The day after we saw the Orchid trees in Cape Coral (this post from last week), we noticed these orchids blooming in a neighbor's yard. These are genuine hothouse orchids (the kind you had in your senior prom corsage -- if you were lucky).
So this isn't an orchid tree, but an orchid in a tree... a Florida (and small home) version of a houseplant. Our neighbors grow them in a basket wired to the tree (no greenhouse needed in this climate).
Along with couple of comments on last week's post, seeing both kinds of 'orchid trees' awakened my lazy mind enough to do a little tiny bit of research. The Orchid Tree (from last week) is actually called the Hong-Kong Orchid Tree. It is described as having orchid-like blossoms.
(The scientific name of that tree is Bauhina Blakeana.)
--------------
Orchids like these today (and the many many other colors and varieties) belong to a family group called "orhidaceae" -- so no relation to the Orchid Tree.
So now I know the difference. But also suspect I'll soon forget all these scientific facts and revert to simply knowing that both kinds make me smile.
Sharing with Denise's TODAY'S FLOWERS; Judith's MOSAIC MONDAY; Laura's I HEART MACRO; Gemma's MONDAY MACRO; Michelle's NATURE NOTES; and OUR WORLD Tuesday (brought to us by Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sandy, and Sylvia). Thank you to all.
Beautiful orchids. And i love the bauhinia, it is almost native to our region and used for culinary purposes here.
Posted by: Muhammad Khabbab | February 05, 2015 at 10:20 PM
My goodness, how gorgeous and thank you for doing the research Sallie. Very interesting. Thank you also for linking to Today's Flowers. I am doing the happy dance.
Posted by: DeniseinVA | February 04, 2015 at 09:19 PM
they really are so beautiful!!!
Posted by: laura | February 04, 2015 at 12:29 PM
well, that is a nice surprise. Loved to see it. :)
Posted by: NatureFootstep | February 04, 2015 at 07:03 AM
Very pretty orchids and great photos of them! Way back in the day, when I was unlucky enough to spend quite a bit of time in a certain Southeast Asian country, I occasionally saw orchids growing up in the limbs of trees.
Posted by: Pat | February 03, 2015 at 10:19 PM
Very pretty. I am sure I will forget too-these sorts of facts don't stick in my brain very long. But it is interesting to read about them. I think it is amazing to see them in basket in a tree!
Posted by: Coloring Outside the Lines | February 03, 2015 at 09:46 AM
It saddens me, but I never went to a prom!
I'm happy to share your flowers, though. Love seeing the colours. We're so frozen in the snow!
Posted by: Jenn Jilks | February 03, 2015 at 07:57 AM
Just one word...well, a few more than one...but, STUNNING comes to mind, and wow---they really thrive in tree baskets?!!!
Posted by: Hootin' Anni | February 03, 2015 at 05:03 AM
I thought that wild orchids always grow on host trees. My daughter in Australia has several trees hosting orchids. They are not as beautiful as yours!
Have a beautiful week!
Wil, ABCW Team
Posted by: Reader Wil | February 02, 2015 at 10:18 PM
Well, I just checked mine, and they aren't showing even a hint of blooming. I carried orchids (pure white, of course), in my wedding bouquet. However, I don't think they like living (even inside) in CO. Or, maybe it's just my care they don't appreciate. Smell the orchids for me, Sallie.
Posted by: Barb Behmer | February 02, 2015 at 09:11 PM
Those orchids are gorgeous with such deep, rich colors!
Posted by: Lindy | February 02, 2015 at 08:45 PM
Both kinds make me smile, too. It's nice to see these colors today. :)
Posted by: Penny | February 02, 2015 at 08:28 PM
Very pretty - I've never lived anywhere orchids would grow outside. Here they're hard to keep alive inside because it's so dry!
Posted by: Al | February 02, 2015 at 06:16 PM
Stunning! Orchids are amazing. My friend calls them parasites, and I suppose they are, but they sure do live beautifully!
Posted by: SandyCarlson | February 02, 2015 at 05:57 PM
Orchids have so much personality. Interesting idea to wire a basket to a tree. May have to try that one.
Posted by: Gail | February 02, 2015 at 03:55 PM
I love orchids!
Posted by: islandrambles | February 02, 2015 at 03:47 PM
I was born and raised in Asia, in tropical weather. The only way I knew orchids grew were from a tree :) Nice to see orchids growing hanging from a tree again.
Posted by: Photo Cache | February 02, 2015 at 03:22 PM
Beautiful delicate orchids.
Posted by: Lorrie | February 02, 2015 at 02:29 PM
Wonderful shots of the orchids.
Posted by: Carver | February 02, 2015 at 02:12 PM
The things we learn! They are all so pretty!
Posted by: bettyl - NZ | February 02, 2015 at 01:35 PM
Beautiful photos Sallie.. I'm going to go back to the Franklin Park Conservatory to see some local Orchids.. We are one day closer to spring LOL
Posted by: Joe Todd | February 02, 2015 at 01:04 PM
From a bush
From a tree
Whatever they be
They stand alone
In dainty beauty!
Posted by: Lowell | February 02, 2015 at 01:02 PM
Aren't they beautiful and so varied.
Posted by: fun60 | February 02, 2015 at 12:56 PM
Orchids are fascinating with all their different shapes and colours.
Posted by: Gunilla | February 02, 2015 at 12:39 PM
Fantastic colours on the first one!
Posted by: Villroses hage | February 02, 2015 at 12:33 PM
Oh I could use some Spring time flowers ~ Thanks for your magnificent floral photography!
