indoors

This time of year is the summer doldrums, or what I call Albuquerque's second winter. Although there are some things blooming outdoors, most of the native plants have gone dormant in the heat and dry. Occasionally the monsoons moisten things, and plants such as Penstemon ambiguus (sand penstemon) burst into bloom. Some designer has planted Leucophyllum in some of the medians, and that is covered with bloom after the rains. But even so, it is only comfortable to go out in the heat in the early morning. I shouldn't complain. It's not too bad in the shade, and this is downright cool compared to Phoenix or Palm Springs. Like the main winter, it is a good time to have indoor plants, and for me, indoor plants mean orchids.

Doritis pulcherrima (above) is a close relative to the Phalaenopsis (moth orchid) that you see in the grocery store. In fact, is is interbred with Phalaenopsis to impart deeper colors. The flowers are only an inch across, however, and are produced sparely at the ends of long spindly stems. The delicacy of the flowering stems is contrasted with the sturdy thick broad leaves, making the plant look somewhat incongruous and awkward. Still, it is a pleasure to grow, and performs much more admirably in this climate than Phalaenopsis hybrids.

Brassavola nodosa (below) is called the Lady-of-the-night orchid, because it becomes fragrant at night. Last year, mine was pollinated by a night moth, though I removed the seed capsule.