Oasis In The Snow

For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it.
~ Ivan Penin

I visited a friend’s greenhouse today.
It’s amazing to me that such an oasis can thrive
amidst the frigid snowy countryside
protected only by metal hoops covered with plastic
and heated by a wood-burning stove…
…and yes, I came home with more orchid plants.

Sedirea japonica

This lovely small orchid blooms in the springtime. It has a sweet lemon fragrance. It thrives under much the same conditions as does Neofinetia falcata, and they are related…both Sedirea japonica and Neofinetia falcata are native to Japan, and both are members of Tribe Vandeae, Subtribe Aeridinae. An interesting tidbit for some of you can be found in the genus name Sedirea which is Aerides spelled backwards. Sedirea japonica was formerly classified as Aerides japonica, but eventually the experts decided that it had enough unique qualities of its own to be give its own genus. Sedirea was the name chosen.

Sedirea japonica at New World Orchids

Manazuru

Neofinetia falcata variety ‘Manazuru’ is just about the nicest gold and green variegated Neo you will ever find ~ in my opinion anyway. I’m always struck by how bright it is. The plant practically glows. It has that bright red blush on the central stems, and of course, this delightful mini periodically sports lovely fragrant white flowers too. I was fortunate enough to be able to photograph this fine specimen shortly after it arrived in USA from Japan and before it got carried off to its new owner in England.   Dr. Lehr of New World Orchids is the world traveller who personally retrieves and delivers plants like this to collectors like me. I missed out on this one, though, and what a beauty it is!

The Pain of the Pear

Here we go round the prickly pear
At five o’clock in the morning.
~ T.S. Eliot

The pain of the pear seems apparent, you see,
but the point’s not a pierced prehensility.
The problem profuse in this prickly papoose
is a paradigm of psychalgia produced by nonuse.

~ Tabbie

Paired Phalaenopsis

“That pleasure which is at once the most pure, the most elevating and the most intense, is derived, I maintain, from the contemplation of the beautiful.”
~ Edgar Allan Poe

I was fortunate to capture this delightful duo during my recent visit to New World Orchids.  Dr. and Mrs. Lehr were most gracious in allowing me to take several photographs of their plants which I will be sharing here with you.

Enjoy!

Mad with Joy

I visited a local greenhouse earlier this month and was greeted by the sight of Oriental Lilies in full bloom. It was a dramatic display with several plants grouped together, their spicy perfume strong enough to permeate the entire nursery. It was like a dream. I asked permission to take a photograph, and the owner kindly assented. I’m delighted to share this picture here, and by now you must realise I have a penchant for poetry and prose…needless to say, I’ve found something befitting this striking beauty. I hope it brings you joy.

“People from a planet without flowers would think
we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us.”
~   Iris Murdoch