Enjoy an amazing __orchid photo tour of RHS Garden Wisley, south of London. Expert photography captures sights from the garden’s tropical glasshouse. It’s easy to spot the brilliant colors of the orchids popping out of the lush, steamy jungle display. RHS Garden Wisley is one of the most popular gardens in Britain, and covers 240 acres (97 hectares) in Surrey.
I’ve blogged several times about the world’s most delicious orchid, vanilla. But did you know that there are other edible orchids? One of the most popular __orchid foods is salep, or sahlep. In Turkey and the lands of the former Ottoman Empire, the roots of Mediterranean orchids are milled into flour, and added to ice cream in warm weather, and hot drinks in wintertime.
Salep is traditionally made from the tubers, or thickened roots, of the orchis family. The Early Purple Orchid, or Orchis mascula, is one of the most common sources. Harvested from wild __orchid populations, the tubers are made into starchy flour. This is added to water or milk to make ice cream, and flavored with pistachio, apricot, vanilla, or peach. When added to hot water or milk, it’s often flavored with cinnamon.
I’ve never had the opportunity to try salep, but others describe it as tasting sweet, nutty, and earthy. orchid ice cream has an elastic texture that stays frozen longer than regular ice cream. In the videos below, salep vendors in Turkey entertain their customers.
To learn more, check out this authentic salep recipe. You can also read a tale of buying salep in Turkey, including a photo of dried orchid tubers. Salon explores orchid ice cream and salep’s Turkish birthplace.
,Once upon a time which is the first collection of Il était The Vernis, the indie brand launched by two fabulous bloggers French nails - Vernis en Folie and De tout et de rien. The brand launched in late 2014 and has gone from strength to strength with two new collections of colors and a range of nail added to the list since. What really attracts me to this brand is fascinating and approach completion "something for everyone" every collection.
Each nail Il était The Vernis is 5-free and vegan. Designed and manufactured in France, Australia, I can safely say that this is one of the most impressive collections I have ever seen. All five of these shadows blew me away when I laid eyes on them. There are 4 dispersed holographic nail and a bright gold (also holographic) glitter. All holos has an incredibly bright and smooth to apply gelatinous consistency that makes while brightness is dense enough to provide a complete or perfect cover takes another shadow as an ornament. Let's take a closer look ...
- 3 Coats + Top Coat
Let's dive right into the show-stopper! More than words is a beautiful fuchsia shade devastatingly filled with holographic particles and bright pink spots. The super brightness is strong with this one, but I always add a top coat for durability. Even my favorite rose at a time and my choice of collection.
- 3 Coats + Top Coat
If you're looking for a royal blue with a twist, look no further than Crush on Blue. Smooth application in 3 coats.
- 3 Coats + Top Coat
Light Box has a slightly thicker formula than the others but it was smooth enough to apply without any issues. There's something very luxurious about a black holographic and the blue flecks are a genius touch.
- 3 Thin Coats Over Bare Nails + Top Coat
With three coats of Live, Love, Laugh on my naked nails, there are still a few spots where you can see through but only if you look very closely. With all that light bouncing around, the naked spots are invisible to the naked eye and it looks just like you dipped your nails in glitter!
- 3 Coats + Top Coat
No Comment is a very summery shade and one of those in-between shades that's hard to describe so I'll just let the pictures do most of the talking. I wouldn't quite class this as a coral but perhaps a bright red with orange tendencies!
Once Upon a Time is available for a limited time from Il Etait Un Vernis Shop (in France) and their International Stockists (for everywhere else in the world). RRP €12.90 (~$14.25 / £9.50).
Looking to relax? How about a calming visit to floating __orchid forest? Tokyo’s Miraikan Museum has just what you need. As guests walk though the exhibit in the video below, computers gently raise and lower thousands of living orchids hanging from the ceiling. It’s reminiscent of the lush beauty of Avatar, and I’m sure it’s full of wonderful fragrances, too.
If you can emerge from the trance of this dreamy video, you may notice that these orchids are bare-root, not potted at all. Hanging in the air is very familiar for these air plants, although they are typically attached to trees, not the ceiling. As long as they have water, good humidity, and a little fertilizer, this exhibit could continue to live, grow, and bloom indefinitely. However, this floating dance of flowers, leaves, and roots only runs until May 10th. Read more about the exhibit here.
,Take a peek at the secret life of orchids in the short video below. Smithsonian Ecologist Melissa McCormick explains how much wild orchids need fungi to survive. Many types of plants exchange nutrients with fungi, but orchids cheat this symbiotic relationship by eating their fungi instead. Fortunately, a little fertilizer will suffice with your orchids at home.
And don’t miss the detailed, 3D image of an Embreea __orchid at Smithsonian Science! You can investigate the virtual flower from different angles. Click on the menu in the upper left of the 3D image to find a guided tour of __orchid flower parts.
,Orchids are full of surprises.With incredibly diverse shapes, colors, and fragrances, it’s hard to believe that these flowers are actually related to one another. No other flowering plant family has such rich palettes and fascinating designs. These examples from the recent Pacific __orchid Expo certainly prove my point.
Many of these lesser-known varieties are the ones which give orchids their fussy reputations. Growing them demands exacting conditions to match tropical climates, with precise temperatures, high humidity, and pure water. Fortunately, events like the Pacific orchid Expo let me enjoy these remarkable flowers without all that hard work. I hope you enjoy them, too.
As I continue to sort through our pictures from this year’s Pacific __orchid Expo, I’m finding lots of great shots. Here are some of Dave’s photos. They’re wonderful examples of the stunning diversity of the __orchid family, which goes far beyond what’s for sale at the supermarket. With their brilliant colors and strange shapes, these flowers never fail to impress.
You can eat Flower
Orchids on the Rocks
Four Gentlemen on a Flowerpot
Miltassia - (MILTONIA x BRASSIA HYBRID)
A Beautiful Coelia Orchid
How To Grow Orchids Cattleya
Orchid Care and Maintenance : Falling Orchid Flower Buds
How To Keep Orchids Alive
IL ETAIT UN VERNIS: ONCE UPON A TIME COLLECTION SWATCHES
Orchids for Dessert
