Ground Orchids - That Nose & That Beard

After seeing so many orchids, I now see faces on them. Guess it must be the focal indigestion.
Regardless, the strange thing about passion is that it comes back over and over again wanting for more.

This time its these Ground Orchids (Spathoglottis Plicata). I have been captivated by these beauties of which two of these kinds are still growing without their bloom in my garden.

My fear of over feeding them may kill them in the expenses of wanting to see their glorious bloom. As for now, I have to be contented with enjoying them visiting them during my lunch break in the Orchid Garden.

If you note, you can see that their leaves are very much look like a palm leaves. They are known as "Okid Pinang" which means Palm Orchid. They are native here & I guess many would have found them along Express Highways where they bloom & grow freely.

These are the many varieties of Ground Orchids planted along the covered sidewalk area. All of them are in partial shade & does so well in their continuous blooms. I'm so jealous of these blooms - still wondering when I'm going get their secret in getting them bloom in my garden.

Until then, I'm seeing their faces etched at these flowers.

Do you notice that long grumpy nose and that snigger's,
"You're not gettin me bloomin in your place gardener..."

Yep.. that Egyptian Pharaoh's Beard.

Giant Orchid - Grammatophyllum Speciosum

It was one of my zealous moments where I have decided to just go and see whats happening in this Orchid Garden. Its situated inside Lake Gardens area.
Getting there by motorbike is very versatile and easy as the journey getting there by public transport is going to exhaust you. Taking the car there is no joke as parking is so far from this spot (with limited parking plot, one have to go further away just to get a spot)

Well, I really wanted to get a good fertiliser for my Reed Orchids, those which I had rescued and very much desired to see them bloom. It did took me quite awhile to get there as it was so different from the last time I had been there (well, the last time was like decade ago!)

Those times, there were a lot of garden farmers selling good hybrids for a wholesale prices. Now, I noticed only 4 stalls operating in selling and the prices are not so cheap & limited plants compared to those sold in Sg. Buloh nurseries. Anyway, I did manage to get a powdered fertiliser for my orchids and was told to mix it with 1 liter of water and spray them once a week.
(Still keeping my fingers crossed with high hopes, I had sprayed 2 twice for these 2 weeks)

While inspecting the orchids sold, I found a very familiar plant which I have not seen its bloom.
I asked the vendor about it and she told me that its known as Tiger Orchid & to go up by the stairs and see the plant by the water fountain.

True enough, this great beauty had captured me that I went there again on the next day to get a better picture quality.


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I came to know this as Tiger Orchid. Later after "googling" I found that its better known as Giant Orchid, Sugar Cane Orchid or Queen of Orchids.
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Wow..
Imagine seeing the world's largest orchid, one in full bloom. Its considered rare as it blooms 2 - 5 years but the flowers lasts for 2 months. Native in this region growing in lowland tropical rainforest's.
I had few times seen this orchid plant and wondered why anyone what to keep this huge bamboo like sugar cane plant. It does look unattractive when its not it bloom.
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But when it bloom, the flower spike is as high as 9 feet the palm trees
(see the 2nd. picture & its background)
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The flower is leathery, it had spots and didn't have the lip like those common orchids. The fragrance was so wonderful, not overwhelming but just captivating.
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It feels so good to held this orchid flower upon my hand.

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Notice the leaves and stalk, it resembles just like a sugarcane plant. If you are around in KL region and about to visit Lake Gardens do take the time to visit this very rare treat. Its considered rare in some parts of the world to see this orchid bloom.

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The Orchid Garden (Lake Garden KL) is open from 9am - 6pm.

Free Admission on weekdays except on Sat, Sun & Public Holidays is RM1 per entry.

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I will be going there as often as I can to get more pictures.

So hold on to your seats for more of these stunning beauties!

Eulophia Ground Orchid - Eulophia Graminea

Found this in an abandon area in Jinjang, as you know (I had mentioned in my earlier post) the temporary longhouses are been dismantled in phases. I took this during my Deepavali visit in my in laws area. What a beautiful gift!

I was so excited when I noticed this plant growing here. It had a very good rooting system growing from a bag of clothes & took this plant together with those clothes. (somehow, it was in a getting rotten creating a perfect ecosystem for this orchid to survive)

I did some research and found a lot of interesting facts about it.

1) This orchid do not have a common name: The closest one can get is someone sells this orchid bulb in Ebay by the name: Terrestrial Ground Orchid - Eulophia Graminea

2) Its native around the South East Asia region but considered as an invasive plant, spreading fast in Pacific Islands, Australia & some parts of US. (Florida) People there are encouraged to pull it out when they see this one in their yard. (Not sure how true is this)

3) There is a lot information in the Orchid Forums about this plant but somehow there is a lot of things are still in the research & study stage.

4) This orchid may need some help in the rooting system, especially some mirofungus or something. If you do decide to keep this plant and found it growing by drain side or somewhere, do take it together with its soil composition, I had found it twice earlier - one growing on wood chips and another time on sandy area but was unable to take the plant as it was out of reach.
It was found that they thrive in mulching materials - many of this plant found growing in that medium.

5) One beautiful thing about this orchid is that it gives out leafless inflorescence with many pretty flowers. I'm still captivated by those tiny little flower bells standing tall in my garden.

6) There have been a mystery how these seedpod (fruit) occurs - whether they self seed or pollinated. The pollinator is now still remains a mystery.

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" closer than this" and the flower is inside my camera lens.

That's difficult was for me to get this macro shot.

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This plant is now 3 weeks old in my garden and doing fine. I was afraid that it may not survive in a new environment. It had recently shoot out a stalk for flowering. Glad I rescued this one before this plant gets killed or eaten.

The Child of Wood

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Pinocchio was not made from this, nor its a Marigold plant.
Rather is deceptive looking Wormwood which is so elusively
made its way in confusing me for identification.
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Its young shoots look like this, later they tend to turn into a needle like pine, fennel looking plant.
I had planted it together with my variegated lucky bamboo placed in a shady area but it didn't do well and went leggy all over. I had trimmed it but had left few of its main branch in the soil.
These are the new sprouts from it.
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I was asked about its taste.
When I pinched to taste it, the aroma of minty lemon fragrance filled my nose and it tasted very much like basil at first, very much later, I felt like its oil essence remained at my lower taste bud with its balmy bitterness.

It was nice but I would prefer the fragrance much better than its taste.