Orchidelirium

Those wacky Dutch went through their tulip mania phase in the 17th century with tales of fortunes being traded for a single bulb. Apparently, the Brits experienced their own version of flower frenzy ~ as Victorian England went bonkers collecting new varieties of orchids. Given that orchids grow in every habitat (except for desert and glacier) those collectors must have traveled to the ends of the earth.
Orchid madness is alive and well today ~ although the enthusiasts that I’ve run into seem like reasonable folk and not at all the sort that would kidnap your flower. But they sure know what they like!


Of all the botanical designs I’ve ever created, the orchids are always the ones that disappear first at a show. I always regret not having more to offer but the roots and details are so darned intricate it puts a limit on the number I can do without succumbing to my own form of orchid madness. This is one of my favorite pieces from my most series of orchid designs.

Click on the picture to enlarge. You can see a few more examples of this design by visiting my Orchid Set on Flickr.