We have, not quite by our own choice (points finger at mother), got a few ground orchids growing in our garden. Most of them are either in bloom or about to bloom. These are the showy ones who are blooming now: Cypripedium parviflorum ( photo / image / picture from Droopy's Garden ) Cypripedium flavum ( photo / image / picture from Droopy's Garden ) ( This photo is of my mother's C. flavum. Ours wouldn't bloom this year.) Cypripedium "Dietrich" ( photo / image / picture from Droopy's Garden ) (Also my mother's plant. Hers looks a lot better than mine.) Cypripedium "Ventricosum Pastel" ( photo / image / picture from Droopy's Garden ) Cypripedium "Ulla Silkens" ( photo / image / picture from Droopy's Garden ) Cypripedium "Ulla Silkens" ( photo / image / picture from Droopy's Garden ) Cypripedium tibeticum ( photo / image / picture from Droopy's Garden ) The ones that aren't blooming yet are Dactylorhiza hybrids or blow-ins. They're not as showy as the ones above, but still pretty I think. I hope you like our orchids.
OK now you're just making things more difficult for me. My wish list is already too long (and I don't have the space) but I have just GOT to add some of those gorgeous orchids to it - especially the Cypripedium tibeticum and parviflorum.
Stunning selection, Droopy. Cor! I just kept going back and scrolling up and down. I am not kidding--they are remarkable. Your camera takes such nice pictures. I liked them all, but the last one made me blink. I've never had any orchids, and I am well stunned to see yours.
Thank you all. The Cypripedium we've got like acid, loose soil. We mix a lot of pine needles in the soil, some white moss if I can find it, and a bit of small bark chips as well. They're all planted in a well-drained area since they don't like wet feet. That's a challenge where we live. When they die down we put a piece of light plastic fencing on top of them so the cats won't dig them up. Since the soil's so soft it's a very tempting cat loo. Other than that we just leave them to it. No special care needed.
Thank you chocolate. I should think these orchids won't tolerate your heat. They have taken well to hard freeze of -12°C and heaps of snow too. Can you grow Phalaenopsis outside?
Apart from the beautiful colours its the shapes that are soooo tropical like,..as CrisGzr said,..exotic.
Thank you Philip. The shape of the flower is what I like best about them. The C. tibeticum is my favourite because of it's very big bloom and the colour.
Yes Droopy,phalaenopsis can be grown in a shadehouse but are used more for inside decorater plants, I have not seen them 'outside' really.
