March comes in like an Orchid

A Dendrobium alexanderae in bloom last week at the Lyman Estate greenhouse.

Back in my greenhouse, a Chinese Cymbidium sinense, growing in a traditional Chinese Cymbidium pot from the turn of the century, shares some blooms with us.

I’ve been sick all week ( nothing serious, just a chest cold, cough and ear event), so there was little time or energy to post anything.  I had to prepare for a speech on Summer Bulbs, that I had promised to present as a class at the Berkshire Botanical Garden, so here I am, a week later and just catching up. So, a quick post on Orchids with a few that are a little more unusual than the common Phalaenopsis and Dendrobiums we  now see for $9.99 at the local home center. Hey, they are fine, but they just feel too disposable and less special than more challenging or rare orchids, after all, aren’t orchids supposed to be a little, if not alot, special?

Dendrobium kingianum, it loves the cold winters in the greenhouse. I would love to be able to grow more warm growing orchids, but I have to limit myself to the few species that can handle the extreme shifts in temperatures with some winter nights delivering temps near freezing.

A Phaius species, a ground growing orchid, will open soon.

Dendrobium kingianum, and an old variety at that, but it has fragrant blooms in sprays and I prefer it’s  ‘species’ look more than some of the newer hybrids.

Dendrobium speciosum, a large growing Australian orchid that had been on my wish list ever since I saw one at the Tokyo Grand Prix orchid show a couple of years ago. It finally has a flower spike!