This one is beautiful

these flowers are absolutely beautiful

Barb, for looking and for your comments! Jim, for several years I've had the ground orchid, Bletilla striata, growing mostly in the shade with just a little dappled sunlight. I seem to remember that it took a couple of years for it to bloom after planting. So probably yours just needs to get established to bloom. The only 'problem' it seems to have is emerging so early in the year, about Feb. as I recall, that frosts tend to nip the tops of the foliage if I don't get out there and cover it. This doesn't leave it looking so good the rest of the year, but you probably won't have that problem in your zone, since it hasn't happened in the warmer winters we've had here the last couple of years. I did a little research just now and found that the variety pictured above is Spathoglottis plicata. I'm excited about it because several links say it blooms throughout the year while the beautiful Bletilla striata pictured below blooms only in the spring. However, since I divided the clump into about ten plants I'm pretty sure it won't bloom again this year and just might not bloom next year either. As mentioned above Spathoglottis plicata was purchased at Home Depot. I read online this morning that someone had gotten it at Lowes on 2007. So those two places might be where to watch for them next spring if anyone wants one. Here is a link that might be useful: Ground orchid, Spathoglottis plicata

I've been in some ferny forests as well with huge numbers of tall tree ferns, looks absolutely magic. But will never happen at my place. I have an Angiopteris evecta which is struggling along. This wet season despite being drier and hotter than average the Angiopteris has started to come good. Unfortunately the dry season will soon be back on us again. Last dry season it really struggled in the dry heat, not helped by an animal (probably a wallaby) chewing out the growing tips. Because the plant has become weak it takes a long time for it to recover. Funny you mention Calatheas. I've just been puzzling about the appearance of a number of new ones coming up well away from the older plants. It looks like they've been seeding and something has scattered the seeds. I didn't realise they could produce viable seed, let alone these rain/cloud forest plants seeds germinating in my climate unassisted. They might end up becoming a weed, LOL.