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Published on Friday, August 13, 2021
 By Victoria Torley Now we come to those other tricky places in your newly planted yard. Places where you want something different, something special, something unusual. Don’t worry, we’ve got it covered. What you want there are native orchids. Most of our native orchids are epiphytes which means they love to hangout on trees, sometimes rock faces, and can often be found in hanging baskets. So, what’s so great about orchids? Elden had tried moving at night, but the scrub was too dangerous. He needed the sun to see where he was going, but the sun sucked the water from him. Native orchids need little care – the right placement and occasional fertilizer. Don’t let anyone tell you that orchids are hard to grow. Pick the ones that enjoy your particular climate, and we have plenty of climates, and they will do just fine. And – if you thought orchids looked like the one your mom received as a corsage on Mother’s Day, forget it.  This is the Brassia caudata orchid with its long hanging petals. This is an outstanding orchid for a hanging pot. Look for them at the local feria. Do you want a fragrant orchid? Hold on to your hat! You will be blown away by the Gongora orchids which have a scent of allspice and clove. Have a Gongora in bloom near the house and your friends will sniff the air and ask which air freshener you are using or if you’re baking something. Show them the flower, and they will tell you that it can’t be an orchid! Well, it certainly doesn’t look like an orchid.
Large growers like La Garita Central (one of my favorite places) will have cultivated orchids and, while lovely, they are not for your yard. They are not native and need more specialized conditions. The national plant of Costa Rica is an orchid, the Cattleya skinneri and can be seen with both large and small blossoms. This is the only Cattleya native to Costa Rica and has purple blooms that look like the orchids we are familiar with. Then there is the genus Oncidium, usually seen as the Oncidium stenotis the ‘golden shower’ orchid. It can trail its inflorescence for up to nine feet making an amazing display hanging from a tree branch or in a large pot. So, there we are. A yard full of native Costa Rican plants. Now you can squeeze in those fruit trees you want to plant. I suggest La Garita Central if you are near San José or the Cocobolo Tree Farm if you are closer to Liberia. ------------------- Editor's note: More information on this article, Ms. Victoria Torley, gardener columnist, can be reached at victoriatorley1@gmail.com  Real Estate For Sale
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