pseudobulbs that will shrivel if the plant not getting enough moisture, indicating optimum growing requirements.

The original Sharri Baby hybrid have chocolate/vanilla scented flowers and Sharri Baby "Sweet Fragrance" beautiful "sour cherry" scented blooms and if you ever wanted to grow an orchid or two, give them a go - they easy and will reward you with their special fragrant blooms.

Laelia tenebrosa "Nicci"

My beautiful and flamboyant Laelia tenebrosa native to Brazil just finished it's flowering season - it's variety "Nicci" and in our climate it's blooming in autumn.

Laelia genus previously comprised more than 60 different species, but it has recently been revised and now contains only a few from Central America. Their growth habitat closely resembles that of Cattleya's and in cultivation they require similar conditions. They need well-drained mix and plenty of watering during growing time and then drier situations during dormant months.

The flowers of Laelia tenebrosa are large and showy( 19 cm/7 1/2 inches) , scented, wide open up to four blooms on each flower spike. Colors can vary and my "Nicci" variety displays beautiful bronze/purple blooms that loved by everyone, even though it's unusual color combination, being on the opposite side of the color wheel. Nature's creations...

This beautiful orchid was first documented in 1800's and it's origin's traced to small area of Espirito Santo state in Brazil, where it now considered virtually extinct. It grew in dense forests on large trees and that area of the rain forest now been totally destroyed. Most of the plants available today come from sub crosses or clones of old jungle plants. One really hopes that some original genes still left and breeders can recreate this magical orchid, to be enjoyed by everyone.

Phaius tankervilleae orchid

These beautiful orchids native to India, Southern Asia, New Guinea, Australia and many islands of the pacific very popular with gardeners and orchid collectors. There are currently about 50 species in phaius genus and tankervilleae is one of them. In nature they can be found in a variety of habitats and altitudes. They have squat pseudobulbs and large, pleated leaves. The flower spikes erect with several large, colorful flowers.

These species are terrestrial, which means that they happily grow in the garden and present great opportunity for landscaping with orchids in mild climates. They quite easy to grow and to flower, providing some of their requirements are met - they love organically rich soil, they prefer to be kept moist year-round and fertilized while actively growing. Plants of this very popular species will grow and flower under direct sunlight, but the best results are achieved with shaded conditions. If you have shaded spot in the garden and would like to grow an orchid or two, try phaius - they quite hardy and easy to grow and will reward you with many beautiful blooms.

There are other colorful phaius varieties - for instance phaius flavus have huge yellow/red color blooms, phaius pulchellus blooms with dark burgundy color flowers, there are others with lime green or dark brown or orange/ copper colored flowers, presenting quite a range for landscaping with orchids.

Rhizanthella slateri - rare underground orchid

This very unusual and very rare eastern orchid lives under the ground as rhizomes. When it wants to flower, it comes up to the surface and breaks the surface but is still under the leaf litter, and that's where it flowers.

Eastern underground orchids have been spotted at just a handful of sites in NSW and southern QLD, but scientists think there may be more undiscovered colonies of this rare and unusual prehistoric orchid. Through painstaking field work about a dozen of this endangered orchids were identified - but the exact locations were kept secret from the public.

Scientists are celebrating saving of this unusual orchid from the blades of a bulldozers on the NSW central coast earlier this year and their protection from a new highway project, north of Newcastle. They collected the plants for seed and transported them 430 km south to Canberra, but never expected them to survive and to flower. But they have - sending up several red-brown heads of flowers about the size of 20 cent piece - living scientists, and all orchid enthusiasts hopeful for the future of the species. They are planning to introduce this orchid back into the wild and ensure the long-term survival of this rare plant.

There was also extensive negotiations with RTA ( Roads and Traffic Authority) and the route of the highway was altered to avoid the known colonies of rhizanthella slateri, while other native plants were salvaged from the bulldozers.

So, here it is - extremely rare underground orchid saved for future generations to admire and to study and preserve and cherish and the motorists using soon-to-be-completed highway bypass North of Newcastle will notice strange bends in the highway - they actually tweaked the highway... it's got slight kink in it, because the orchid's there.

Orchids in the Moonlight ( 1933)

Orchids and Tango - how appropriate, especially on Valentine day!

