The Florida Ghost Orchid (picture credit Mike Fournier)
There was a story in the news yesterday, that prompted me to introduce you to a plant here in Florida that is so rare, that people from all over the Globe come here hoping to see it, some even come hoping to steal it.
Few succeed at either.
This deliciously rare and stunning beauty, is called the Ghost Orchid and it only grows deep in a swamp in South Florida on ancient trees, which makes it extremely difficult to experience in person.
A word of advice, the Ghost will not grow on your front porch in a pot, so unless you can replicate the exact conditions where it lives here, please don’t murder it needlessly, it will not survive if you take it home.
A dedicated Florida Wildlife Officer has made the safety and security of the Ghost his mission in life, along with also watching over the most endangered mammal in America, the Florida Panther.
Ask me if would I love to have his job, you bet, in a heart beat.
He is the luckiest person on the Planet, in my opinion.
So now, about the Ghost Orchid, as some of you may know, I have a little web site called Gator Woman and one of its pages, is especially devoted to this spectacular flower/plant.
This page, by the way is the single most visited one on the entire web site!
My hope is that some, or perhaps many of you, will go and read about our Ghost Orchid.
Its stunning beauty has inspired a book, a movie and legions of hunters, followers and admirers from around the world.
There are simply not enough adjectives to describe its beauty, ethereal is often used, my personal choice is breathtaking.
So dear readers, come meet the Ghost Orchid, I promise you will be enraptured by its beauty: The Ghost Orchid
Reblogged this on bearspawprint and commented:
Florida Ghost~ http://www.gator-woman.com/orchid.html Gator Woman http://www.gator-woman.com/ Wonderful articles
you are right ..there is not an adjective that can describe the beauty of the Florida Ghost Orchid..what a delicate flower. Maybe Florida should adopt it as the emblem for the county flag…..something to be well proud of
It is gorgeous isn’t it.
We would love to go and trek through the swamps to see it, but they do not, for very good reason, allow dogs there.
So, we will not see it in person because of the promise that we made to Breanna that we would never leave her.
And, what a terrific idea about the flag~
This is an amazing flower! It’s so delicate looking!
Yes, it is truly amazing~
Beautiful! k.
Thank you. It is spectacular~
exquisite and so beautiful! thank you for sharing. the florida ghost reminds me of the rare lady slipper, so lovely to find in the woods. http://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/chiwonlee/plsc211/student%20papers/articles11/Kaitlin%20Worms/char.html
It is so extremely rare and beautiful, that I wanted all of you to know about it~
The epitome of human selfishness. Destroy something that can only live in its natural environment…. I wonder if I’ve seen it in my deep-swamp hikes, and never knew it, lol. Watching where I step with gators and snakes and whatnot. 🙂
Agree completely with you.
If you ever did see it, you would know, trust me~
to be in the presence of such graceful beauty…!*sigh*
I would love to have his job in less than a heartbeat….
I saw an olde black and white photograph..years ago when I owned a nursery….took my breath away
Thank you for sharing both plights ….
Take Care…
)0(
ladyblue