Orchids

I have recently had orchids on my mind, and I can’t seem to move on to another type of flower as I strive to write a column for The View. Some of you may not know that the orchid family is one of the largest, if not THE LARGEST, family of flowers in the world. The flowers range in size from plants that will fit into a thimble to vines reaching a hundred feet. This information stunned me as most of us think of orchids as flowers being limited only to tropical areas such as Hawaii. Not true! In fact, Wimberley, our precious Wimberley, has at least three types of orchids growing around us.

The two main types of orchids are those that grow in trees or off the ground and those that grow in the ground. Wimberley’s orchids are those that grow in the ground…the terrestrials. The three types that I have actually seen growing in Wimberley are Ladies Tresses, Coral Root (there is probably another name for these, but right now I can’t identify it), and the Chatterbox orchids. The first two have been seen growing in my neighborhood, although not for some time. I have also seen the chatterbox ones growing along waterways. Obviously, none of these plants is in abundance so care must always be taken to preserve them.

Luther Burbank was once asked if he had ever thought about doing any work to improve orchid plants. He stared at the questioner and then said: “Improve orchids? But who on earth would dream of wanting them improved?” Then again, there are lots of hybrid orchids that combine the traits of two different kinds of orchids in an effort to create orchids that are easier to grow or bloom more often.

Just know that when you see or are given or buy an orchid, enjoy and appreciate it for whatever time it is present in your presence. And, please, if you should ever see one in its native habitat, leave it there for others to be delighted.

Written by Martha Knies