{"id":6354,"date":"2014-03-14T18:50:31","date_gmt":"2014-03-15T01:50:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=6354"},"modified":"2014-03-12T13:17:19","modified_gmt":"2014-03-12T20:17:19","slug":"the-wild-and-wonderful-world-of-orchids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=6354","title":{"rendered":"The Wild and Wonderful World of Orchids"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Laelia<\/a>

Laelia orchid Splendid Spire \u201cRose Midnight\u201d from Santa Barbara Orchid Estate. Photo by Chuck Place.<\/p><\/div>\n

Photographs by Chuck Place |\u00a0<\/strong>Story by Leslie Dinaberg<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>The flowers themselves are not the only lavishly colorful component in the exotic\u00a0 jungle of the orchid universe. Photographer Chuck Place<\/a>\u2014an avid grower of\u00a0 cymbidiums and an eager chronicler of quirkiness\u2014takes us on a lush visual\u00a0 journey through the wild and wonderful world of orchids.<\/h4>\n

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\"Lynn<\/a>

Lynn Pettigrew prepping a special cymbidium for the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show. Photo by Chuck Place.<\/p><\/div>\n

Meet the Collectors<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIf roses are the flower of romance, then orchids are the flower of passion. Collectors through the years have risked life, limb and incarceration in their quest for yet another rare orchid to add to their hoard.\u201d\u2014Zoological Society of\u00a0 San Diego.<\/p>\n

The largest family of flowering plants, orchids are found on every continent except Antarctica. Among the many local orchid collectors whom Place photographed, he says that Don Brown \u201cis like one of the godfathers of local collectors and growers.<\/p>\n

\"Don<\/a>

Don Brown grows a variety of orchids using a reverse osmosis system to provide pure water. Photo by Chuck Place.<\/p><\/div>\n

He\u2019s extremely knowledgeable. Hugely so. He\u2019s got an international reputation.\u201d A retired UCSB anthropology professor, Brown has several greenhouses and grows a wide range of orchids using a reverse osmosis system to provide pure water. Like all of the collectors shown here, he is also an avid competitor.<\/p>\n

\"Bill<\/a>

Bill Robson holding an Odontoglossum Yellow Parade orchid hybrid. Photo by Chuck Place.<\/p><\/div>\n

Lynn Pettigrew (in plaid) is shown prepping a special cymbidium for the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show<\/a>. \u201cHe has so many cymbidiums, his collection has expanded to a friend\u2019s backyard\u2026he picks up hybrids at various orchid shows and just keeps building his stock that way. But essentially every time he brings in new plants, he has to give away some because he needs the space,\u201d says Place.<\/p>\n

Bill Robson (in green), shown in his shade house holding an Odontoglossum Yellow Parade orchid hybrid, is the former manager of Gallup & Stribling Orchids<\/a> Visitor\u2019s Center and what Place describes as \u201canother highly knowledgable expert,\u201d along with Paul Gripp, the former owner of Santa Barbara Orchid Estate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"(L-R)<\/a>

(L-R) Curator of Malacology at Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Daniel L. Geiger, Ph.D. ; micro orchids; Recently germinated cymbidium orchid seedlings are transferred to flasks at the orchid seedling facility at Gallup & Stribling Orchids. ; The next step in the process, cymbidium orchid seedlings germinate in flasks at the orchid seedling facility at Gallup & Stribling Orchids. All Photos by Chuck Place.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Science<\/strong><\/p>\n

Orchids thrive in many different types of environments, including the climate-controlled world of the laboratory.<\/p>\n

As Curator of Malacology at Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History<\/a>, Daniel L. Geiger,<\/a> Ph.D. has a unique advantage as an avid collector and grower of micro orchids. His job affords him access to scanning electron microscopes and focus stacking software to photograph these tiny orchids, because they are very difficult to see, says Place, as evidenced by the mounted specimens of micro orchids being prepared for viewing in a scanning electron microscope. \u201cI don\u2019t think these micro orchids are any harder to grow than any other kind,\u201d says Place. \u201cThey\u2019re all on bark.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The Orchid Show<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Lynn Pettigrew shows one of his prize-winning cymbidium orchids from the 68th Santa Barbara International Orchid Show. Photo by Chuck Place.<\/p><\/div>\n

With a theme of \u201cComplements and Contrasts,\u201d the 69th Santa Barbara International Orchid Show is March 14\u201316\u00a0 at Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real,\u00a0 sborchidshow.com.<\/a><\/p>\n

The oldest and one of the largest orchid shows in the country, this year\u2019s Orchid Show showcases all of the many beautiful and exotic orchids from around the world. Featuring exhibits and floral arrangements by top local, regional and international growers, as well as vendors from all over the United States, South America and Asia, offering thousands of blooming orchid plants for sale, the show also offers demonstrations and lectures on orchid culture and related topics, says spokesperson Tammy Guerra.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Visitors enjoy the colorful beauty of thousands of blooming orchid plants at the 68th Santa Barbara International Orchid Show. Photo by Chuck Place.<\/p><\/div>\n

In keeping with the theme, orchid displays showcase unusual contrasts and stunning complements and show how, while different, they can look beautiful when brought together as a whole. Competition is also an important component of the Orchid Show.<\/p>\n

The Artist<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Artist Suemae Lin Willhite. Photo by Chuck Place.<\/p><\/div>\n

Artist Suemae Lin Willhite<\/a> brings focus to the art of the orchid with her\u00a0 dramatic Chinese brush paintings, often inspired by the thriving orchids\u00a0 in her own back yard.<\/p>\n

Willhite, who teaches Chinese calligraphy and brush painting, gives demonstrations of brush painting techniques at the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show. An award-winning artist with more than 40 years of experience in Chinese brush painting and calligraphy, her work can be seen in local galleries and is inspired by her grandfather, a well-known Chinese artist in Taiwan. Orchids\u2014which symbolize grace and elegance in Chinese brush painting\u2014are frequent subjects for Willhite\u2019s artistry. Drawing her ideas from nature and spiritual inspirations, she says she paints, when inspired by a vision in her mind\u2019s eye from a wide range of subjects and compositions, with a unique style of Chinese impressionism, abstract and her own fusion of East meets West. She paints with a joyful harmony that is apparent in her work as well as in the classes she teaches. For more information about Willhite, visit suemaeart.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Discover the Orchid Trail<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"This<\/a>

This cymbidium orchid was grown by Lynn Pettigrew. Photo by Chuck Place.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Santa Barbara International Orchid Show comes but once a year, but the diverse beauty of orchids is in full flower year-round along the California Orchid Trail<\/a>. The area between the rugged Santa Ynez Mountains and the calm seas of the Pacific has seeded an industry that now produces more orchids than any other region in the country.<\/p>\n

Five out of the seven growers on the California Orchid Trail are in Santa Barbara County (the others are in Malibu and Oxnard). From north to south, the local growers are:<\/p>\n

Cal-Orchid, Inc.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Owners James and Lauris Rose keep a diverse inventory, reflecting the interests of not only the current marketplace, but also their many trips made to foreign locales, where James uses his sharp eye for the unusual to spot new treasures. Open 9 a.m.\u20134 p.m. Monday\u2013Saturday. 1251 Orchid Dr., Santa Barbara. 805\/967-1312, calorchid.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Dendrobium<\/a>

Dendrobium orchids from Santa Barbara Orchid Estate. Photo by Chuck Place.<\/p><\/div>\n

Santa Barbara Orchid Estate<\/strong><\/p>\n

Located on five acres of beautiful coastal Santa Barbara, the orchid estate is just 500 feet from the Pacific Ocean. Founded by Robert J. Chrisman, a legendary orchid grower, and now owned by Parry and Alice Gripp, the estate is one of the world\u2019s foremost collectors and propagators of orchid species and hybrids, specializing in outdoor temperature-tolerant varieties. Open 8 a.m.\u20134:30 p.m. Monday\u2013Saturday and 11 a.m.\u20134 p.m. Sundays. 1250 Orchid Dr., Santa Barbara. 805\/967-1284, sborchid.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Miltonia<\/a>

Miltonia orchids, or pansy orchids, from Gallup & Stribling Orchids in Carpinteria. Photo by Chuck Place.<\/p><\/div>\n

Gallup & Stribling Orchids<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gallup & Stribling\u2019s home farm occupies 48 acres in Carpinteria, making it one of the largest in the country. With more than 1.5 million square feet of greenhouse space, it is a state-of-the-art breeding, growing and distribution facility. Open 10 a.m.\u20135 p.m. Monday\u2013Friday and 8:30 a.m.\u20135 p.m. Saturday\u2013Sunday. 3450 Via Real, Carpinteria. 805\/684-1998, gallup-stribling.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Orchids Royale<\/strong><\/p>\n

Orchids Royale grows mostly cymbidiums, but also paphiopedilums, miltonias and odontoglossums. They maintain 70,000 square feet of temperature-controlled greenhouses. Open by appointment. 5902 Via Real, Carpinteria. 805\/684-8066.<\/p>\n

\"Laelia<\/a>

Laelia orchid from Santa Barbara Orchid Estate.Photo by Chuck Place.<\/p><\/div>\n

Westerlay Orchids<\/strong><\/p>\n

Joe Overgaag founded Westerlay Orchids following his emigration from the Netherlands to Carpinteria. Later, he earned the distinction of being among the first in the nation to widely apply hydroponic growing technology to flowers. Winter hours: 8 a.m.\u20134:30 p.m. Monday\u2013Friday and 10 a.m.\u20133 p.m. Saturdays. Regular hours (daylight savings): 8 a.m.\u20135 p.m. Monday\u2013Friday\u00a0 and 10 a.m.\u20135 p.m. Saturdays. 3504 Via Real, Carpinteria. 805\/684-5411, westerlayorchids.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Originally published in the Spring 2014 issue of\u00a0Santa Barbara SEASONS Magazine<\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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