Plants &
Gardening
Garden Stories
Six Reasons Why Orchids Are Cool
Think you can tell the difference between an orchid and a praying mantis? Or an orchid and a sugar flower? Here are six fun facts on Orchidaceae鈥攐ne of the largest, most diverse, and most beloved of all plant families.
Why, yes, that's an orchid in my cocktail
Noted French chef Daniel Boulud paired with a mixologist to come up with a that calls for elderflower liqueur and a frozen orchid sphere.
An edible orchid in an ice sphere adorns a cocktail from chef Daniel Boulud,
File this under 鈥渙rchids are clever鈥
Researchers have discovered that a bog orchid (Platanthera obtusata) lures its pollinator鈥攖iger mosquitoes鈥攂y giving off a smell similar to human body odor.
The 鈥渁romatic鈥 Platanthera obtusata. Photo by
Have your orchid and eat it, too
London-based sugar artist Robert Haynes specializes in creating, and teaching others how to make, 鈥渂otanically correct sugar flowers.鈥
Sugar Cymbidium orchid by Robert Haynes. Photo 漏Tony Harris
Bee careful鈥
Entomologists are studying the evolution of a praying mantis that looks like an orchid. The female Malaysian orchid mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) attracts orchid pollinators such as bees鈥攁nd then eats them.
Orchid mantis fools pollinators, via
(Your name here) orchid
A will register a new orchid hybrid in your name with the Royal Horticultural Society (the official international register) for $1,500.
Gift a loved one with a really special orchid.
Orchid boarding school
Some nurseries will care for your orchids if you鈥檙e busy or on vacation, or simply prefer to have experts raise them until the plants are ready to bloom.
Out-of-sight, out-of-mind... until bloom time.