College lab helps save endangered orchids

A recently run article entitled “Illinois College is a safe haven for rare orchids” illustrates the need for continued conservation of all species of orchids. Exactly 36 orchids of the variety, Platanthera Holochila, exist outside a laboratory.

Found in Hawaii, this rare orchid is one of many species of plants, birds and animals that are facing extinction on the island chain that was once isolated from the main-lands. With the introduction of non-native plants and animals, Hawaii now has the distinction of having the most endangered species in the United States, according to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Thus, the Jacksonville laboratory now has 255 endangered species of orchids from Hawaii that are carefully maintained in special chambers to mimic the Hawaiian climates. Through this orchid-recovery program, the college students are also protecting orchids from other parts of the world such as Mexico and Costa Rica. Their goal is to at least double the number of existing native plants.

To read the entire article, see: http://www.wickedlocal.com/ghs-newsservice/features/x2072231683/Illinois-College-is-a-safe-haven-for-rare-orchids

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Just a short greeting to express our thanks for your business this year. We hope this greeting finds you in good health and spirit and that you will enjoy this year’s Thanksgiving with family and friends.

New orchid species discovered in New Guinea

Amazingly, newly found orchids are still being discovered as new and unique species according to the World Wildlife Fund, (WWF) a nonprofit conservation group. National Geographic reported in 2006 the discovery of these new orchid species along with the most stunning pictures.

The tropical rainforests of the island of New Guinea is home to the most known species than any other country in the world. With over 3,000 confirmed species on the island, scientists believe there are many more to be found. The WWF has taken efforts to protect these rain forests, some of which are still unexplored especially in the Kikori region of the southern coast.

According to National Geographic, “Over the course of three expeditions, the scientists collected some 300 orchid species, 8 of which have been confirmed as new to science, with 20 more still awaiting verification as new varieties.” It is exciting for any orchid enthusiast to realize the world of orchids is still expanding.

How to kill your Phalaenopsis orchid with love

The phalaenopsis orchid is aloof and independent; it’s definitely not your high-maintenance version of beauty. It requires little primping, no extravagant meals, or expensive drinks. But if you want to drive your orchid into smithereens, here are easy steps to smother your phalaenopsis orchid with seemingly too much love and attention.




WATER to kill; this will do it every time

• Instead of watering about every 7 to 10 days, or when it starts to feel dry, overwater to the point of intoxication and over-saturation. If a little water is good, too much water is better.

• Let the moss or bark drown in water. Do not let the water run out of the bottom.

• Water late in the day and never allow the leaves and crown to dry out by the evening.

• Always allow plant to stand in water or allow water to accumulate in the crown of the plant to invite disease.



FEEDING to avoid real growth

• Starve your orchid for its own good: do not feed or fertilize on a regular basis about every other watering during the summer months and every third watering during the winter months.

• Avoid using a complete fertilizer, such as Grow More 20-10-20.



LIGHT and TEMPERATURE to sunburn to death

• Place orchid in direct sunlight, not near bright windows where they would grow the best

• Instead of the ideal east facing window, place in a hot, west exposure for maximum burning.

• The ideal temperature range is between 70 to 85 degrees F during the day and be above 60 degrees F at night, so try to keep its climate either way too cold or way too hot. Generally, if you're uncomfortable, then the plant is uncomfortable also.



HUMIDITY AND CIRCULATION to insure smothering

• Never provide good humidity by placing the plant on a bed of small rocks, filled with water.

• Do not mist the leaves, but over-spray the flowers with too much water.

• Avoid some air movement at all costs; provide a desert-like environment.



RE-BLOOMING

• Although a healthy flower spike will continue to bloom for up to 2 to 3 months, shortened it’s lifespan with the above techniques.

• After the flowers fade, do not cut the spike just above the third node from the base to ensure that a flowering offshoot will not reform in about 2 months.



REPOTTING

• Do not repot your orchid in the milder months of spring or early summer after blooming season, using an orchid bark mix.

• Select the pot size that is too large for the root mass so it is not slightly over-crowded.



It may be hard to do and take some patience, but you can kill your phalaenopsis orchid with these simple instructions.

Orchids in autumn colors

It’s autumn and at least in San Diego, it’s sometimes hard to tell. There’s a bit of evening chill in the air, the beaches are less crowded and already there’s Christmas trees in the stores. But let’s take time for this fall season first.

To make your home feel comfy and cozy for the fall, try bringing in the colors of autumn leaves in with orchid flowers. Orchids come in such a wide spectrum of colors and varieties, that there are always unique plants for each season. With the capability of cross-breeding, the intergeneric varieties have become more popular and available.

We created this orchid arrangement which features the golden umbers in the phalaenopsis petals, along with the orange of fresh chili peppers to perfectly celebrate the fall season. It’s an artistic accent in your home or office through the Thanksgiving holiday.

These pictures are just some of the varieties that work well with the autumn colors. They are a beautiful and unique way to bring in nature at its best, especially when accented with bronze colored containers or rich brown, woven baskets.

