Althouse: If you love orchids...

February 6, 2010

If you love orchids...

... and you're in Madison, don't miss Orchid Quest 2010.

11 comments:

Beta Conservative said...: I think the big deal in Madison today is the Badgers outdoor hockey game. But there's no reason not to enjoy both venues.

My daughter and son in law are in Madison, he's going to the game and she's hanging out with children and friends. I'll pass this along.; 2/6/10, 11:34 AM
Chip Ahoy said...: Did you know vanilla is an orchid? Apparently, the only orchid used for for food. And that there is only one single insect that pollinates it? In Mexico the beans are so valuable in places the beans are actually branded when green that endures when they're processed to counter vanilla bean rustling.; 2/6/10, 12:42 PM
John Burgess said...: I'm content with the Selby Gardens, one of the preeminent orchid gardens in the world, just a couple of miles from me.

Chip Ahoy: There's also salep, one of several orchids whose roots are used to make a beverage. It's found predominantly in Turkey and a few Middle Eastern countries. It's tasty, in a cozy, hot chocolate kind of way.

Wiki tells me that the leaves of a particular orchid are used in flavoring Jamaica rum.; 2/6/10, 1:00 PM
traditionalguy said...: I just want to know if there is such a thing as a Black Orchid.; 2/6/10, 1:46 PM
Unknown said...: More photos coming! Get ready to readjust your graphics cards.; 2/6/10, 2:09 PM
MamaM said...: Traditionalguy: I don't know about black orchids, but I celebrate cross pollination. A friend and I both ordered the book you recommended last week, and plan to study it together. My copy arrived Friday.

Brain and electronic connections remind me of wind borne pollen. Who knows where the wind blows or what action it generates?

Thanks!!; 2/6/10, 2:14 PM
traditionalguy said...: That was encouraging of you to say, MomaM. My thanks to you.; 2/6/10, 3:22 PM
BJM said...: Oh noes! I can't look...I'm on orchid probation.

Hewhomustbeobeyed doesn't know the new Lds. discolor on my desk is an orchid.

Heh.; 2/6/10, 4:58 PM
jaed said...: I've been thinking of a career change lately.

Now I think I want to be a vanilla bean rustler. A desperate character of some kind. Living out on the edge of life, hunted by all... rustling flavorful orchid pods.; 2/6/10, 8:59 PM
Synova said...: I used to go to the Orchid Expo in San Francisco. Wow. And now I'm reminded I'm not *there* anymore.

Cry!

So... lots of orchid hobbyists here? I keep trying to kill the ones I've got. The desert air is not friendly. I have a red cattleya (Plumberry Glow "York") that has been hanging on for 17 or so years and has another couple flowers every little while (ought to have big bunches of 8 or 10... but it keeps trying) and a deep maroon paphiopedilum I bought at the grocery store (!) that blooms every year, shocking as that is. And my several Phalanopsis don't *die* but they don't bloom again either. *Sigh*.; 2/6/10, 9:34 PM
Unknown said...: I'm looking to by orchid in Madison, any thoughts on where to go?; 4/23/10, 10:24 PM