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Orchids of North America

18 years ago

A family friend loves to take photos of native North American Orchids. I helped him post the photos on the web. They are fantastic. They can be viewed here:

Orchids of North America

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Comments (11)

macranthos
18 years ago
Give him my complements. They are excellent photos!

Best,
Ross
plantfreak
18 years ago
That's a special treat! Thank you.
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So, who knows about Native (to North America) orchids?
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Comments (9)
"...I couldn't pass up a chance to riff with fatplant..." That was why I asked what I was missing. Although I've heard a lot of info that I've disagreed with over the years from others, I was baffled at what you were saying. It didn't sound at all like you! ;~) "...my whole family is saddened by the very visible effects logging has on our community." ' I, too, have been horrified at the logging going on around me! :~( It was all but shut down, until 'shrub' campained his "Healthy Forests" scam up here. I can be arrested if I collect Cyps, Darlingtonias, etc, but it's acceptable to run over them with a Caterpillar! Virtually all of the fishing streams are protect from fishing, but it's fine to fill them with silt from the logging runoff. It's all being sent to Japan anyway and doing the locals no good, especially in the long run. It's like trying to protect the "Golden Goose" and being out voted by the other geese!:~( "I collect natives for my personal collection and for conservation." Good for you!! :~) I have no problems with responsible stewardship! Someone has to do it. Most of the horror seems to come from those that are just professional protesters and don't actually do much. You do know that 'shrub' has added mining, officially, to the list of forest activities. I'd rather have logging any day!;~) If you're interested, I added a link to a set of photos of my local SW Oregon natives that I've found. Here is a link that might be useful: Native Orchids/Plants
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Orchid books
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Comments (28)
Great thread, CJ. Your collection has me drooling. My list: Allikas, Nash- Orchids Allikas, Nash- World's Most Beautiful Orchids Black, Peter McKenzie- Orchid Growing Grove, David L.- Vandas & Ascocendas Kramer, Jack- 100 Orchids For Florida Kramer, Jack- Orchids For The South La Croix, Isobyl- Orchid Basics Light Marilyn- Growing Orchids in the Caribbean McDonald, Elvin- 100 Orchids For The American Gardener Mee, Margaret- In Search of Flowers of the Amazon Forests Motes, Martin- Vandas, Their Botany, History & Culture Noble, Mary- You Can Grow Cattleyas Noble, Mary- You Can Grow Orchids Noble, Mary- You Can Grow Phalaenopsis, Revised Edition Northen, Rebecca Tyson- Home Orchid Growing, 4th Edition Northen, Rebecca Tyson- Miniature Orchids and How To Grow Them Northen, Rebecca Tyson - Orchids as House Plants Orchid Society Of South East Asia- Orchid Growing In The Tropics Pridgeon, Alec- Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids Rittershausen, Wilma- Orchids Rittershausen, Wilma- Success With Orchids Schoser, Gustavo- Orchid Growing Basics Sheehan, Thomas- Ultimate Orchid Soon, Teoh Eng- Orchids of Asia South Florida Orchid Society Presents- An Introduction To Orchids: A Guide to the Growing & Breeding of Orchids South Florida Orchid Society Presents- A"Guide To Growing In The Subtropics, 3rd Edition Starosta & Paul- Orchids White, Judy- Taylor's Guide To Orchids Withner, Carl L -Cattleyas And Their Relatives Vol 1 Plus Ortho, Sunset, a sagging shelf containing back years of AOS bulletins (even after donating many to our OS) and a treasured Jones & Scully catalog. :>) I hope to add the remainder of Wither's Cattleya volumns to my shelf soon. And Oh! to have the Fowlie's. Sigh. Marci
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Best Wildflower Hikes in North America?
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The Pocket of Pigeon Mountain in Georgia would not be a long drive for you. It's considered by many to be the finest wildflower site in Georgia based on the diversity and concentration of spring wildflowers. An early trip (third week of March) should give you a display of masses of bluebells and celandine poppies. This site has large populations of Trillium decumbens and flexipies and lots more. If you go once you will want to return at a different time to see the ones you miss blooming. It's an easy day hike. You can spend two to four hours or explore further on some adjacent trails. Check out this link: http://www.gnps.org/POCKET1.HTM Here's directions:From downtown LaFayette, Ga., which is on US 27 BUSINESS (Main St.), go a few blocks south and turn west on GA 193 for 8 miles to Davis Crossroads (there's a little store on the right with this name), where GA 341 comes in from the right. At this junction turn left onto Hog Jowl Road and go 2.6 miles, passing Mt. Herman Baptist Church. At the top of the next hill, turn left onto Pocket Rd. and drive 1.2 miles until the road ends. Park in the Pocket Trailhead parking lot on the left. There was a sign at the Pocket Road/Hog Jowl Road intersection but last spring it was damaged and I don't know if it's been fixed.
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Brown tipped orchid roots North Carolina, North America Zone 7b
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What Jane said, but IMO you may want to replace the string with a twist-tie or something that will not 'cut' into the plant as it grows. It will be very helpful to get it supported so there is minimal movement for the next several months while roots develop and 'dig-in' to the media. Root-wise, there is not much to work from there, so don't be too disappointed if it doesn't survive, happens to all of us :( . Good luck, Bob
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bigred
18 years ago
Took my breath away. Wonderful job!

