This cultural history of the orchid includes 60 colour plates of antique orchid illustrations by such botanical illustrators as Martin J. Heade, Lucien Linden and Walter Hood Fitch. Each illustration is accompanied by a brief history of the artist.
Important entrepreneurs have become fanatic collectors of orchids. It is not unusual, then, for even a master photographer like Fabio Petroni to be so deeply struck. He decided to portray them in still-lifes, to present us with close-ups, macros, and details of great charm and appeal.
A fabulous work. Highly recommended., Library Journal Orchids were brought to Europe from the tropics and subtropics beginning in the 17th century, and by 1839, English plant nurseries were selling 1,600 different kinds of the flower. Long prized for their exotic beauty and astonishing variety, orchids are the royal family of the plant kingdom. The story of this flower, from the hunt for new varieties in the wild in the 1800s to the development of the more than 100,000 hybrids that exist today, is related in fascinating detail in Orchids. This beautiful book features text by one of the world's foremost orchid authorities alongside spectacular watercolor portraits of prize-winning orchids from the Royal Horticultural Society in London, which spearheaded orchid cultivation in Western Europe beginning in the 19th century. This exquisite collection of paintings commissioned by the RHS every year since 1897 represents the ultimate orchid pictorial history. Now in a reduced format, Orchids is an indispensable sourcebook for those captivated by the beauty and infinite variety of this glamorous flower.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK A modern classic of personal journalism, The Orchid Thief is Susan Orlean’s wickedly funny, elegant, and captivating tale of an amazing obsession. Determined to clone an endangered flower—the rare ghost orchid Polyrrhiza lindenii—a deeply eccentric and oddly attractive man named John Laroche leads Orlean on an unforgettable tour of America’s strange flower-selling subculture, through Florida’s swamps and beyond, along with the Seminoles who help him and the forces of justice who fight him. In the end, Orlean—and the reader—will have more respect for underdog determination and a powerful new definition of passion. In this new edition, coming fifteen years after its initial publication and twenty years after she first met the “orchid thief,” Orlean revisits this unforgettable world, and the route by which it was brought to the screen in the film Adaptation, in a new retrospective essay. Look for special features inside. Join the Random House Reader’s Circle for author chats and more. Praise for The Orchid Thief “Stylishly written, whimsical yet sophisticated, quirkily detailed and full of empathy . . . The Orchid Thief shows [Orlean’s] gifts in full bloom.”—The New York Times Book Review “Fascinating . . . an engrossing journey [full] of theft, hatred, greed, jealousy, madness, and backstabbing.”—Los Angeles Times “Orlean’s snapshot-vivid, pitch-perfect prose . . . is fast becoming one of our national treasures.”—The Washington Post Book World “Orlean’s gifts [are] her ear for the self-skewing dialogue, her eye for the incongruous, convincing detail, and her Didion-like deftness in description.”—Boston Sunday Globe “A swashbuckling piece of reporting that celebrates some virtues that made America great.”—The Wall Street Journal
Orchids of Asiadiscusses the fundamental principles of cultivating orchids, from lowland species that are native to Asia to imported orchids that are now commonplace in nurseries and gardens throughout the region. The author, an expert grower and experienced judge, introduces the plant's natural habitats and growth requirements, particularly those that form the backbone of popular hybrids. For the orchid grower, several chapters explain the practical aspects of orchid growing, including the eradication of diseases and pests. For the enthusiast, there are comprehensive chapters on hybridisation and a new chapter on orchid mutation - a brand new avenue for orchid growers and hybridisers alike. In addition, a well-illustrated chapter on the appreciation of orchid flowers gives insight into what constitutes and award-worthy orchid. Lavishly illustrated with over 500 photographs, the orchid species in this new third edition span a century of orchid hybridisation in Asia.
John Day was one of the richest and most famous orchid growers in Europe. No amateur of his time possessed a greater knowledge of orchids. Day illustrated over 2,300 orchids, bound together in 53 scrapbooks. These illustrations now form one of the most important botanical archives in the world. The Day collection includes the earliest
An extensive, easy-to-read guide to growing healthy orchids again and again, perfect for beginners, as well as experts looking for new tricks. Orchids are more popular than ever but can be intimidating in their exotic beauty. In this start-to-finish guide, acclaimed orchid expert Bruce Rogers demystifies the growing process so you can watch your plants thrive and bloom year after year. The Orchid Whisperer outlines: · How to buy orchids: What to look for, how to get the most for your money, and what questions to ask for · Essentials for orchid care: Watering, fertilizing, repotting, and common myths · Popular easy-to-grow orchid types and what to know about them · Creative decorating ideas: Choosing containers, displaying orchids, and how to create centerpieces and garlands · And much more Packed with expert advice and helpful tips and featuring more than one hundred beautiful color photographs of breathtaking plants, The Orchid Whisperer is a must-have for orchid lovers of every stripe. Praise for The Orchid Whisperer “In layman’s language, Rogers shares his recommendations for plant selection, repotting, watering, and fertilizing most of the tropicals you will find at local markets. Sections such as “Orchid True and False” and “Location, Location, Location” share practical advice with a splash of humor.” —Marin Independent Journal “An eminently intelligent and attractive book for beginning orchid growers. Rogers’ language is engaging and humorous, and strikes the right balance between being easy to read and needing a science degree to understand. . . . The Orchid Whisperer is one to put on the holiday list for novice orchidists.” —Orchids