FMI: Visit www.HauteHouseOrchids.com for gifts to send to friends and family across the country or to deliver in your neighborhood.

National Geographic article on orchid deception

The National Geographic article, titled “Love and Lies” by Michael Pollan is entertaining (as in laugh out loud) as well as informative. This reads like a love triangle of how orchids spread their genes in the wild by deceiving birds and bees into believing they are the female of their species. The diabolical orchid achieves this deceit by fragrance, color, and of course, by touch with the promise of sex.

Pollan writes of the Ophyrs species, aka, the “Prostitute Orchid” that resembles the hind end of a female bee and lures in the male bee to attach its sticky yellow seed sac to the back of its victim, turning him into an oblivious pollinator. The male bee, often called a “flying penis” by botanists, (for real) then flies off in search of another orchid and unwittingly deposits the wily orchid’s seed sac there. This "pseudocopulation" is evolutionary genius.

Even Charles Darwin was intrigued by the process of how a stationary plant like the orchid lures and lies, “counting of the kindness of strangers,” in their effort to pollinate. The then rogue theory of natural selection was studied and presented by Darwin in The Various Contrivances by Which Orchids are Fertilised by Insects. Pollen writes that “…the peculiarities of orchid sex actually offer one of the great case studies of natural selection, as Charles Darwin himself understood."

The exquisite photographs by Christian Ziegler are alone worth a trip to the site. His back story of snapping these pictures is equally fascinating. Check out http://www.photographyblog.com/articles/photographing_orchids_with_christian_ziegler/

Read this article on the “Love and Lies” of the deceitful orchid. You are sure to find it intriguing and humorous. http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/09/orchids/pollan-text

The author, Michael Pollan has written In Defense of Food and The Omnivore’s Dilemma, both books that will change the way you look at and eat food. http://www.michaelpollan.com/write.php

Photographer Irving Penn, 1917-2009

Last week Irving Penn, New York photographer known for his austere style and singular simplicity, died at 92 in his Manhattan home. Iconic in the field of photography, Penn explored and pioneered images in such diverse areas as fashion, celebrity portraiture, tribal settings, still life, and flowers.
Penn had a fascination with isolating his subjects, including his flowers. He produced a dramatic collection of floral images in his 1980 book, entitled simply “Flowers.” By placing a singular flower, set against a plain background, Penn produced dynamic images in striking clarity and poetic composition. He continued to capture flowers in both color and black and white images through a variety of different photographic methods.
A 2007 exhibit of his floral photography displayed at the Pace/MacGill Gallery stated, “Without artifice or sentimentality, Penn’s flowers are a statement of fact. Recording what is in front of his lens with as much fidelity as the camera allows, the photographs dissect each whorl and petal, each stem and stamen with the honestly of an X-ray.”
His prolific six decade career started in the 1940’s as a fashion photographic for Vogue Magazine. He photographed many of the celebrities of his era including Truman Capote, Picasso, and Georgia O’Keefe, as well as tribal and ordinary people. His still life photographs are powerful and detailed often challenging the traditional idea of beauty. Penn, one of the most highly respected photographers of the 20th century, will be revered for his elegant simplicity and exacting detail. His images today are often valued at over half a million dollars.
The Getty Center in Los Angeles is currently featuring an exhibit of Penn photographs from the early 1950’s in Paris, London and New York of working class trades-people. The show continues until January 10, 2010. Visit http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/penn/index.html

Conservation Projects through San Diego County Orchid Society

Conservation of all plants and wildlife is paramount in for our global society. The San Diego County Orchid Society (SDCOS) is doing its part in conservation of orchids found in the wild around the world. These orchid habitats are being lost at an alarming rate due to the loss of their environment and by illegal collection. According to Bruce Berg, the mission of the SDCOS includes the protection, study and education to help conserve these natural habitats. This map displays the areas where the SDCOS has sponsored orchid conservation projects.

One of their successful programs helped to rescue a habitat in Equator where several varieties of orchids grow in the wild. With the help of Equator’s federal government, a conservation easement was established to protect this region. It is now listed in the esteemed book, “The Lonely Planet” as a preserve where the habitat is protected and is supported by visitor and tourist donations to explore the natural fauna.

The SDCOS is currently funding a project to save the Himalayan “Snow Orchids” in India. The orchid society of nearly 600 members raises about $12,000 yearly since 1991. The group has supported habitats in over 18 different countries. Their effort can be supported by orchid donations to the society which are in turn re-sold to raise money. To find out how you can donate to this cause visit http://www.sdorchids.com/.

The American Orchid Society recognized the San Diego chapter with the prestigious Conservation Award in 2004. The AOS has about 30,000 members and support further education and knowledge of orchid habitats to a wider audience. See http://www.aos.org/ for more information.

In addition to the conservation projects, the SDCOS mission is to share information and techniques with other orchid enthusiasts. The group sponsors 4 shows annually, with the next show in October at the Scottish Rite Building.

