Hawaii 2

[Ross]

Just a quick check in. It's hard to get used to seeing all the Dendrobiums being used as shrubbery! It seems like everywhere I go, folks use those things as I might use a chrysanthemum back home. Maybe that's the best use of Dendros, cause they don't belong in my collection. It's hard to find anything here but dendros, but I keep looking.

Later...

[Tony]

Originally Posted by rsfrid

Maybe that's the best use of Dendros, cause they don't belong in my collection.

Preach on Brother Ross!

[cb977]

[Wendy]

I wouldn't mind having Dens in my garden....'cept they'd freeze in the winter.

So have you bought anything yet? How about one of those cute grass skirts? Who wants to see a picture of Ross in one of those?

[esungirl]

Hi there-
I used to live in Kauai. I went to an Orchid show in Kekaha,west side of island, and was totaly dissapointed by the lack of variety. Practically all Dens. and Vandas, yes people in the neighborhood used them as shrubery. The best thing I saw there was a variety of the "Nun's Orchid" growing wild in the forests near Mt. Waialeale where the Wailua river starts. Honestly, I think the Islands are too isolated to have acquired a vast variety of Orchids. After all they are 1,860 miles form the nearest continent. And from what I've read it's practically been a freak of nature for anything to travel that distance and survive, to make the islands it's home. The chain, after all, was only lava rock to begin with. Sorry for the dissapointment. But I have to admit, I still long for those rainforests, they are absolutely magnificent, if you're not looking for orchids, and the beaches are wonderful too. just be sure to appreciate the Trade Winds, they are your freind! And the islands apart from the lack of orchids are exotically beautiful and safe, no weird diseases or bad water. enjoy them and I hope you get to see the newest land on earth south of Hilo. Enjoy that trip I whish I was there.

[Tony]

Originally Posted by cb977

What did I do?

[Tony]

Originally Posted by Wendy

I wouldn't mind having Dens in my garden....'cept they'd freeze in the winter.

What's wrong with that?

[justatypn]

I knew Tony would be singing with you Ross, but dends' as shrubs..what a way to go.

[Ross]

Come to find out, Dendros aren't as common as I thought earlier in the trip. People plant them, yes, but there is another called Bamboo Orchid (Arundina graminifolia) that is an introduced spp I saw everywhere in the Hilo area (wet side) and also available from Bergstrom Orchids for purchase.

We visited Bill Bergstrom at his greenhouses and got quite a lecture on orchids (species). He's given up on Dendros cause they just up and die for no good reason! (That's for you Tony). I purchased about 7 or 8 orchids (I won't know till I get home 'cause the box is sealed to go through Ag) I thought I had 6 set aside on the bench, but somehow an Epidendrum ended up in the batch and I ended up getting a Bulbo also. I remember Sherry Baby, B. Rex, a small bulbo, another Brassia hybrid that Bill created and named after his wife, and a couple I can't remember. The whole batch cost me $45 US! I figured if something krept in I didn't want, I'll throw it away at that price. (Or maybe we can trade?)

Got some good clear photos of Cymbidiums being used as landscape plants in community of Volcanoe near the park, a native Epidendrum called Scarlet Orchid locally (E. obrienianum) growing from a cliffside area, Bamboo Orchid mentioned above, and a blooming jewell orchid planted in a tree fern. All-in-all, it's been a productive trip so far. Despite one of the replies above, I found the variety of orchids on the Big Island all I had hoped it would be. Obviously, there are the commonly available dendros, cats, vandas, etc. But I have had no trouble seeing bulbos, cymbidiums, and others as well. I'll post a few pics in next couple days after I process over 5 gigs of flash cards pics! (Including pics of the erupting volcanoe!) Later...

[Wendy]

Sounds like you had a great time Ross. I look forward to seeing pictures.