I have the pleasure of introducing an unexpected, but very welcome, Masdevallia guest – or shall we say free passenger. It came in the same pot as my Dracula barrowii, purchased from Orchids & More in 2009 but I did not discover it until now when it decided to bloom. I knew something was up as soon as it started to spike. Dracula […]
This is a favorite Paphiopedilum in my collection. It is not particularly large or flashy as Paphiopedilum go, but it is boasting a magical color combination that either makes you think of green fairies or some lost scene from a Willy Wonka movie – depending of course on your imagination or penchant for the anise-flavoured spirits of late 19th-century Parisian artists… The naming however was not nearly as poetic as […]
A lovely Masdevallia impostor – photo of the day. Enjoy!
I was just playing around with my new camera and the flash this weekend, which resulted in this rather artistic photo. I still need some more practice, but it is so much fun to photograph the orchids now. I looooove my new gear! Camera: Nikon D7000 DSLR. Lenses: Tamron AF 90/2,8 SP DI Macro (used […]
A small but very beautiful little Pleurothallis from the section Ancipitia. It hails from the wet forests of Costa Rica and Panama where it grows at altitudes from 800 to 1700 meters. It is a prolific bloomer, mine has been blooming for a few months already. The flowers are small and don’t quite open up all the way so the flower looks a little bit […]
Here is a real treat for you! Masdevallia glandulosa is a really special orchid with beautiful colors and amazing little candy-like bubbles (glands) inside the flower tube, hence the name… the epithet is derived from the Latin glandulosus which means “bearing the glands.” It has a very pleasant scent too, a little bit spicey like cinnamon or cloves mixed with honey perhaps. I got […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]