Dracula woolwardii

[Roberta]

Southern California is in the midst of a record-setting heat wave (both for intensity and duration) with not only hot days, but unusually warm nights. Not ideal Dracula conditions. But here is my brave little Dracula woolwardii, in full bloom this morning. The flower partially collapses during the heat of the day, but opens again in the morning even though it's not cool and hasn't been for a week. I also show a close up of a blooming in June to show how hairy the flower is. (it blooms on and off much of the year)

Drac bellerophon is also getting ready to bloom, and Drac cordobae also has a couple of buds getting close. I have found that my Dracs are a lot more forgiving of heat than many of the showy Masdevallias. Keeping them sopping wet seems to help. They are in baskets, so even though quite damp, they get lots of air.