Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

I saw this orange cymbidium orchid at the Botanic Gardens plant sale last Saturday, and thought it was very nice. Since it was one of the first things to be seen inside the courtyard as we entered the show and sale, I put it aside and we went to look at the rest of the exhibits in the courtyard and showroom.

After cruising the exhibits a bit, Damsel bought an interesting succulent for the front flowerbed. We then went out into the garden area and took a very long walk through the volunteer garden, past the cactus patch and all the way to the lake where I took the picture of the Ruby Meadowhawk.

On our way back from the lake, I couldn’t stop thinking about the orange cymbidium, and so I decided to buy it. It already has the beautiful flowers shown, and numerous stalks and pods that promise that we should have more of these in a while. Damsel took this picture after we got it home and in the patio. Click on the image for the very large view.

Today we will be going back to the South Coast Botanic Garden for a plant sale and to visit the rest of the garden.

One of the prettiest flowers growing in the Garden is this striking red and white Dahlia. I took this picture last week at the orchid show. Click for the big picture (which hardly does this beautiful flower justice – you had to be there).

Here are some interesting facts about Dahlias:

Aztecs collected or cultivated Dahlias as early as the 15th century. Flowers were depicted in cave drawings and hieroglyphics credited to the Aztecs of the 14th and possibly of the 13th century. It was used as a religious symbol and for medicinal and cultural rather than aesthetic purposes. Dahlia tubers were an important food source for the Aztecs indeed to this day. the Indians of central Mexico rely on the tubers as a valuable part of their diet. It was woven into clothing for the Royal family, warriors shields, breast plates, necklaces, etc.

The first encounter by other than the peoples of Mexico seems to be well established as made by a Spanish citizen, Francisco Hernandez who was sent to Mexico in 1570 to investigate the “natural resources of “New Spain.” The first published pictures were drawings by an Hidalgo Gentleman, Francisco Dominguez who accompanied Hernandez on at least some part of his explorations. Both the report and drawings were published at Rome, but not until 1651, about seventy five years after first produced. Prior to publication the report was translated to Latin, and later to English. Little recorded information is found concerning the next 126 years.

(Source: dahlia.org.)