HARDY ORCHIDS 



Considering the beauty of many of our native Orchids, it is 

 surprising that lovers of hardy flowers do not take more kindly 

 than they have done to the Hardy Orchids, as a class. One thing 

 is quite certain, and it is that if those who have the opportunity 

 would patiently cultivate a considerable number of the hardy 

 species, both native and exotic, the success they would achieve 

 would bring them much pleasure and credit, and their methods 

 of culture would enable others to succeed. At present Hardy 

 Orchids are not much cultivated ; indeed, with the exception of 

 Cypripedium spectabile. Orchis foliosa, O. latifolia and O. maculata, 

 they are rarely found in gardens. Some of our native Orchids do 

 well on the limestone, while others are found thriving in peaty 

 bogs, but now that the Rock Garden and the Water Garden are 

 recognised features in many establishments, it ought not to be 

 difficult to find positions suitable for all the species that are worthy 

 of cultivation. 



Planting should be done as soon as the plants have died down 

 in the Autumn, and the tuberous roots should not be exposed more 

 than is absolutely necessary during the process. The half dozen 

 Hardy Orchids described below are the best for a novice to com- 

 mence with, and having obtained a fair measure of success with 

 these, he or she may proceed with other gems such as Calypso 

 BOREALis, purple; Cypripedium californicum, white; C. can- 

 DiDUM, brown and white ; C. guttatum, white and rose-purple ; 



203 



