An Orchid Secret Garden

Last Tuesday, down the hill and around the corner to a piece of paradise was my destination.  I had heard
that the owner's orchids were in bloom.  However, until I stepped through the opening to the area where the
orchids were in huge pots surrounding a small, round swimming pool, I would never have imagined such a
sight.

 Luckily, since I live so close, I arrived a little early for the garden club meeting.  I wandered through all the various gardens and ended up where we were going to hear a talk by the man who started the Orchid Club
in San Miguel, Jim Roberts.

 Stunning does not begin to describe the beauty of this secret garden.  Surrounding the pool were
very large pots full to brimming with orchids.  The orchids were about four to five feet high! Incredible.

The gardener was introduced prior to the program and was asked about growing the orchids.  He started with one small plant and divided that plant and subsequent plants for several years.  When asked what he
uses for fertilizer, he says he uses bananas that are so old their skin is black.  The bananas are stuffed down onto the orchid bulb in the pot.  All I can surmise is that the bananas are providing some chemical or potassium that makes the orchids grow like this.

We asked the owner of the house if they move all these pots when it is winter.  No, nothing.  We do get nights in the high 20's often in December and January!  My thought is that the humidity and warmth of the water in the pool protects and enhances the orchids.

As I sat listening to the speaker and the meeting, seriously, I felt this wonderful serenity.  Could it have
been from the orchids or the setting that was exquisitely beautiful?  Probably so.

Don't forget you can click on the photos to enlarge them!  Enjoy.