Visiting Orchid Gardens in the Barbados

What better thing to do on a honeymoon then tour orchid gardens hand in hand with the one you love? My husband and I visited Orchid World and Andromeda Botanical Garden on Barbados and here's a few of the fine specimens we saw.


Species and varieties of Vanda were popular, probably because of their affinity for full sun and heat. The climate of the island is perfect for orchid proliferation - frequent short rain showers keep the humidity high and the temperature barely drops below 30 degrees Celcius.








This beauty is Epidendrum ciliare, which is found naturally on the Barbados and other islands of the West Indies.













I was told this was the notorious Vanda Miss Joaquim (the national flower of Singapore), however I think it is actually a variety, var. Josephine. Vanda's easiIy hybridize both by natural means and when cross-bred, for instance Vanda Miss Joaquim has been bred into 440 hybrids!

Revisiting the Deadly Slipper

I posted about the book Deadly Slipper a couple months ago, but I was reminded to look for this book as a possible next read when I came across this book review in Japan's Daily Yomiuri Online. Deadly Slipper is set in the Dordogne where the protagonist's sister disappeared years earlier while searching for wild orchids.

New moth orchid!

2005 October New Phalaenopsis 017
Originally uploaded by meadow moon.

Here's a picture of my latest orchid acquisition. Now this one is the last orchid for a long time! That's what I said with my previous acquisition a couple of weeks ago, a Phalaenopsis bellina (actually an early birthday gift).

I passed by this moth orchid at a florist shop over the Thanksgiving weekend. I went back after the weekend to see if it was still there and it was. I thought the colours of the flowers were very seasonal. When I brought it home I discovered I had purchased some bugs along with the orchid, quite a bit of webbing, but I repotted the plant and soaked it in EndAll and hope to have that situation under control!

Gifts for orchid lovers

BellaOnline's Orchids Editor Susan Taylor recently published an article listing a number of vendors selling gifts perfect for orchid enthusiasts. Vendors listed include the American Orchid Society, the New York Botanical Garden, and Timber Press.

Orchid exhibit at the Huntington

"New exhibition explores the power of orchids through art and science"

A new exhibition entitled Orchids: A Natural Obsession will run from October 15 to January 1, 2006 in the MaryLou and George Boone Gallery at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens (San Marino, CA).

An article in La Canada Valley Sun states that the exhibition "is drawn exclusively from Huntington materials, in particular its outstanding collections of rare botanical books, many with glorious full-color illustrations. Works from the William Glikbarg Collection, amassed by the noted orchid collector and donated to The Huntington in 2002, comprise the core of the exhibition" and that "live orchids will complement the exhibit."

Orchid wedding cake

2005 October Jenn Allister Wedding 049
Originally uploaded by meadow moon.

Jenn got married this weekend! This is a picture of her gorgeous and delicious chocolate wedding cake that was decorated with fresh orchids. If I remember correctly I think Jenn said they were some type of Dendrobium. Jenn is off to Barbados on her honeymoon this weekend and we hope to have a full report from her on Barbados orchids!