This beautiful Tango was first recorded in the film "Flying Down to Rio" in 1933. Raul Roulein sang this tango in the movie together with Delores Del Rio and in the film was also the possibly the most famous dancing duo - Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

I watched this old black and white movie the other day and enjoyed the beautiful music and singing and dancing and suddenly remembered my grandparents dancing to this beautiful tune! Memories galore!

Over the years, many artists sang and recorded "Orchids in the Moonlight", the following song was recorded by The Platers in 1960's and to this day remains one of the popular versions of this Tango. It's a special tribute to Orchids and to Tango.

I am sure you will enjoy "Orchids in the Moonlight" on this Valentine's Day.

Oda. Shine Gate x Oda. Wearside Pattern

This beautiful odontoglossum cross orchid flowering at the moment - its a cross between Shine Gate and Wearside Pattern and it's producing hot pink relaxed blooms with many contrast markings on the petals. The flowers are really nice and one can't miss it in the greenhouse - bold, vibrant splashers of color is what this cross all about.

Odontoglossum genus native to Andes and freely grow mostly in cloud forests in constantly cool, wet habitats at altitudes above 5000 ft(1500m). The flowers of this genus is mostly large and showy and these orchids are very popular among growers with cool orchid houses.

Having said that, they are not the easiest orchids to cultivate and need a bit of dedication to bring them to flower. The trick , like with many orchids of course, trying to duplicate as close as possible their natural growing conditions - they require constant watering and high humidity with good air movement and a lot of shade, particularly in our hot summer conditions. At the same time, they don't like a lot of moisture in the leaf axils, so it's kind of constant search for a balance with these one's.

Still, a beautiful creation by Nature that conjures up image of exotic, delicate, rare, romantic, spectacular blooms and an interesting challenge for someone like me to be able to grow them and to reveal and appreciate their special beauty, vibrations and diversity.

Cymbidium gottianum - Angel Orchid

This magnificent primary hybrid is from the family of Cymbidium and is a cross between C. insigne alba x C. eburneum.

It's registered name is - Gottianum and to date it have very impressive statistics.

So far, this hybrid been involved in 13 generations and in excess of 6,500 hybrids - all this just until the end of 2010!

I got a few small seedlings of this orchid early last year, just to see for myself and to try to bring it to flower - this is it's first flowering season with me and besides showing very nice pastel pink flowers, it's also have long extensive blooming cycle. We are now right in the middle of our summer and this "Angel Orchid" is still flowering - very unusual for any cymbidium hybrids, which are usually strictly winter/spring flowering plants.

One can see how bold and innovative orchid breeders will use this special and beautiful hybrid in future generations of orchids, to create magnificent blooms with longer flowering season.

Happy and Healthy New Year !

Just wanted to thank everyone for your support and appreciation of beautiful orchids and to wish you all Happy and Healthy New Year from Downunder.

May New Year bring you freedom, love, fun, sunshine, laughter and happiness and may all of your dreams come alive!

Here we are expecting hot and humid next few days (35C/95F) - perfect time for the beach to spend with friends and family and to enjoy this magical time of the year.

I am looking forward seeing more of your great posts in the new exiting gardening year.

Happy New and wonderful Year!

( "towel surfing" - Bondi Beach)

Cymbidium Orchid - On the Prowl " Glamour Puss"

This beautiful cymbidium orchid currently in bloom - it's called On the Prowl " Glamour Puss" - another beautiful addition to my cymbidium orchids collection.

I purchased "Glamour Puss" seedling some time ago and been waiting for a while to see it's flowers and this year it's first flowering season. It's very nice cymbidium with very round, large blooms and nice color lip and petals, with many markings splashed on the petals. It would probably need couple of more flowering seasons and a bit of maturity to reveal it's beauty in full, still there is a promise here of something special and unusual. As the flowers maturing, they seems to take this luminous quality, very delicate, yet showy.

We are near the end of cymbidium flowering season, a few of my late flowering cymbidiums have flower spikes, ready to flower and to finish this wonderful flowering season. As usual, it's anticipation to see other orchid species and to welcome new one's in my ever expanding collection.

Cymbidium Orchid - "Frankie Valli"

Another one of my beautiful cymbidium orchids flowering at the moment - it's called "Frankie Valli" and it's one of the new orchids, only been around since late 2009 and promising to be another winner in the cymbidium world.

