Orchid blog
This blog is dormant at the moment, but it is still getting a lot of visitis so I will keep it up for you guys as a resource. My future adventures will be published on my new blog, hope to see you there!
My focus… if pressed to name favorites it would have to be orchids of the Pleurothallid Alliance. But a Paphiopedilum was the first orchid I ever fell in love with so slipper orchids will always be close to my heart, and while we are on the subject I might as well disclose a love affair with Neofinetia as well.
It is tovarensis season again
Masdevallia tovarensis has got to be one of those "must have" species if you like Masdevallia... both of mine are in bud or blooming now and it is such a nice time. It is just a stunningly beautiful species with waxy, long-lived and elegantly shaped white flowers. As if that was not enough - each inflorescence can produce 2-4 flowers simultaneously! Flowers measure about 8 cm tall and the flowers are held just above leaf height. A [...]
An Ornithocephalus sensation
Let's start off the new year with a fantastic little mini Ornithocephalus species. Despite its diminutive size it always puts on an amazing show, seemingly intent on outdoing itself each season. I got an impressive 22 inflorescences this year and the flowers will last for about 2 months! It is a virtual fireworks display of white little birds in flight and I just adore it. Ornithocephalus is a genus of around 50 species commonly called bird's [...]
Lepanthes erinacea
This is a lovely little epiphyte is endemic to Costa Rica and it was registered as early as 1855. Lepanthes is a large genus with over 700 species that can be found across the Antilles and through Central- to South America. The lip is actually so highly specialized that it requires its own terminology to describe. An absolutely fascinating species that I am just beginning to explore, but I can definitely sense a new addiction coming on. [...]
Maxillaria friedrichsthalii
This is a small hot to cool growing epiphyte found across Central- to South America. It grows in wet montane forests from sea level and up to about 1000 meters and it would probably prefer a little warmer temperatures than what I am providing, but alas, it is blooming so it is not complaining too much. The flowers never quite open all the way and can apparently vary in both size and color. Mine are about 3 cm [...]
The taming of Dracula barrowii
Finally!! After countless blasted buds this beautiful, but finicky, Dracula is blooming for me and I am sooo excited! It has been trying to bloom for months now, but the buds have blasted one after one with about a week to go before opening. It has been both frustrating and heartbreaking, especially since I haven't been able to put my finger on exactly exactly why. Although I have a pretty good idea... with Dracula is it [...]
Masdevallia panguiensis
A somewhat shy looking Masdevallia only found in Ecuador where it grows at altitudes of 1200 to 1500 meters. It is named after El Pangui, the capital city of the Zamora-Chinchipe Province in Southeastern Ecuador where it was first found by Luer and Andreetta in 1983. This is another lovely species from the impressive section Durae in Masdevallia, a section known for its large leathery flowers with showy sepals and thick callous petals. This might not [...]