That stack of magazines is a curiosity to me now. A large pile, maybe 7 or 8 years worth of “Gourmet” magazine were neatly placed in a corner of the living room where I grew up. This was an incongruity in a home where dinner was more likely to be a Manwich than to be anything pronounced with a French accent. But those magazines made an impression on me.

As well as featuring foods that were unknown in the suburbs, those magazines featured articles on travel. Photos of Vienna or Helsinki or Budapest showed a world of style and architecture, gardens and museums, that I had never seen before. Though I have still not been to those places, those images made a valuable impression.

 

You may never grow the orchids that are the subject of this article. You may not even care to grow anything at all. I just hope that the beauty that you see and the joyful exuberance of the designs in these creations will be good for your soul. They are truly extraordinary.

Orchids of the genus Aerangis are native to the forests of Africa and Madagascar.  They are epiphytes for the most part, growing on the branches and trunks of trees and displaying their white flowers from this perch. They are known for the nectary that hangs gracefully from their blossoms. This tubular petal contains nectar, as the name implies, which attracts night-flying moths. The flowers of Aerangis are almost always fragrant only after dark, which, along with their white color makes them attractive and easily spotted by the pollinators they seek to attract.

I have grown these “White Moths” for decades, adjusting my lifestyle and my living space to accommodate them. If one has a greenhouse there is nothing difficult about them. Alas, I do not have a greenhouse. In the cold months my Aerangis come inside to live in a plastic tent with a growlight and a small fan. This provides the buoyant and humid atmosphere that they enjoy, and allows us to keep close company with one another. In the warm months of late spring and summer my plants go to “summer camp”. Hanging in my Edgeworthia or one of my fig trees they get the dappled shade they love. A shower every morning is all they ask. With this treatment, and my parental oversight on hiatus, they thrive. Like all orchids, they really have a feline aversion to attention. Only occasionally will I examine them closely, and I am almost always rewarded by the appearance of blossoms. A sight to stir the soul of anyone who has a soul.

At the other end of the spectrum, color-wise, are the orchids of the genus Masdevallia. Mr. Masdevalle must have been a great gentleman indeed, to have these colorful jesters named in his honor. These jelly beans of the plant world are pure fun, as though God was in a REALLY joyful frame of mind when designing them. Stripes and spots, brilliant colors, and the tails that are formed at the tips of their petals……..every conceivable variation on their tripetalous theme. These are flowers that will bring a smile to any but the most dour curmudgeon. And speaking of curmudgeons, someone may want to point out to me that the petals are actually sepals………I know!

Now the “rest side of the story”. Masdevallias are, for the most part, native to the cloud forests of the Andes and other highlands. Abundant moisture and air movement are required, as well as cool temperatures. High temperature of 75 degrees and lows of 50-55 degrees at night will make them feel at home. There ARE “warmth tolerant” Masdevallias, and I have killed many of them. A greenhouse with an evaporative cooler would be the only place I would try them again. And that means placing them directly in front of the cooler. It would be worth the investment to grow some of these miniature orchids. They are mostly under 10 inches tall, and many are only 2-6 inches in height.

So there you have your introduction to some orchids that are at the top of my list of favorite plants. There is a new book recently released on Aerangis that is a really good resource for obtaining cultural information on the many species. It is an inspiring book that is cryptically titled “Aerangis”. There are also a number of books on the genus Masdevallia, and I would love to have a coffee-table book of those charming flowers. It may be, for now, the only way to enjoy them, but where there’s a will………..

And if you have been smitten by either of these fantastic orchid genera you are fortunate to have numerous options for obtaining plants. I have found that many orchid nurseries are selling their plants on eBay.  This has become my favorite “fishing ground” for finding fascinating species. Of course, the internet has made all commerce easier and that goes for any plant that might strike your fancy. I am very thankful that there are people who are just as passionate about unusual plants as I am, and that these afflicted souls offer treasures to us at prices that mean their children will inherit nothing but memories. As I recall, J&L orchids in Easton, Connecticut is a great resource for Masdevallias and their relatives. Botanica Ltd is a good source for Aerangis and their relatives and Parkside orchids specializes in both genera.

Thank you for letting me share these treasures with you. I think I’m going to cook something from Gourmet magazine tonight! Enjoy your gardens, friends.