Phalaenopsis Orchids
The sun is shining more, and the snow is melting, though I still have over a foot of snow in my yard. It will be awhile before I see flowers popping out of the ground in my neighborhood.
The next best thing is taking a drive across town to Olbrich Botanical Gardens and spending a couple of hours in the Bolz Conservatory which is Madison’s answer to tropical paradise. Yes, even in the snowy northern climes, we know how to grow hot house orchids!
Phalaenopsis Orchid – the Moth Orchid
This Wisconsin winter hasn’t been all that bad. Really. Even though we’ve had a fair amount of snow and a week or so of frigid weather, we are halfway through January and the days are growing noticeably longer. Today the temps climbed into the 30s. Even so, I was in the mood for a place warmer than 30˚, so I visited the warmest, greenest place I easily drive to – the Bolz Conservatory in Madison’s Olbrich Botanical Gardens.
Ahhh! Tropical mist, lots of green plants, birds chirping in the background, a tiny waterfall trickling down a stone outcropping, orange and white koi swimming in the meandering water and . . . dozens of orchids. Nearly paradise!
I sat quietly on an out-of-the-way bench for the first half hour and let the misty atmosphere seep into my body, mind, and soul. Then I got out my camera gear and took photos for an hour – the first photos I’ve taken in a week.
I shoot almost every day, so a week away from the camera is unusual for me. All that greenery and warmth got me going again. A good thing.
Bolz Conservatory
A necklace of orchids for you to wear this happy day. Orchid “Purpuria”
Olbrich Botanical Garden in Madison Wisconsin.
And here is another photograph of purple orchids.
Bolz Conservatory
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Madison, WI