I purchased couple of advanced seedlings early this year , hopping to see something different and unusual and I think this one meeting all of my expectations - it's bold, spectacular, confident, uncompromising, "like me or live me" type. Love the colors of the flower, even though there are only a few of them at the moment, since it's first blooming season. As the plant matures, there is a promise of long arching flower spikes up to 1.5m long, but that's in the future - for now it's just appreciation of this beautiful creation that brings smile to everyone who see it.

I think, Frankie Valli can say it better than me... and a short trip down the memory lane...

You're just too good to be true.
Can't take my eyes off you.
You'd be like Heaven to touch.
I wanna hold you so much.
At long last love has arrived
And I thank God I'm alive.
You're just too good to be true.
Can't take my eyes off you.

Pardon the way that I stare.
There's nothing else to compare.
The sight of you leaves me weak.
There are no words left to speak..,

Cymbidium erythrostylum orchid

The most recent assessment of the cymbidium genus documents more than forty different species. One of them is cymbidium erythrostylum, native to Vietnam.

Even in out modern time little is known of the inaccessible habitat of this species and it's found at an elevation of about 1500m and usually it's cultivation presents a bit of a challenge since not much information available about this attractive orchid.

The flowers are slender, erect and carry up to 10 blooms on each flower spike. They have narrow, triangular appearance , large glistening white flowers with strikingly marked labellum, long flowering period and it's one of the most attractive species in this genus.

This orchid is just finished flowering, it's been in bloom since mid-winter and it's flowered first time in my collection. I purchased it as a small seedling couple of years ago and been waiting for it to establish and to start flowering. While the plant is still small with it's first seasonal flowering, I am delighted by it's unusual, rare, beautiful blooms.

Native dendrobium orchid - "Aussie Star"

Early spring time in our part of the world means that native dendrobiums orchids are again in full flower and and again they showing off their beautiful, uncompromising and special blooms, delighting growers and admirers with their special flowering energy.

Dendrobium orchid genera currently have about 1,200 different species occurring from India through Japan, Australia and New Zealand, Tahiti, southern China and Thailand. There are many many varieties of dendrobium orchids grown in variety of climates and recently, a series of hybrids has been produced using Native Australian species.

My native dendrobium "Aussie Star" is one of these hybrids, it's starts flowering in late winter/early spring with masses of small beautiful pink flowers that have very strong sweet scent and it's quite vigorous variety, very generous with new growth and flowers. It's growing under the shade of the trees in my garden with filtered light all year round exposed to all natural elements and it seems to be thriving in these conditions.

I've been thinking of dividing it for a while, since this plant getting quite large, but each spring when I see this plant in flower I live it be for another season, so it can do it's magic and delight me with it's bold, special energy and it's color and texture and scents.

Cymbidium Orchid - "Rembrandt Masterpiece"

This beautiful cymbidium orchid is one of the orchid's world most popular cymbidiums, loved by collectors, orchids growers and general gardeners everywhere and it's name - "Rembrandt Masterpiece". While the green color orchids generally not as appealing to majority of people, this one seems won it's place in many grower's heart's for it's bold, uncompromising blooms.

It's parents Culpalin x Valley Bush produced this special flower of green color with very prominent bright red colored lip, huge showy flowers that stay open for a long time, very vigorous plant that sends many flowering spikes during it's blooming season. This cross won many awards in competitions and shows around the world for it's perfect, unique and distinctive blooms.

My "Rembrandt Masterpiece" just started flowering and I am looking forward seeing many more of these exceptional, beautiful flowers in the next few weeks.

Cymbidium Orchid - Coraki x Kusuda Shining

We are now at the end of our winter here in AU and it means that our beautiful cymbidium orchids started their flowering season.

For me, there are three noted defined flowering cycles. At the moment earlier blooming varieties started showing off now their special blooms, later on mid-season cymbidiums will be flowering and then right at the end of our spring late flowering cymbidium orchids will take us right into the warmer weather.

With these three flowering seasons, it's possible to surround oneself with constant flowering orchids, especially since flowers stay on the plants for three to four weeks. By early summer, it's all over for cymbidium flowers, but while it lasts we enjoy this special kaleidoscope of colors, textures and scents. I always bring flowering cymbidiums into the house for a short period of time to decorate the rooms and to be surrounded by these flamboyant orchids and it means to me that winter is over, even though the calendars insists otherwise.

This nice cymbidium Coraki x Kusuda Shining is especially nice cross - I purchased it a couple of years ago as a small seedling because I liked both of it's parents and was hoping to see in it nice, clear, pleasing color and flower textures. This is the first year it's flowered for me, showing off it's nice, bold blooms. One can see the breeder's thoughts and ideas and hopes when they create and select the right plants for breeding - just like an artist with a paint brush trying different combinations making alchemy creations with living orchid plants.

Beallara "Tahoma Glacier" orchid

This beautiful Bellara orchid currently in flower, right in the middle of our winter giving a bit of color and texture in our cold and rainy weather.

It's variety "Tahoma Glacier" and it flowers with huge 3.5 in star-shaped blooms displaying irregular purple spots on creamy white background. It's quite reliable and stable grower and usually sends a few long flower spikes with as many as 10-15 flowers on each spike. Its one of those hybrids that not very fussy and flowers year after year, displaying it's relaxed large flowers, all facing different directions. One of course can stake them to present more pleasing to the eye arrangement, but I always love to see them growing in their natural way and let it find it's own natural positions.

It likes a being warmer in colder months and quite happy to grow under the shade of the trees in summer. It likes heavy watering during our hotter months and reduced moisture during autumn and winters.

My plant is a few years old and each spring, after its flowering I divide it and give some to friends so that they too can grow this beautiful orchid and to appreciate it's huge flamboyant blooms in the middle of winter.

Winter colors - Cattleya Orchids

Here in AU we are in the beginning of winter with cold and rainy weather, at times experiencing strong icy winds from Antarctica and our beautiful and lush tropical gardens look a bit muted, waiting for a spring time when a new growing cycle will start it's magic in our part of the world, however it's great anticipation time for orchids growers and collectors since Cattleya orchids are in flower at the moment, giving us much needed color infusions.

My Cattleya's just started flowering and with the names like "Sweet Valentine", "Tokyo Girl", "My Blue Heaven", "Firewalker", "Pink Angel" - who can resist these flamboyant beauties!

Cattleya's are one of the most popular orchids with orchid hobbyists as well as the general gardeners and these days have many spectacular varieties and forms. They are the easiest of all orchids to grow, being very tolerant of poor conditions and neglect.

This species are widespread in the American tropics, mainly in costal Brazil and the Andes. There is also significant Cattleya occurrences in Mexico and other Central American countries.

These orchids are quite easy to grow and in our climate need light shade during summer, lot's and lot's of water during hottest part of the year and a bit of a shelter during colder months. They are quite forgiving plants and store their energy in large bulbs, which means that even inexperienced orchid novice will be able to grow them, since they recover very quickly from any neglect.

Right at this moment it's raining quite heavily outside, cold with strong winds sweeping everywhere, dark clouds with a bit of thunder somewhere close - I am off to the greenhouse for much needed color therapy with my Cattleya's and their magical blooms!

Wilsonara "Tiger Brew" orchid

Here is another one of my interesting orchids that just finished flowering - it's Wilsonara "Tiger Brew" and again, it's intergeneric hybrid between oncidium, odontoglossum and cochlioda.

It have large yellow blooms with many different burgundy color markings with each flower seems to have different patterns. The flower spikes are long and cascading, with each flower opening at different times.

This orchid have a bit of an "attitude" - it's not easy to bring it to flower since it's very particular in regards to light requirements - too much and it dry out and goes all yellow and with not enough light it will not develop flower spikes, so it's constantly moving around greenhouse in the hope of the ideal conditions. It also likes warmer growing conditions, a lot of air movement, wet and dry cycle which can be a challenge even to an experienced orchid grower.

Still, each flowering season it's a waiting game to see if "Tiger Brew" will reward me with it's special and unusual blooms, and when it does, everything is forgotten - just huge appreciation and enjoyment of it's unusual and magical blooms.

Beallara Marfitch "Howards Dream" orchid

This beautiful orchid from my collection is one of the interesting hybrids from the orchid world - it's intergeneric hybrid between Miltonia, Brassia, Cochlioda and Odontoglossums and it's currently in flower.

The blooms are really quite large and spectacular and the color is purple-grape tones with many interesting white markings on the petals. The flower spikes are quite long with about 6 to 8 very large flowers, all seems to maturing and opening at different times, giving extending flowering time.

I've had this orchid a few years now and while it's not difficult to cultivate, it does have it's own specific requirements - it's rather sensitive to strong light and prefers shadier situations either in greenhouse or under the trees, especially in summer. It likes a lot of watering while new lives and flower spikes maturing, following by drier cycles, it likes to be warmer in our winter months with a lot's of air circulating around it.

When growing conditions are perfect, it would flower twice a year - in mid autumn as now and in mid spring, showing off it's spectacular huge purple flowers that lasts for about 6 weeks.

This is one of the orchids that can present quite a challenge and beautiful discovery rewards to an orchids lover, but when all elements come together in a growing cycle, it shows it's magnificent, special blooms.

Lycaste skinneri "Apollo" x Lycaste skinneri "Adonis" orchid

The Lycaste genus currently contains about 45 different species and in nature can be found growing in the areas from Mexico to Peru in hight altitudes.

They have oval pseudobulbs, usually crowded, with a couple of pleated leaves and Lycaste orchids mostly deciduous during flowering. The flowers come up from the bases of the pseudobulbs and and bear a single, large, waxy flower that lasts for about 3 weeks.

Many interesting hybrids have been created between this species and breeders aim to create plants with large flowers, good color and nice scents.

My Lycaste orchid is a cross between Lycaste skinneri "Apollo" and Lycaste skinneri "Adonis" and rather a "collecor's item", since not many of them currently in cultivation. I purchased a small seedling of this cross couple of years ago and this is a first time it's flowering for me. The breeder was aiming to produce bold, large, pristine white flowers and it does not dissapoint - it's quite spectacular! The plant produced only two flowers at this stage, but they are big, beautiful with a strong scent of jasmine and I am looking forward for this plant to mature and to grow many more of it's blooms.

Lycaste skinneri is the national flower of Guatemala and this orchid is one of the popular members of this genus, usually flowering with lovely pale pink flowers - by crossing "Apollo" and "Adonis" the breeder achieved pure, pristine white form that's very pleasing to the eye.

These orchids are not difficult to cultivate, providing some specific requirements met - they have very fine roots and need fine drainage, they like to be underpoted , love a lot of watering while they actively growing and not much moisture when plants go through resting period. Air movement also important and they prefer filtered light.

Lycaste orchids are great addition to any orchid collection - they all have beautiful flowers, nice scents, prolific flowering once matured, producing long-lasting exiting displays.

Beautiful orchids on display in Japan - JGP 2010

Japan Grand Prix International Orchid Festival 2010 (JGP2010) was held this year in mid-February in Tokyo Dome and attracted orchid lovers from all over the world. It's the world's largest orchid show, very unique in terms of number and quality of orchids displays, the variety, the size of exhibits and the elegance of their designs. It's an annual event and this year JGP celebrated it's 20th anniversary.

For nine days in February Tokyo Dome welcomed more than 400,000 visitors, exhibitors from 19 countries and over 100,000 orchids displays. This year the theme of JGP was - "Orchids: Cordial Hospitality - Saying it with Orchids" suggesting how to enjoy orchids in daily life.

This orchid show is where visitors can look, touch, learn, talk to the experts, bring their own plants for evaluation, listen to presentations and communicate with many orchid lovers.

Some of the rarest, never previously seen by general public, Japanese orchids was also displayed at that show - for instance, extremely rare Cypripedium native orchid from Rebun Island was exhibited and was replanted back to it's natural habitat after festival finished.

There are many judging competitions and many many awards given at JGP - for Individual plant, for best Fragrance, for best Display, for best Flower Arrangement ( interior decorations, gifts, bouquets), for Arts and Crafts (painting, botanical art, photographs, art flower, pressed flower, dried flower) and Miniature Orchid Garden. Also, sales area with more than 130 vendors from all over the world sell orchid plants and other orchids related items.

I've been to JGP three years ago and took back with me the most fondest memories - the sheer size of exhibits, the variety of plants, the knowledge and the kaleidoscope of colors, scents and textures, the dedication and selfless sharing of techniques and information, made many contacts with orchid lovers and collectors.

