Beauties (and Freaks)

In 3 weeks I will be in Thailand and will visit one of the biggest Thai orchids farm , will have a look , but never seen any similar....perhaps they had a section of ultrarare orchids ......but orchids are not my forte .
Poor plants , every years they have to deal with , frost , diseases , bugs , snails, neighbour cats/dogs and now even eating expencive orchids birds .

 

The Netherlands - result of a drunken last night with the girl who was/is my best mate over there before I returned to the UK. I introduced her to a mate of mine that night, and he is now her hubbie!

God, I miss my youth!

 

This is the one that they took...................

White Egret Orchid by longk48, on Flickr

They were just budding up too!

 

A bird that take an orchid that look like a bird? it`s a joke right?
that website got some Egret for sale at a decent price.

 

It was damned serious! I was chuffed to flower them first time, but even happier to have let them go dormant and then regrow them......

I have some reserved already Sal. Just need to make them bird-proof this year.

 

I do belive you....indeed , last year my toad lilys dissappeared , then a notice a black bird that start to pulling all my small plants for nesting.....2 years before managed to make 3 string bromeliads , wrapped around dry moss ....the moss only last 2 days and the sparrows start to take it all £12 for a bag of moss gone in 2 days.

 

Tricyrtis - now we're talking! My wee collection is here.............

http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/general-gardening-discussion/39192-tricyrtis.html

£12 for a bag of moss - I hope it was a big bag!!!

 

Time to add a few more of my fave Flickr finds!

I'll start with a few from my favourite group of plants - climbers.

The photographer is unsure of the exact id of this first one - Tropaeolum deckerianum OR adpressum

Tropaeolum deckerianum OR adpressum--2nd of 4 by Hesperia2007, on Flickr

Strophanthus preussii

Strophanthus preussii [Corkscrew Flower, Poison Arrow Vine, Spider Tresses, Tassel Vine] Apocynaceae by tuis, on Flickr

The next three are all plants that I'm growing.
Bomarea caldasii

Bomarea caldasii by FarOutFlora, on Flickr

Vigna caracalla(Corkscrew vine)

Corkscrew vine by festivus40, on Flickr

and Lapageria rosea

Lapageria rosea by Eric Hunt., on Flickr

I'm hoping for blooms from the Bomerea and Vigna this year, but the Lapageria will be another couple of years..........

Passion flowers are pretty common, but you won't see a Passiflora citrina everyday!

Passiflora citrina by cpf1, on Flickr

I'd love to be able to grow Banksia occidentalis

Banksia occidentalis by Kelley Macdonald, on Flickr

It's pretty normal for the top flower on Foxgloves to mutate, but how about this one!

Extraordinary digitalis by joeke pieters, on Flickr

And three orchids to close;
Maxillaria luteo-alba

Maxillaria luteo-alba by rarobles....Maxillaria luteo-alba!, on Flickr

Paphiopedilums are easy to grow once you get your head around the cooler or hotter growing needs.
Paphiopedilum superbiens

Paphiopedilum superbiens bloom by e-marion, on Flickr

...........and Paphiopedilum fairrieanum
Paphiopedilum philippinense 'Matthew Stenerson'

Paphiopedilum philippinense 'Matthew Stenerson' by Ron Hanko, on Flickr

 

bee orchid can be found even in UK

 

Rafflesia arnoldii

 

Ghost orchid (there`s even a movie with nicholas cage about this orchid ...Adaptation...)

 

Sal - the Ghost orchid is great, but what is the first one? It's outstanding!

 

How did I miss this thread. All these plants are fantastic. Wonderful bit of research Keith.

I really love that Boophane and the Habenara - well and all the rest!

 

If there is an upside to insomnia, these finds are it!

 

keith the first one it`s a bee orchids , the second it`s Rafflesia arnoldi and the 3rd its ghost orchid, the orchids bee can be found in uk , the rafflesia can be grown by seeds and the ghost orchid it a realy rare florida native orchid , that what the movie was about .