I went to a butterfly orchid garden in the last Sunday afternoon. There was rain earlier that day. Normally I would rather stay at home in such a crummy weather, but since it's my last weekend in Yilan, it's my last chance to pay the garden a visit.
The orchid garden is owned by my patient's son-in-law. I learned this in a chitchat with the patient, who had some lovely potted butterfly orchids in her bedside. I was intended to buy some orchids, so she invited me to drop by the garden right before her discharge.
It took me some time locating the place. For starter, I've only been to Yilan for barely one month and I worked most of the time, so apparently ain't familiar with this area. Besides, I worked on-call in the hospital the previous day and had poor sleep; I felt a bit groggy even though I've got a nap that morning.
The garden is a misnomer I'd say. It looks more like a greenhouse to me. Ha, my facial expression might betray my thoughts before I realized it. Mr Lu, my patient's son-in-law, told me purposefully the orchid garden is not for sightseeing; they're mainly doing business with merchandisers overseas.
Mr Lu is a friendly and generous chap. He allowed me to take photographs to my heart's content and told me about growing orchids and developing new species by hybridizing, which involved a lot of try and error. They experiment on colors, petal textures, blossom timing and a variety of different things. Once they got a successful hybrid (from the aspect of marketing), they are faced with another task: making clones. The funniest and riskiest part of the business lies here because one cannot predict the results perfectly well. Normally the whole process takes 5 to 6 years.
Mr Lu is very proud of Taiwan's pioneering biotechs in the development of new butterfly orchids. Even farmers who haven't received formal educations have the knowhows. Yet, on the other hand, he cannot help but whine about the government's pretentious promise of promoting the agricultural industry. He said a lot of farmers who don't have the proper marketing may sell out their hybrids to merchandisers in a much lower price than it would have been. The patent is apparently given up way too easily.
I came across with a news coverage earlier about the fact that Taiwan relinquishes its crown of butterfly orchids kindom and passes it on to Holland.
The orchid garden is owned by my patient's son-in-law. I learned this in a chitchat with the patient, who had some lovely potted butterfly orchids in her bedside. I was intended to buy some orchids, so she invited me to drop by the garden right before her discharge.
It took me some time locating the place. For starter, I've only been to Yilan for barely one month and I worked most of the time, so apparently ain't familiar with this area. Besides, I worked on-call in the hospital the previous day and had poor sleep; I felt a bit groggy even though I've got a nap that morning.
The garden is a misnomer I'd say. It looks more like a greenhouse to me. Ha, my facial expression might betray my thoughts before I realized it. Mr Lu, my patient's son-in-law, told me purposefully the orchid garden is not for sightseeing; they're mainly doing business with merchandisers overseas.
Mr Lu is a friendly and generous chap. He allowed me to take photographs to my heart's content and told me about growing orchids and developing new species by hybridizing, which involved a lot of try and error. They experiment on colors, petal textures, blossom timing and a variety of different things. Once they got a successful hybrid (from the aspect of marketing), they are faced with another task: making clones. The funniest and riskiest part of the business lies here because one cannot predict the results perfectly well. Normally the whole process takes 5 to 6 years.
Mr Lu is very proud of Taiwan's pioneering biotechs in the development of new butterfly orchids. Even farmers who haven't received formal educations have the knowhows. Yet, on the other hand, he cannot help but whine about the government's pretentious promise of promoting the agricultural industry. He said a lot of farmers who don't have the proper marketing may sell out their hybrids to merchandisers in a much lower price than it would have been. The patent is apparently given up way too easily.
I came across with a news coverage earlier about the fact that Taiwan relinquishes its crown of butterfly orchids kindom and passes it on to Holland.
"Holland is richer and more industrialized," Mr Lu frowned slightly.
But he told me he's not that pessimistic since the weather is a lot better here. The orchids stop growing when the temperatures drop below 10 degree Celsius, so while Taiwan can grow the flowers almost the whole year, Holland is unable to continue in the autum/winter.
Right before my departure, Mr Lu showed me his newest hybrid. It's a bit bluish and a bit violetish. I inquired how much it costs, but he told me it's not on the market yet.
Right before my departure, Mr Lu showed me his newest hybrid. It's a bit bluish and a bit violetish. I inquired how much it costs, but he told me it's not on the market yet.
He gave me another lovely potted orchids as a gift and welcomed me to visit the garden again.
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ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful site. The photos are marvelous and the story is interesting and well written. I hope many people will have the chance to visit your page to enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteDr. J.,
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize you had been stationed in Yilan. I spend a bit of time there each year as Yilan City is Alice's hometown. Her father has quite a collection of orchids on his roof and balconies. Though it's not his business, I think it should be. My brother-in-law also has a beautiful collection of orchids at his house here in Taichung.
I have taken more of an interest in them lately, as well. I have always enjoyed buying a few each season, but I thought they would be too difficult to keep alive for long or grow myself. Still, I would buy them just to enjoy because they are so beautiful, last longer than cut flowers and a $NT100 orchid here would cost $NT1500 where my mom lives in Canada. It seems too exquisite an opportunity to pass up. After the blooms withered, I would just leave them in my garden somewhere and forget about them.
Then I realized that many of them were blooming each year and so I started to look into how to care for them - a little reading on the net and watching my father-in-law and brother-in-law's methods.
Now I try to hang them outside on the wall in the right kind of light, water them once a week and mist them whenever I think about it and they seem to thrive. After the blooms fade away this year I want to transfer them to more open pots because the roots appreciate strong winds upon them, like in their proper habitat, up in the crooks of tall trees.
My mom took some great pictures of the orchid garden - when she sends them to me I will post them and send you the link.
If you get the chance, take the tour out to Turtle Island - it is a magical place.
Talk to you soon,
Sean
So many interesting facts about the orchids... Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteKestutis