Anniversary |
Popular in floristry, fresh cut orchids are
now available in many varieties - most commonly dendrobium and
cymbidium. Phaleanopsis is another common orchid, although it is more
often sold as a potted plant, rather than a cut flower. It is however,
when cut, perfect for wedding bouquets with its flawless white petals.
Orchids are the largest and most diverse of the flowering plant
families, with over 800 described genera and over 25,000 species. There
are another 100,000+ hybrids and cultivars produced by
horticulturalists, created since the introduction of tropical species in
the 19th century.
With a reputation for being quite expensive, orchids are often
overlooked - both by people buying flowers as a gift, and people buying
flowers for the home. A single orchid stem however, in a sleek glass
vase, is all you need for a stunning and contemporary arrangement. A
single stem should cost no more than a few stems of a cheaper flower
variety, and will provide much more "wow factor!"
Currently, the orchid is grown for one purpose and one purpose only; its
beauty... with one exception - vanilla! First cultivated in Central
America for flavouring, it was introduced to other parts of the world in
the 1800s where it is still used today for the same purpose.
Vanilla is now an important crop in much of the tropics, with Madagascar
being the leading producer. Madagascar last year produced 3 million
metric tons of vanilla! That's almost half of the world’s total vanilla
production for 2005. |
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