What more can one say - its Orchids and they doing their magic - they unite people from many countries, backgrounds in appreciation and celebration of beauty and love.

Below is a small video featuring JGP 2010 orchid show

Oncidium varicosum orchid

Oncidium orchids considered one of the largest genera in the orchids family and many orchid collectors dedicate large portion of their collections to these beautiful and diverse plants.

There have been many name changes in the Oncidium alliance and being such a large genus ( currently approx 750 varieties) one feels that it will be some time before a stable nomenclature is achieved. There are also many hundreds of handsome hybrids made within the species of this genus and with other closely related genera.

This of course, does not deter orchid growers from enjoying such a beautiful blooms and it gives one possibility of growing them in many colors, textures and scents.

My oncidium orchid is var varicosum and it's one of the first orchids in my collection that starts it's flowering in early autumn and will continue producing it's beautiful, bright yellow blooms for a number of weeks. This species native to Brazil and Bolivia and it flowers in nice clusters. The flower spikes come up from the base of the pseudobulbs and are approx 80 cm long. It likes growing in a free-drain orchid compost in the shade of the trees with a lot of air movement around them. They are easy to grow and because of their cascading flower spikes can be grown in hanging pots or mounted on the tree trunks or slabs.

The world's most loved orchid

Not many people know that Vanilla is actually an orchid - in fact it's one of the oldest surviving "primitive" orchids, the origins of which date back- give or take- 120 million years.

This orchid can be found in many tropical regions of the world and this distribution supports the theory that genus Vanilla is very ancient and these orchids display a number of archaic features. The scientists established that origins of Vanilla orchid go back to the time when Gondwanaland broke up some 120 million years ago. They base their finding on the theory of plate tectonics and trace the origin of this orchid to the very beginning of the Cretaceous period, or 120 - 130 million year ago.

Difficult to imagine, I know, such a time-frame, and even more humbling to see the plant that kept all of it's genetic imprints intact through Earth's history and evolution and still contributing it's ancient, bold, uncompromising, unchanged energy to our modern times.

There are a number of species contained within this genus and they occur throughout the tropics. The most known are Vanilla planifolia that grows in Asia and Americas and Vanilla polylepis from Africa - in Angola, Zaire, Kenya. The plant mostly farmed for the vanilla essence that is made from seed pods and plants grow as vines that often reach more than 100ft long.

I always wanted to see this orchid growing in it's natural habitat and to experience myself it's special energy, to see how it's pollinated by native birds and see how it adapted to our "modern" culture and a couple of years ago had an opportunity to visit Lifou island in New Caledonia - one of the biggest Vanilla plantations in the Pacific.

Lifou island is part of the Loyalty islands - it's beautiful and pristine paradise with clear waters and streams and waterfalls, abundance of wildlife and magical tropical birds, unusual, ancient plants with huge Vanilla plantation where this orchid grows in it's natural habitat. Native people are very friendly and hospitable and very much tuned to nature, seasons, tides, healing plants and living in tune with all life around them. They plant and harvest and gather by Moon and by stars and I was fortunate to visit an elder of the village, who was a woman, so wise and so humble.

The Vanilla orchids grow through all the island - huge vines everywhere and I was taken through different stages of producing vanilla beans - from planting, to growing to maturing to harvesting and then drying. Few times a year huge ships come to the island to collect the beans and take them all over the world, to be used in so many different ways in our modern living.

So, here it is - a humble Vanilla orchid, as old as the "time" itself, being grown by Native people all over the world who respect it's origin and it's destiny and it's place in our everyday lives. If ever opportunity presents itself for you to visit Vanilla plantation anywhere in the world, be it Mexico or South America or Pacific or Africa - take the chance, you'll be amazed at the knowledge you will take with you.

Zygopetalum orchid - var "Port Vincent"

This is another Zygopetalum orchid from my collection, currently in flower. It's variety "Port Vincent" and it have beautiful two-tone blooms. The petals are rich velvety dark brown color and the lip slightly curly velvety purple color.

These orchids are mainly sub-tropical to warm temperature growers and can take quite a bit of heat, which is perfect for our summer climate. They love growing in the shade with lot's of air movement and the shadiest part of my garden ideal place for them. They like a bit of moisture , but dislike being wet for a long period and require liberal, heavy watering followed by being almost dry before being watered again.

