http://www.zihala.com/wild-flowers/
We’ve Come A Long Way In Orchid Knowledge
Since tulip mania (or “tulipomania”) reached its height in the Netherlands until the present, no single group of plants has acquired such a tenacious hold on popular imagination as the orchids. Believe it or not, though, today’s orchid craze hardly compares to the excited devotion that the plants inspired in our Victorian forebears, especially in England and America.
Of course, other plants attained a degree of celebrity in the Anglo-Saxon sphere of the mid- to late 19th century. We may count among these the cacti, ferns, roses, chrysanthemums and palms. But it was the orchids that represented the height of horticultural attainment to 19th century gardeners. So highly were the tropical epiphytes sought after that on May 12, 1885, the first huge orchid conference was held in London. The gala event brought together amateur as well as commercial growers to show off their prized specimens and to discuss important issues, including the culture and nomenclature of these marvelous flowers.
At the time of that great conference in London, the exotic tropical orchids had been known to most of the world for only around a hundred years. A 16th-century Spanish botanist, Francisco Hernandez, casually referred to a few orchids as curiosities when recounting a voyage to Spanish America. Some 200 years later, naturalist Engelbert Kaempfer and botanist Georg Eberhard Rumphius, employed by the Dutch East Indies Company, described several of the Asian orchids. It was not, though, until just prior to the opening of the 19th century that many Europeans became aware of these exciting, mysterious plants.
By the early 1800s, botanists were working on cultivating a few specimens at such places as Kew Gardens in London. Until 1820 orchids were looked upon as curiosities in botanical gardens, but about that time some showy Cattleyas and other species produced some stunning flowers, piqueing greater interest among the public. By the middle of the 19th century, new orchid specimens were making their way to Europe from all around the globe. Additionally, more and more people were attempting to cultivate orchids at home.
The orchid craze was in full swing by the late 19th century and continued unabated for many years to come. Somewhat suprisingly, a solid scientific understanding of orchid botany and what was needed to be consistently successful in growing orchids did not arrive until the 1920s.
Nowadays, of course, we have an abundance of good information on the proper way to grow orchids. The most up-to-date guidebook to expert orchid gardening, many people are finding, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which may be downloaded over the Internet. Mr. Howard’s ebook is a full education all to itself, great for beginners as well as the more experienced. Also, check out the Orchid Secrets website, which is publishing a growing library of articles on many aspects of orchid care.
The JaneDear Girls – Wildflower (Video)
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Boston Warehouse Wild Flower Measuring Cup, Set of 4 $19.99 Why should measuring cups be boring? Forget about boring with Boston Warehouse’s Wild Flower Measuring Cup Set. Set has a colorful wildflower design and is great for measuring while prepping food and baking. Set of 4 includes 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup and 1 cup. Made of hand painted earthenware. Hand wash recommended. From Boston Warehouse – creative ideas for home entertaining…. |
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Wilton 1907-117 Floral Collection 32-Piece Gum Paste Flower-Making Set $21.99 Gum Paste Flower Making Set: 32 piece set. Make incredibly lifelike gum paste flowers. Full-color how-to book includes many arranging ideas and step-by-step instructions. This package contains one leaf mold, three wood modeling tools, protector flap, two foam squares for modeling and twenty-four plastic cutters: Wild Rose, Baby’s Breath, Forget-Me-Not, Apple Blossom, Pansy, Small and Large Daisies… |
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Wild Hibiscus Flowers in Syrup – 8.8 Oz Jar $10.49 Perfect in your favorite drinks, or use as a garnish. Fabulous “wow” factor! Contains 11 flowers…. |
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Wildflower $9.42 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed…. |
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The Best of Talking Heads $6.44 TALKING HEADS THE BEST OF TALKING HEADS… |
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Wildflowers $4.98 15 track solo effort includes IT’S GOOD TO BE KING…. |
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Wild Flower $1.15 Erotic Thriller… |
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Wild Flower [VHS] $5.91 Director Diane Keaton brings a tender touch to Wildflower, a Lifetime cable-TV movie showcasing early-career excellence from Reese Witherspoon and Patricia Arquette. Witherspoon’s big-screen debut in The Man in the Moon had premiered shortly before this movie’s original broadcast in 1991, and a year earlier, Arquette had starred in a Keaton-directed CBS Schoolbreak Special, The Boy with the Crazy … |
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Mesa Verde National Park: Land of Forgotten People and Lost Cities $98.76 … |
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New 5-IN-1 Landscape Plugger – Lawn Plugger, Bulb Planter, Border Grass Planter, Weeding Tool, Bedding Planter, Tree Fertilizer Tool $39.99 Demo Video on YouTube, search for “5 in 1 Plugger”. Great for lawn plugging, weed control for deep tap-root weeds, planting bulbs, border grasses and bedding flowers. All welded steel construction (Made in USA) will provide years of reliable plugging service…. |