Garden Photo of the Day

A Perfect Addition to the Gray of Winter

Orchids brighten the darkest days

By GPOD Contributor
close up of bright orange orchid

Today Gail Bromer is sharing a method to brighten up the winter months.

I started to collect orchids 30 years ago and still have several plants from those early years. I am a survival-of-the-fittest collector and don’t know most of their names, but I love to have their color, particularly during winter. Various orchids bloom throughout the year. Orchids bloom for long periods of time. I have one blooming now that was a gift in June and is still going strong.

When we bought our new home seven years ago, we built in a plant area. I have a 10-foot window that faces southwest. It may not be a perfect light situation, but it’s what I have available. I water once a week and turn the heat down to 65° overnight in the winter. In the summer all the plants go outside onto a covered deck.

If you’ll let me, I’ll share some of my pictures without identifying them. I urge everyone to bring orchids home and enjoy their long bloom time. These days you can buy an orchid for the same price as cut flowers at the supermarket. Or you can search out your specialty grower and enjoy something a little more unusual.

various potted orchids in front of a windowThese are blooming today.

close up of bright orange orchidThis plant is 25 years old. I gave it to my father-in-law as a gift, and he returned it to me when he didn’t have any luck getting it to rebloom.

close up of light purple orchidThis is my 30-year-old plant.

close up of large white and pink orchid blooms Phalaenopsis are readily available at the supermarket.

close up of orchid with white flowers that have green and purple detailsI love the shape of these.

close up of light pink orchidAren’t these lovely?

close up of bright purple orchidAnother unusual shape.

close up of orchid with multicolored flowersThis was a supermarket find.

close up of bright orange and yellow orchid flowersThese bloom in the fall and complement the autumn colors of the leaves outside.

a portion of this indoor orchid collectionOne last cluster of blooms from last February

 

Have a garden you’d like to share?

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!

Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

National Wildlife Federation®: Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Other Backyard Wildlife, Expanded Second Edition (Creative Homeowner) 17 Projects & Step-by-Step Instructions to Give Back to Nature

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

From the National Wildlife Federation, the largest U.S. nonprofit conservation organization, with 6 million members and 51 state and territorial affiliated organizations. 17 step-by-step projects that everyone can do together make getting your family back to nature easy, educational, and fun. Over 200 color photos of backyard wildlife habitats and the wide variety of creatures they attract, plus step-by-step photos and illustrations for family projects. Learn wildlife-friendly practices for gardening, landscape design, supplemental feeders, birdbaths, nesting places, and more. Learn how to attract backyard pollinators, from bees and butterflies to beetles, bats, and hummingbirds Get your garden certified by the National Wildlife Federation's Garden for Wildlife(TM) program by following the included certification application checklist.
Buy at Amazon

The Regenerative Landscaper: Design and Build Landscapes That Repair the Environment

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

2024 Nautilus Award Gold Medal Winner! This awe-inspiring guide weaves together permaculture design, food resiliency, climate adaptation, community organizing, and indigenous wisdom that you can implement in your own backyard.
Buy at Amazon

isYoung Birdlook® Smart Bird Feeder with Camera

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Upgraded Dual Granary Bird Feeder. G11 Smart Bird Feeder with Camera – The upgraded dual granary design allows for separate food dispensing, giving birds the freedom to choose while preserving the food’s original taste. With a 2L extra-large capacity, it reduces the need for frequent refills. The drainage design ensures the food stays dry and prevents spoilage from rain. Ideal as a camera bird feeder for birdwatching enthusiasts. 2K HD Camera & Close-Up Bird Watching. Experience clear bird watching with the G11 smart bird feeder. This bird feeder with camera features a 170-degree wide-angle lens and a 1296P HD camera, ensuring vibrant images and videos. With AI-powered recognition, it can identify over 16,000 bird species (subscription required, first month free) and provides extensive birding knowledge. Its unique design helps attract more birds to your backyard. App Alerts & Super Night Vision. The smart bird feeder camera detects motion within 0.5 seconds and sends instant notifications through the "VicoHome" app. With a 2.4G Wi-Fi connection, you can view real-time updates on bird activity right from your app. The video bird feeder also features night vision, ensuring vibrant images and videos even in low light conditions. Ideal for wild bird feeders, this advanced functionality enhances your bird-watching experience day and night.
Buy at Amazon
X
View Comments

Comments

  1. gardendevas 01/23/2023

    How glorious, Gail! I received my first orchid as a generous gift from my daughter twenty-six years ago, and also became enchanted by them. I lost many when we moved to our current home, but am finally able to grow them again with the addition of dedicated grow lights. Thank you for sharing!

  2. User avater
    bdowen 01/23/2023

    What a beautiful winter garden!

  3. sheila_schultz 01/23/2023

    What an amazing collection of healthy plants and drool worthy blooms! You have apparently found the perfect locations for beautiful orchids. Wow!

  4. User avater
    simplesue 01/23/2023

    Wow your 25 years old Orange Orchid is stunning! You sure know what you're doing, you've had a lot of success with Orchids!

  5. btucker9675 01/23/2023

    Stunning!! I never have had success getting to rebloom so gave up... now you have tempted me to try again!

  6. User avater
    vanhatalosuomi 01/23/2023

    A feast for the eyes! Thank you so much for sharing !

  7. User avater
    treasuresmom 01/23/2023

    Beautiful flowers!

  8. jos29803 01/24/2023

    Now I see why people grow orchids. Beautiful and such variety.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Related Articles

The Latest

Design
Best Gardening Books with Fresh Perspectives to Inspire and Instruct

Whether you're drawn to native trees, inventive garden designs, or sustainable landscaping, the right book can transform your gardening practice. This collection of must-read titles offers fresh insights for gardeners…
Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants
Episode 171: Deer-Resistant Plants  

One deer can do major landscape damage overnight, and if a herd regularly visits your garden you may feel like giving up. Although almost no plant is completely safe if…
Pacific Northwest Regional Reports
Deter Trespassers with These Plants for Home Security

In my neighborhood, there is a lot of chatter between neighbors about home security. We watch and look for strangers that may be up to mischief, let each other know…

Video

View All Videos
Design

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping—not because you’re likely to trip on something, but because you might be dive-bombed by a pair…
Design

4 Midsummer Favorites From a Plant Breeder's Garden
Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 171: Deer-Resistant Plants  
Design

Garden Tour of a Sustainable Native Plant Oasis Bursting with Fall Color
Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 170: High-Impact Native Plants with Uli Lorimer