Orchid Pages

I have been interested in Orchids since I was a child. Then I was an avid naturalist living in Surrey close to the North Downs and a member of the local Naturalist's group. We would get together and ramble over the chalk downlands, woods and marshes, and I would return back home tired, happy and mud bespattered. On those trips we would often come across Orchis and Orphys species. Later when my interests turned to actually growing plants I saw my first Pleione in the School greenhouse.  I have now been growing Pleiones on and off for 25 years and have just started to take an interest in Tropical Orchids.

I have put together some photos I have taken of orchids that appeal to me. Some are of my plants, some taken at exhibitions or the Orchid House at Wisley Gardens (home of the Royal Horticultural Society). I have no doubt my tastes will change over time, but I think my basic asthetic values will remain constant. I prefer the less rounded flower shapes (I know that many breeders are aiming for this). My alpine background means I am not a great fan of oversized blooms and extremes in gaudy colours. To me they just make the flowers look totally unatural.

All of my own plants are grown on various windowsills, except for the Pleiones that are in my greenhouse. I found it quite hard to get information on growing orchids on a windowsill and as a result I have set up a Yahoo Group for people with an interest in growing orchids that way. So if you are a beginner or an experienced grower and would like to join just click on the button on the right!

Click to subscribe to Windowsill Orchids

Phalaenopsis

Dendrobiums

Cattleya alliance

Pleiones

Odontoglossum  alliance

Other Orchids

Slipper Orchids

Vanda alliance

Phalaenopsis tetraspis x sumatrana

Return to main Index