In AU, we have number of innovative Zygo orchid breeders and new beautiful and striking varieties appearing all the time, giving immense pleasure to orchid collectors. Thankfully, many breeding lines have kept the unmistaken Zygo scents. "Port Vincent" variety have main jasmine like scent with undertones of honeysuckle - very enjoyable combination that lingers around the garden for a long time.

If you live in sub-tropical or warmer climate and have shady spot in the garden or a balcony or a covered situation - give Zygo's a go, they are easy to grow, will reward you with striking blooms and scent and will show you a magic of orchids and they way it brings people together from such different backgrounds to share their love of these beautiful plants.

Cymbidium Orchid - Blooming Early "Autumn Mist"

This beautiful cymbidium orchid called "Blooming Early "Autumn Mist" and it's just finished flowering in my garden.

I did not expect it to flower at this time of the year - we are now right in the middle of summer with hot dry days followed by cool rainy weather. Couple of weeks ago we had a lot of rains and this orchid started sending one flower spike, very unusual, since majority of cymbidiums in our climate cool flowering plants. Somehow, it must of got confused with the seasons, I can understand , since at times I am also confused with our weather and plants seems to find their own optimum times for flowering.

It's nice to see and to smell beautiful flowering orchid and this one does not disappoint. It's parentage Stanley Parkinson x Winter Wonder and the color is very pleasing light apricot with pink dotted centre with some pink dots on the petals. Another beautiful addition to any orchid collection.

Sarcochilus orchid

Another flowering orchid from my collection - Sarcochilus var hartmannii just finished flowering.

Currently there are about 15 species of Sarcochilus orchids and all of them grow in Australia and New Caledonia. They all small plants that love high humidity and intermediate temperatures and have nice color combinations.

My Sarcochilus orchid is var hartmannii and this variety growth restricted to a small area near QLD - NSW border in eastern AU. In nature it grows in rock crevices and cliffs in altitudes up to 1000 meters, forming small clumps.

The flowers are white with bright pink in the middle and are semi-pendulous with fragrance that resembles orange blossom and in our climate appear usually in early summer. It likes good air movement, no direct sunlight and moist conditions through the growing year.

It seems to like growing in my garden and flowering year after year - another beautiful and interesting orchid for a collector or anyone who can replicate their growing needs.

Cymbidium Orchid - Da Vinci "Charm"

This cymbidium orchid is one of the world's favourate - it loved by specific orchid growers and gardeners world wide for it's beautiful striking blooms. It's called Da Vinci "Charm" and its parentage Lunata x Hove.

Da Vinci "Charm" been around many years now and rightly recognized for it's very vigorous growth habit, strong flower spikes that carry huge showbench quality blooms of outstanding color.

My plant is a few years old and every season reliably flowers with these huge bright pink blooms - it's one of the gems in cymbidium orchids world.

Cymbidium Orchid - Down Under Moana Gold

Here is another flamboyant and beautiful cymbidium orchid from my collection - it's name Down Under "Moana Gold"

This is a wonderful cross of Coraki x Tracey Reddaway and it's one of the beautiful, bold colored orchids appreciated by growers worldwide.

The flowers are large round, nicely shaped gold color, clean and clear with bright bold red labellum. It usually produces between 12 and 14 large blooms on every flower spike and one of the most prolific flowering cymbidiums.

I've had this variety for many years now, bought it as a small seedling and watched it developed into beautiful large plant. The colors of this cymbidium seems to appeal to many people and it's always appreciated by anyone who see it's massive display of flowers during bloom season.

Miltonia spectabilis var alba x odm Holiday Gold

This is another interesting orchid from my collection that just flowered - its Miltonia spectabilis var alba x odm Holiday Gold. Its rather a rare cross and a beautiful orchid to have and to admire.

Despite being a collectors item its actually very easy orchid to grow and lends itself well to specimen culture.

The flowers of this orchid is very large (approx 20 cm across), it flowers freely and producing impressive display. The beautiful white/burgundy flowers open very widely and each flower spike carry 4 - 5 huge flowers.

These orchids native to Panama, Colombia and Costa Rica and they grow naturally on rocks and tree branches in cloud forests where morning mists and afternoon showers are the norm. In our climate they are quite happy in the shadiest part of my garden and they love frequent watering.