Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

[Mahon]

I visited the gardens at MSBG today, and it was quite a mess People from all over came primarily to see the 'Comet Orchid', Angraecum sesquipedale (news article: HERE), in full bloom (referred to as "Darwin's Last Laugh", as Darwin's predicted moth pollinator with an eight inch proboscis was discovered about 40 years after his death). Angraecum sesquipedale is very common, and often seen in cultivation. So I had to question; "why is this plant bringing so much publicity?". I talked with a few people and asked what they had heard. Many were told that the plant, Angraecum sesquipedale, is very rare, impossible to grow and bloom, and may costs thousands of dollars per plant. I was stunned, primarily because most of the stories matched up near exact! Is this a stab at increasing prices of this common orchid and increasing vast interest in the species, creating an actual market upon them?

Well, enough said... here are some of the orchids in bloom at MSBG right now... after the flower pictures, I have included some pics of the gardens. Sorry for the poor photo quality; not only do I suck at taking pictures, but the lighting sucked too...

The "main show" at MSBG: Angraecum sesquipedale


The label for the "main show"


Cattleya trianae


Cattleya lueddemanniana


Rhyncholaelia glauca


Epidendrum chogoncolonchense (one of the many species of the Epidendrum difforme complex.)


Encyclia asperula


Schomburgkia moyobambae (Plant shot)


(Schomburgkia moyobambae flower shot)


Bulbophyllum hashimotoi 'Interlaken' CHM/AOS


Chysis sp. (Plant shot)


(Chysis sp. flower shot)


Stelis argentata


Catasetum barbartum (Plant shot)


(Catasetum barbatum inflorescence shot)


A group of Calanthe vestita


Ascocentrum aurantiacum


Paphiopedilum venustum


NEW VARIETY: Paphiopedilum wardii var. teestaensis (Plant shot)


(Paphiopedilum wardii var. teestaensis flower shot)


Paphiopedilum insigne f. sanderae


Paphiopedilum appletonianum (center) and Paph. Dr. Toot (lower right)



Then here are some pictures of the gardens...

The entrance of MSBG


AHHH! Lost! (j/k) outside the Plant Shop door


A hidden Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum, outside the Plant Shop door


Down the walk from Admissions and Plant Shop


Same area; walk that leads to mansion and bay


Koi Pond; walk to the Selby House and Banyan Courtyard


In the trees near the Koi Pond


The Banyan Courtyard


One of the Banyan trees that Marie Selby planted


The Selby house


-Pat