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epiphyte78

Fantastic Flickr Stars Shining Brightly

12 years ago

A little while ago a lady in Australia messaged the OSSC facebook page. She asked about a source for some Thunias for her friend in California. The topic broadened a bit and I suggested that she join flickr to share some of her photos. And that's exactly what she did!

MangoPie70's Photostream on Flickr

Check out that Stanhopea! And that Koi pond!

Flickr's kind of a big place so I decided to send her a private message with a list of people that she might be interested in "following".

I scrolled down my main flickr page and compiled a lengthy, but by no means comprehensive, list of some really great orchid/epiphyte growers.

After I sent her the list...I figured why not share it with other people? It sure doesn't make sense to hide a candle under a bushel!

So here's the list that I sent her (in no particular order)...

*************************

Carlos my good friend in Brazil. He's usually pretty great at replying to questions...definitely a lot better than I am!

Fuzzy, a plant enthusiast in your neck of the woods. Gotta warn you though that some of his non-plant photos are...a bit...errrrr...PG-13? Sometimes I get a little surprised but it's worth it to see his plant photos! :D

Maurice, in New Zealand. He has a tree which he's covered in epiphytes. It was even featured in one of those home and garden magazines! But he likes to upload mainly bug photos. :D Maurice started an excellent website for epiphyte enthusiasts. You should check it out!

Alfred lives in my neck of the woods. One of the best orchid growers I know! And really lovely photographs as well!

Don is another really outstanding orchid grower. He lives in Santa Barbara (1 1/2 hours north of me). Don grows all? his plants outside year around. I think his conditions might be pretty darn close to your own.

Ken lives in Columbia. His property is teaming with epiphytes everywhere!

Tomas is my good friend in Rome, Italy. He has a famous photo of a Vanda covered in snow.

Peter is in my neck of the woods. Really really nice collection of perfectly grown orchids!

Charles is an outstanding outdoor orchid grower in my neck of the woods. Really beautiful orchid photos! I included one of his photos in my gallery of orchids on trees.

Albert is another outstanding outdoor grower in my neck of the woods. A really nicely diverse collection of interesting and lovely orchids.

Jacob is an expert orchid grower up in Northern California. Lots and lots of rare orchids and other unusual plants!

Puerto Rico Paradise. One of the best private collections of tropical plants! Check out this beauty... Huperzia goebelii

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Heh, kinda reminds me of that one 80s New Wave song.

If an orchid grower that you know just joined flickr...which fantastic flickr stars would you point out to them?

Woah, I just realized that my list is really sexist! But is it my fault that Marni and Cynthia, two orchid growers who I really admire, don't share their photos on flickr? *scratches head*

I wasn't going to mention it but I do get all the credit for Alfred and Charles sharing their photos on flickr. :D I cajoled the heck out of them mercilessly! Heck, I even bought Charles a one year flickr subscription* to try and pry him away from his previous website.

Unfortunately, unlike Alfred and Charles, Marni and Cynthia live way too far away to be members of the OSSC. So I didn't get to see them once a month to drop not so subtle hints. :(

Anyways, now it sounds like I'm protesting too much! Well...if anybody else does decide to share their list of fantastic flickr stars....we'll see how many other people don't have any ladies in their list.

Oops, I just remembered that I might have persuaded Tomas to share his photos on flickr...and he lives all the way in Italy. And, obviously, I managed to persuade Valerie and she lives on the other side of the world. So that doesn't do much for my proximity excuse!

*Now you get 1 terabyte of free space

Comments (4)

  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Interesting.

    Brooke

  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Hi
    Almost joined the "Epiphyte tree" even though it is located in N. Zealand I have haphazardly been growing many types of epiphytes that way for many years in spite of better advice lol
    have a couple of ?? for you I have a hat rack pruned
    Schizolobium that looks like I'm going to be able to keep at my max height of 30 feet Thinking some type of epiphyte at the crown. . Since it's around 15 feet above ground need something with a trailing habit preferably with flowers. Was thinking Epiphylums
    Any suggestions ?? Thanks gary

  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    You should definitely join it! It would be great to get us all on the same page.

    Epiphyllums would certainly work on your tree. But if I had to pick between Epiphyllums and Aeschynanthus...I would choose Aeschynanthus. Here's Aeschynanthus sikkimensis blooming on a tree. I've been really impressed with how well Aeschynanthus speciosus has done on my tree.

    Aeschynanthus are certainly less showy than Epiphyllums...but the flowers last longer...the Hummingbirds really love them...and they are less common.

    There are definitely some Columneas that would give Aeschynanthus a run for their money. Columnea Elmer Lorenz has done exceptionally well on my tree...

    {{gwi:139214}}

    I've had pretty decent success with Stapeliads epiphytically. Stapelia leendertziae is a really nice one that will hang down for quite a ways.

    Kalanchoe uniflora is a must have for any tree...

    {{gwi:139216}}

    Not sure how far down it will hang. Other pendent epiphytic Kalanchoes...

    Kalanchoe ‘Orangery’ - K. manginii × K. jongmansii
    Kalanchoe gracilipes
    Kalanchoe manginii
    Kalanchoe pumila
    Kalanchoe 'Tessa' - K. gracilipes x K. manginii

    Echeveria rosea is a definitely a must have as well.

    In terms of orchids...Dendrobium lituiflorum has been a real winner...

    {{gwi:139217}}

    Dendrobium pierardii and Dendrobium anosum (and here) would be some other good choices. Anosum even looks pretty decent when it's not blooming... Dendrobium anosum not in bloom

    Dendrobium teretifolium is probably my favorite though.

    Another good choice is Epidendrum parkinsonianum...

    {{gwi:139218}}

    Rhynchostylis retusa has pendent flowers...would that count?

  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    hi
    I completely relandscaped my area after the hurricanes
    and the trees are just now getting lage enough for epi's
    Will be sharply divided between deep shade and western sun. plus the border tree schizolobium defoliates during cold spells . I have planted an epicatt and several ferns .
    The crown screams for some type of epi!! lol Will have to be a tough one as during the year will go from deep shade to full sun but for short periods of time not seasonally lol Also due to the structure of the crown will be either very wet or very dry . And since it is around 20 feet from the ground will not only be hard to see will be difficult to tend . I know epiphyllums to be very tough and of course there are a gazillion varieties and there are no more spectacular flowers..
    I'm using conjoined queeen palms for a bed for Vandaceous orchids (have 8 kinds ) Have spectacular growth but limited flowering . I blame that on the low crown of the palm but are maturing so in the summer this year will be in almost full sun.
    I'm going to quit maintaining my shadehouse so the orchids will be from these Mostly epicatts hybrid catts and Brassidiums. The main planting will be on some Cassia roxburghii and some plumeria. wasn't sure about the very smooth bark of the plumeria and of course they seasonally defoliate but is still shaded by the cassia.
    To the east end I've started a bed of Tree ferns and have no idea how they will be at supporting epis. Thinking terete vandas and epidendrums the tree ferns are located under the neighbors areca palms so probably too shady but feel certain they will grow
    Anyway you've given me a lot to think about but I recently located some "oddball" epiphytes with some odd habits . They donot fit into my plan but couldn't pass them up lol Won't be doing any serios palnting until winter passes . I'm putting in some hardscape as well as
    revamping my water gardens lol Thanks for the info!!! gary

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