Only Orchids
We are in those dog days of summer, longing for cooler nights. The winds start to pick-up, and the trees sway in step. As if God has heard my cries, the rains suddenly begin. The clouds burst open with giant drops, but it is only a passing shower – just enough rain to bathe the orchids.
I would never have bought the first orchid; actually I have still to buy myself an orchid, though I very much enjoy giving them as gifts. Ibis brought me my first orchid. She had begun collecting them because of La Mama, as Ibis called her. La Mama was an older Cuban woman, who had come to the United States in 1959, and still carried herself with the quiet elegance that so often seems to be lacking in today’s younger generations. La Mama had taken an interest in Ibis, and often gifted her with orchids from her own collection, which Ibis tenderly cared for. On our first New Years, in our house, Ibis and her extended family joined us to celebrate, and Ibis brought a perfect purple phalaenopsis. She placed on the buffet, in the living room, and it sat there until late March – in bloom! I fell in love.
I fussed a great deal over my first few orchids, until I realized that the terrifying orchid is actually a plant, and happily lives outside! Thus I set about to create a home for my orchids – I needed shade, which my empty yard did not have. In our little U, an area outside that is walled in on three sides, we tried several versions of shade cloths, without success, our winds were simply to strong. I also tried keeping them in our Florida room, but that too failed. Finally, we began to marry a fuchsia bougainvillea with a pink hibiscus which created a home for the orchids.
This lovely shaded area, in the front of our home is towered over by a Hong Kong Orchid tree, which Joan Hayden began from seeds, braiding several infant trunks together, to form a beautiful canopy which helps to filter the sun.
It is here that I most often sit, hidden from view, even though I am in my front yard. I love to sit and watch the animals, enjoy the fragrant plants that surround me, and of course the color! The wonderful things about orchids is that they bring you the amazing surprise of color, when you least expect it. It is lovely to simply sit there staring out at the plants, and suddenly find yourself gazing at the brightest yellows, oranges, and pinks and purples!
My orchids now all live outside. When they are in bloom, I will clean up the pots, and bring them in to enjoy the flowers; once the blooms have faded, the pot goes outside. Once the plant has bloomed, I tend to repot and feed the plant. Unless we are in a drought, they usually do not require any additional water, other than rain showers or the sprinklers once or twice a week.
If you have ever thought about buying an orchid, I urge you not to be afraid. I know they can be intimidating, I so feared killing my first, but truly they are a low maintenance plant; and many stay in bloom for months! Venture in, you will be glad you did – that is all for now.
The only orchid my Mothers considers a “true” orchid – the Cattleya.
This beauty came from Shirley, it is attached to a tree in the garden.
Ground orchids are also very easy to care for, and can be grown in any type of garden soil, with at least half shade.
The five pictures above capture one of my favorite garden features. This is a climbing tree orchid. I attached the original snippet, with wrapped wire, to a nameless tree, which a bird planted in my yard. It took years for the amazing plant to finally bloom. One day, as I was about to get into my car, I looked over and saw the years of waiting had blessed me with bountiful blooms.