The SDCOS meets the 1st Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm at the Casa del Prado in Balboa Park. Admission is free and everyone is welcome from beginners to serious collectors. More membership information can be found on the site http://www.sdorchids.com/.

San Diego International Orchid Show

This is the orchid show we have been waiting for! The 15th annual San Diego International Orchid Show is coming up this weekend showcasing an extravaganza of spectacular orchids of every color and variety. Featuring some of the finest orchid growers, breeders and hobbyists, this show will have thousands of orchids for display as well as for sale. Adding to the festivities will be lectures on the care and culture of orchids with a special presentation for kids on orchid science and art.
Plus it’s an official American Orchid Society (AOS) event, which as a highly respected award system, judges and recognizes new orchid hybrids and superior culture. The AOS judges are highly qualified and trained to evaluate worldwide sanctioned orchid shows and are dedicated volunteers. See http://www.aos.org/
One of the premier orchid vendors, Haute House Orchids, will showcase their signature orchid arrangements, which are often enhanced by succulents, tallandsias, twigs and live moss, all set in unique containers. Orchid centerpieces that can be used for special events, weddings and gifts will also be featured. Haute House Orchids is a Vista based orchid nursery with over 25 years of experience in growing high quality phalaenopsis, novelty and intergeneric orchid plants. The company has recently established a strong internet sales presence to ship their premium orchids across the country. See http://www.hautehouseorchids.com/
The San Diego Botanic Gardens (formerly Quail’s Garden) will be hosting and sponsoring this event. The 35 acre garden located in Encinitas is a must see for all plant and nature lovers. Because of the mild climate, the garden supports the largest bamboo collection in the world along with desert gardens, rainforest exhibits, succulent and herb gardens and unique plants varieties from international microclimates. This summer, the Hamilton Children’s Garden was opened to explore plant science, art, stories and crafts through the eyes of children. Click her for $2.00 off coupon: http://www.sdbgarden.org/
San Diego International Orchid Show
230 Quail Gardens DriveEncinitas, CA 92024

Hours:
Friday, October 2• 1 pm to 5 pmSaturday, October 3 • 9 am to 5 pmSunday, October 4 • 9 am to 4 pm

Admission to Garden includes Orchid ShowAdults $12Seniors, students, active military $8Children ages 3-12 $6Members; children ages 2 & under FREEParking $2 (Members park free.)

NBC Throws a Wedding at the Prado

The early morning show, NBC 7/39 News in the Morning, is “Throwing a Wedding at the Prado”. This is a free wedding give-away to a selected lucky couple where the viewing audience votes and decides on every aspect of the event including the bridal gowns, invitations, bridesmaid dresses and FLORISTS.

Haute House Orchids is one of the 3 finalists in the floral division. This is a must-see for any bride seeking beautiful and unique orchid arrangements and bouquets for her wedding.

The inspiration for the centerpieces came from the historic Spanish architecture and colors of the Prado venue, which features lush landscaping, fountains with painted tiles, and accents in a rich teal blue. The floral designers highlighted their white, cascading phalaenopsis orchids to reflect the many water features of the Prado. This waterfall effect given to the orchids is a signature look for Haute House Orchids. The white flowers are set off by the Tiffany Blue tableclothes which keeps the look fresh, clean and contemporary and juxtaposes well with the historic elements of the Prado. This interaction of the old and new makes for an especially elegant yet rustic feel for a stunning wedding site.

The bridal bouquet takes its color cue from the magenta bridesmaid dresses. The matching phalaenopsis orchids are again combined with hydrangeas and roses to create glorious color against the white wedding dress.

To view more photographs of the wedding orchids go to http://blueflairphotoblog.com/

And to learn more about the NBC Throws a Wedding at the Prado event see http://www.nbcsandiego.com/station/contests/NBC-739-Throws-a-Wedding-at-The-Prado.html

Vote for Haute House Orchids online at http://www.nbcsandiego.com/station/contests/57032962.html
Voting ends on September 10, 2009 at 4:00pm PST and the winner is announced on live TV September 11 at 6:45 am.

Botanical Building in Balboa Park

If exotic orchids catch your imagination, the place to go is the Botanical Building set in beautiful Balboa Park. This lath greenhouse structure is home to an amazing collection of orchids as well as palms, ferns and other tropical plants.

The extensive collection displays the diversity of the orchid species with a wide variety of speculator colors, sizes and shapes, all in a natural setting. With over 35,000 known orchid species though-out every continent except Antarctica, the orchid has adapted to live in many environments including rainforests, mountains and grasslands.

Not only are the plants spectacular, but the greenhouse itself is a work of historic art. Built for the first World’s Fair Exposition in 1915-16, it was part of the extensive landscaping earning the name “The Garden Fair” for the exposition. The arboretum is one of the largest wood greenhouses in the world and is a great example of classic architecture, evoking feelings of natural beauty and serenity. The adjacent lily pond along with the Botanical Building creates one of the most picturesque views in all of Balboa Park.