Happy Week to you,
artmusedog and carol
Posted by: artmusedog and carol | February 02, 2015 at 12:18 PM
I can only repeat what everyone else has written, these are SO gorgeous!! Thank you so much for sharing the beauty!! Hope you have a great new week!!
Posted by: sylviakirk | February 02, 2015 at 12:11 PM
The Bauhinia tree is really beautiful, as are the frilly orchids, how special to be able to grow them outside. I suppose here I could grow orchids outside in the summer then bring them in, but there is always the possiblilty of bringing in aphids and spider mites at the same time, so I mostly just leave them on the windowsill.
Posted by: Hannah | February 02, 2015 at 11:10 AM
Stunning orchids!
Posted by: Donna@Gardens Eye View | February 02, 2015 at 10:51 AM
These orchids are so beautiful! Amazing colors!
Posted by: Mary | February 02, 2015 at 10:30 AM
Lucky you! Lucky,lucky, lucky YOU! Orchids for February....perfect!
Linda ❤⊱彡
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
https://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/sherlock-boomer
Posted by: Linda | February 02, 2015 at 08:27 AM
Thanks for sharing the beauty with I Heart Macro Sallie:-)
Posted by: Laura Hegfield | February 02, 2015 at 08:15 AM
How beautiful! And a lovely sight since we're in the middle of our third day of snow and no sun.
Posted by: Lady Fi | February 02, 2015 at 07:32 AM
I love orchids. One of mine just bloomed twice in a row. And I'm eagerly awaiting the other. It's late...
Posted by: Sharon Wagner | February 02, 2015 at 07:30 AM
I'll be looking for baskets of orchids growing in trees on my walks - isn't that something?
Thank you for the botanical info on the orchid tree - something I won't remember either but I just love finding what we have for houseplants growing outside as huge specimens in a warmer climate.
Thank you for linking to Mosaic Monday Sallie.
Posted by: Judith @ Lavender Cottage | February 02, 2015 at 07:13 AM
They are all incredibly beautiful!
Posted by: Marie-AZ | February 02, 2015 at 05:29 AM
Haha, I know there is at least one person who are so forgetful as me.
I tend to forget names of birds and mushrooms a day later.
I give up to search for the scientific facts and names now.
Posted by: rainfield | February 02, 2015 at 04:50 AM
They make me smile too :)
Blessings, Aimee
Posted by: Aimee | February 02, 2015 at 12:49 AM
These gorgeous colours set in green leaves are stunning. Amazing the variety of colour and pattern.
Posted by: Gemma Wiseman | February 02, 2015 at 12:47 AM
Both are beautiful flowers whether they're blooming from the tree from before or growing in a basket in the tree.
Posted by: Ratty | February 01, 2015 at 11:33 PM
How beautiful ! Orchids I only see in garden shops !
Posted by: Gattina | February 01, 2015 at 11:07 PM
Orchids are such beautiful flowers, and their variety is amazing to me. I look forward to an orchid plant that I have in my home to begin to grow its flower stem soon. It always blooms in spring.
Posted by: Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti | February 01, 2015 at 10:38 PM
Those are some fancy flirts in petal skirts!
Posted by: Colleen | February 01, 2015 at 08:49 PM
Learning is fun, but appreciating for intrinsic value may be better. Orchids are always pretty and you are lucky to see them right next door.
Posted by: Gaelyn | February 01, 2015 at 07:50 PM
I've never heard of orchid trees till now. Well, not that big anyway... they are beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Freda Mans | February 01, 2015 at 06:24 PM
well now that is interesting
Posted by: Felicia | February 01, 2015 at 04:34 PM
it is amazing I couldn't grow an orchid if I tried Im sure!
Posted by: Sondra-SC | February 01, 2015 at 04:26 PM
They are beautiful.
Posted by: Pat | February 01, 2015 at 04:25 PM
Great photos of the orchids and so good to see them growing out in the open like that. It sounds to be the same kind of climate as here - all the orchids need is a bit of shade and some water.
Posted by: Mick | February 01, 2015 at 04:11 PM
How pretty to see them growing outside like that! I have an orchid that I have done quite well with, but I have to keep it inside because it gets a little colder up here.
Posted by: Lois | February 01, 2015 at 04:09 PM
You sound like me when it comes to names of flowers and birds. I'm hopeless but they all make me smile.
Posted by: diane | February 01, 2015 at 03:15 PM
Wonderful!
waking to -27 degrees this morning, I revel in all the floral collages today :)
Posted by: Sharon @ Faith Hope & Cherrytea | February 01, 2015 at 02:52 PM
Sallie..this is a beautiful post for Nature Notes.. It doesn't have to be all about my garden...really.. please link in...Michelle
Posted by: Michelle RamblingWoods | February 01, 2015 at 02:43 PM
"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" is a well-known phrase that came to mind reading this post. Orchids, like orchid lookalikes, have a sweet sophistication about them, in my view. :)
Posted by: Penelope Puddlisms | February 01, 2015 at 02:38 PM
These are amazingly beautiful flowers,spreading happiness to all!
Posted by: Ruby | February 01, 2015 at 12:44 PM
They are gorgeous. Thank you too for the info: I had never heard of an orchid tree. They would not grow in UK. ( -4C tonight).2
Posted by: Hazel | February 01, 2015 at 12:10 PM
just gorgeous and so tropical. nice to see blooming color in winter!
Posted by: TexWisGirl | February 01, 2015 at 12:06 PM
You are lucky to have the weather to grow the beautiful orchids..Or at least share your neighbors orchids.. I am sure they do not mind..Lovely photos.. Have a happy new week ahead!
Posted by: Eileen | February 01, 2015 at 11:39 AM