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

[TerrynFlorida]

Great photo tour. I'd love to go there some day, maybe after I retire! Especially like the Chysis sp. which I found a variety for sale at Tropical Orchid Farm in Hawaii. Looks like a space hog though.

[weng]

Thank you for the lovely tour. Great stuff. I'd question the ID of the Calanthe rosea though.

Weng

[Barbara]

Thank you for the wonderful pictures of a little piece of eden. Your pictures aren't too bad, I really appreciate seeing these plants growing in their natural form.

[Mahon]

Thanks all! the gardens are very nice and quite relaxing...

As for that Calanthe rosea, you are correct I swear I thought they had one out with the Calanthe vestita, but I guess not...

-Pat

[cb977]

Hey Pat! Great job...thank you

I love that Bulbophyllum hashimotoi ... is it a stinker???

The papers here had articles yesterday saying we should all make sure we get to the Gardens before it's gone! Only in bloom for the next 4-8 days!!! Hurry,hurry!!!

[Mahon]

Sue,

That Bulbo. hashimotoi is very similar to Bulbo. phalaenopsis... I took a whiff, and could BARELY smell anything distinguisable. The flowers must have been newer, as it smelled like wet carboard (then after maturing, they smell like crap! ).

From what people have said, and the media's persistence on this plant, I am thinking I should return the favor and write an article about the stupidity behind it all. The problem is time sensitivity (the plant is in bloom for a little while more, and the article, even written before it is done blooming, may not reach everyone until after they return from their trip. I had a plant almost as big as their's, and had 3 blooms once. A local grower has a plant even larger than the one featured at MSBG, and I know of plenty of people who have this species, and flowers them well

It's amazing what this ruckus on the "comet orchid" has shown us. When these people go back home, many will be buying orchids, and some will be looking for Ang. sesquipedale I think I can buy and resell a few to some of those people for a couple thousand...

-Pat

[cb977]

Oh well...wet cardboard and crap just does nothing for me

[Heather]

I read that article and thought it was all pretty ridiculous. Seems like Selby knows how to increase their visitation though. Any idea who contacted the press about the RARE!!!! Angraecum?

[Tindomul]

Sue, I hope you got some ideas out of those pics. You have enough room in your pool growing area to put them all in there.
Pat, thanks for the Phototour. I feel like I was there myself, taking wrong turns and everything! The whole experience, hehe.
I agree, I see lots of online vendors who have smaller Ang. sesquis for sale at reasonable prices. Now, if they had the moth in captivity, that would be another story!!! Aren't these supposed to have a really really long spur to accomodate the Moth's super long proboscis Darwin predicted? I didn't see them in the pics.
I loved the Cattleya lueddemanniana, and the Paphiopedilum insigne!