Flowers of our Travels

ORCHIDS •

Orchidaceae

Orchids have a mystique that seems to set them apart from most other flowers. They are elegant and almost unreal in their perfection. Even though orchids are one of the largest flowering plant families, every orchid species has a unique look. Orchids of some type can be seen nearly everywhere in the world -- indoors, in gardens or in the wild.

Uses

Vanilla is the only fruit-bearing member of the orchid family. The flower that produces the vanilla bean lasts only one day. The beans are hand-picked and then cured, wrapped, and dried in a process that takes 4 to 6 months. After saffron, vanilla is the most expensive spice in the world. Indigenous to southeastern Mexico.

Native to

THE HIMALAYAS • THE PHILIPPINES