They were made to flourish. Nothing else matters to an orchid. The leaves are of little interest, the bulb does not have beauty, and the roots are exposed and discreet. Then, once a year, the miracle happens: they explode in colours and beauty.
It is at this moment that the orchid lover sees all its efforts rewarded. Nothing else matters. All orchids teach the difference and the diversity, from the very small flower of a Maxillaria vitelliniflora to the enormous Sobralia macrantha. The beauty is exactly that, learning to observe that many possibilities.
This observation has been a part of Valerio’s Romahn life, a brazilian flower photographer. All the images of 101 Orchids – Secrets of Cultivation are his. A work that Valerio has been doing for the last 15 years, and that now appears in this volume.
Each picture has a beautiful story. The Dendrobium jonesii, presented in the picture below, also has it. It was acquired by Valerio 12 years ago and the first time that it flourished was a short time ago. Then, he immediately photographed it for our book.
Those who love orchids consider all this natural. They know that they cannot be hasted. The orchids can delay to flourish, but when that happens, we are taken to believe that the waiting was worthwile.