This is paphiopedilum delenatii, the all white version, on my dresser, under my T5 grow lights. This delightful, compact slipper orchid exudes a slightly sweet fragrance. I'm enamored by the combination of the delicate flower, reminiscent of the rare North American woodland orchids, against the dark, mottled foliage.
I think the most attractive thing about slipper orchids is the beautifully curvaceous pouch that adorns the lower part of the flower. The pouch serves as a temporary trap for insects, which crawl upwards to free themselves and in doing so, pollinate the flower.
I obtained the plant last week at the NYBG Orchid Show, which is fabulous this year. Each year during the orchid show, the gift shop is filled with high quality orchids and a well curated selection of orchid supplies. This past sunday there was a frenzy of people buying the orchids, therefore, the selection was somewhat picked over. An insider tip that I obtained is that Fridays are the best days to buy orchids in the shop (they are restocked that day, and one is able to beat the weekend rush).
If you are a fan of orchids, this year's show at NYBG is not to be missed. More to come on that!
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