orchidnurseryblog

Can you ship blooming orchids? Orchids are best shipped with buds that are just about to open. We ship plants that will be flowering within a few of days of arrival. We'll always let you know exactly what stage of blooming the particular orchid you'd like is in. Where can you ship orchids? White Oak Orchids ships orchids through out the continental USA. Our own delivery trucks service the greater San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA. What kinds of orchids or gifts are available? We have selections from all genera of orchids all colors and sizes! Orchids can be shipped in nursery pots or as beautiful gifts, complete with decorative containers, moss and other fancy details. Please feel free to call or email us with your queries and we would be delited to complete your requests and dreams! Are orchids hard to grow? Not at all! Like any plant, orchids need light, water, food, air movement and correct temperatures to thrive. Your challenge to growing orchids is fou...

Rebecca Northern, in Miniature Orchids, refers to Paphiopedilum charlesworthii as 'a stunning species' and the accompanying photograph, taken some years ago in Sydney supports this accolade. However, where have all the charlesworthii's gone? A quick review of some early copies of the Australian Orchid Review shows that this species, along with Paphiopedilum spicerianum, was the favoured shade/bush house Paph. of many growers in what today (with the sophistication of shade cloth, misting systems, etc) would be considered fairly primitive conditions! For some reason the species appears to have fallen out of favour with Paph. growers and I have not seen even a small plant, much less one of the great specimens of earlier years, benched at society meetings for a very long time. Perhaps familiarity led to some contempt for the species as 'old fashioned' and as exciting new species from Indonesia, Borneo and, more recently, the stunning Parvisepalum section from China, w...

We are proud to bring to the orchid world a preview of Ron Herberle's superb photographic collection of this colourful genus of Australian terrestrial orchids, now available on the internet, thanks to the efforts of Tony Watkinson. Tony tells of falling under the spell of the Thelymitra genus and his huge undertaking to display them to the world. These are all from the South West corner of Wesern Australia. The website contains over 200 photographs. Although Tony says the site is essentially finished, he is hoping to add a few bits and pieces, including an interview with Ron about his 30 year love affair with these highly colourful "sun orchids". The article contains another five photographs, just to whet the appetite. (Photo: Viv Holly) Click here for Ron's web site 16th Australian Orchid Conference 2003 The premier event on the Australian orchid calendar is held every three years in different States, and this year hosting has been undertaken by the Orchid Clu...

Since the mid 19th century there has been much confusion regarding exactly which genus the spectacular and horticulturally desirable orchids today known as Pescatorea best fit into. However, there has never been confusion regarding the desirability of the Pescatorea species. The Pescatorea alliance includes orchids as Bollea species (one of the best is the blue Bollea coelestis), Huntleya species, Chondrorhyncha species and some would allow Zygopetalum, a close relative, to be part of the allowance. All the aforementioned genera contain some terrific species but, to my undoubtedly biased eye, the jewels of the alliance are the Pescatorea species and, of these, the species I have selected this month, Pestcatorea coronoria, has a singular beauty. The genus Pescatorea is small, from 12-16 species, distributed from Costa Rica to Ecuador. The generic name is dedicated to M. Pescatore, a French patron of orchid species in the mid-19th century. Veitch writing 1887, lumps Pescatorea with a...

Be Water Wise ============= By Colin Hamilton Whether we like it or not, Australia is in dire straits with its water supplies. As a result of prolonged periods of drought, many water collection areas, including the underground aquifer, have not received sufficient run-off for replenishment. But we, as a nation, have kept using water with gay abandon. We are one of the highest users of water per capita of any nation. Now the rooster has come home to roost. We have to take action to conserve our dwindling resources. I have given the matter some thought and asked some friends from around Australia for their ideas on how to save water in caring for their orchids, and looked at some of the websites advising tips to help mend our wicked ways. � I guess the first and probably most obvious, yet most ignored, is the dripping tap. Leaking taps, pipes and dishwasher hoses is an easy way to reduce water wastage. One leaking tap can waste more than 2,000 litres a month. (Source: Sydney Wa...

================= Greetings, Orchid Lovers ======================== Captain Stew of the Mouse Patrol here, with my regular report on the happenings at Stewart Orchids. Have I ever been busy! The Boss has been finishing up his Major Clean-up of the premises ........ and boyohboy, are we ever clean! Only trouble is, hunting is getting pretty slim for old Stew, now that things are so clean and polished. All the varmints are departing for some more comfortably neglected and messy place, where they can set up housekeeping. I am having to depend on the kindness of strangers and friends for most of my treats. [Hint --- hint!] But it does give me more time for my writing, which is fun, too. Back From Their Travels ======================= The Boss and Mrs. Boss are back from their adventures in Houston, Texas, and Des Moines, Iowa. Boss says they loved their stopover in Houston for the Houston Summer Workshop, visiting with old friends and making new ones. He hated to leave before the...