PP
mooonie
18 years ago
I want Lady Slippers in my garden. I have an acre of land, many different kinds of gardens and it's really been a dream to have native orchids.
I have propagated from seed many different kinds of native( to Minnesota ) perennials.
Would you kindly point me to any area where I might start.
I know that proper soil conditions are very important..what else?
They take my breath away with their beauty but if they wouldn't thrive, I would just look at pictures of them.
I'm afraid of what I don't know will kill them once purchased.
Thank you
kwoods
18 years ago
The site is beautiful.

Two good recent books

Growing Hardy Orchids

Gardener's Guide to Growing Perennial Orchids

Both these books are very good/informative. Fall is the best time to plant so you have a whole year to research and prepare and decide if you want to do it.

Late Aug to mid Sept is a good time to order plants from one of the many reliable, lab propagated only, online sources. Good luck!
mooonie
18 years ago
Thanks for the information. The Showy Lady Slipper is our state flower. I was a young teenager when we moved from California to here. The first time I saw one was at the U of MN and I was entranced immediately.
bbehan
18 years ago
There are a few good sources for native orchids, one is Vermont Ladyslipper Co (www.vtladyslipper.com). It is virtually impossible for the average gardener to grow these plants from seeds, since there must be a certain fungus in the soil that helps them geminate and grow. Your best chances are with a company like this one that RESPONSIBLY propagates and grows native orchids. Please beware that some plants offered for sale have been dug from the wild, a practice that is often illegal, jeopadizes their long-term survival in the wild, and provides you with plants that will most likely die in your garden, since they cannot adjust to being uprooted and transplanted. Good luck! Bruce
orchids99
18 years ago
Hi All
If you are interested there is a Native Orchid Conference this summer in Oregano. It is held at different locations each year. This is the link I got from the Orchid Mall website.
Jim

5th Annual Native Orchid Conference
June 9-12, 2006, Ashland, OR
ahughes798
18 years ago
Bruce, I too have read many, many times that native orchids need certain fungi to germinate and grow. However, from looking at the websites of businesses that grow orchids..I know that they germinate and grow their seedlings in flasks, in a sterile agar solution. So, I think it can be done both ways. With difficulty. April
kwoods
18 years ago
April, you are exactly right. Asymbiotic germination vs. symbiotic germination.

Orchid seeds consist of embryo and a thin seed coat, they lack an endosperm or food source. They need to get their nutrients somewhere else thus a relationship w/ a specialized mycorrhizae found in the soil (symbiotic germination). Or, in the case of asymbiotic germination, that mycorrhizae is replaced by specific nutrients in agar.

Once they can produce enough of their own food they don't NEED the additional food source anymore but some say it helps for optimal long term health.
ahughes798
18 years ago
Thanks, Kwoods. I have always wondered about this seeming contradiction. April

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