O is for Orchid. I have never kept an orchid alive long enough to bloom again, but giving it another try is on my To Do List. I know it can be done because my daughter Betsy does it all the time. When her work mates get gift orchids they always give them to Betsy after they finish blooming. She keeps them and brings them back into bloom again and again.
Last year I went to the Orchid Show put on by the Amherst Orchid Society in Northampton and took some photos of the beautiful orchids on display.
I got to talk to Bill Benner about his orchids. He has over 100 orchids growing on his windowsills. There goes my excuse that you need to have a greenhouse or a fancy set up to grow orchids.
Somehow I lost the name of this orchid, but it was voted best in show. I think these three orchids begin to suggest the many flower forms in the orchid family – which is possibly the largest plant family of all.
For more information about orchids and growing orchids click on the American Orchid Society website.
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I’ve gone from keeping 30 orchids to only having one. I battled mealy bugs and then scale. I let the bugs win. But they were lovely when they were blooming.
Beautiful photos. I don’t think I could ever grow an orchid. I seem to have a black thumb when it comes to growing flowers.
Mason
Alex’s Ninja Minion
Denise – I didn’t realize bugs could be such a problem. They are beautiful! The orchids, not the bugs.
Mason – Not every plant is for every person. And so much the better.
are you in the UK? I have family in Northampton. I admired the orchid displays at one of the big flower shows
http://allfeathersfurandfins.blogspot.co.uk/