Purest White
by Elizabeth Winter
Title
Purest White
Artist
Elizabeth Winter
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Orchids grow on every continent except Antarctica. There are almost 90 species of orchid native to Canada, but it is the tropics and semi-tropics that produce the most spectacular species.
The plants � and especially the flowers � come in myriad shapes and sizes. Some flowers are as large as dinner plates, while others will hardly cover the head of a pin. Most are somewhere in between. When it comes to shape the variation is infinite.
Orchids can be the purest white or almost solid black (as seen below). Brilliant sky-blue is a rare colour for flowers, but it is found in some terrestrial species and Vandas. Every hue of the rainbow is represented by an orchid flower.
Orchids are becoming the most important flower in the global multi-billion dollar horticultural trade. The growth of world trade of these enchanting flowers is due to improved cultivation techniques that have led to the mass production of hybrids developed for special characteristics. Orchids are now available in most nurseries, grocery stores and home improvement stores.
Orchids teach us many things, but the most important are the two Ps: patience and perseverance. It takes patience to wait the 18 years it takes to produce some of those wonderful flowers from seed. There are 30,000 species produced by nature and hundreds of thousands of hybrids added by man.
Research into the history of and the relationship among orchid species is ongoing. Did you know that orchids are used as healing herbs in Chinese culture and that their scents, which range from sweet and savory to spicy and pungent, are important in the perfume industry? Vanilla flavour comes from the Vanilla genus of orchids found in the Americas. The Aztecs mixed it with chocolate, which they drank for strength.
Uploaded
February 28th, 2016
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Comments (20)
Gary F Richards
Spectacular Purest White Orchid composition, lighting, shading, colors and artwork! F/L voted
Deb Halloran
Elizabeth, You have certainly captured the beauty of these exquisite orchids. Gorgeous contrasts, light and details....nicely done. v/f