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Re: [SHADEGARDENS] pink orchids?

Hello Carmel,
     Yes, the yellow orchids are easier to establish than the pink, but
then the pink requires a more specific environment. The pink lady slipper
requires a more highly acidic soil for one. Both slippers require a third
party present in the soil  to feed. I have the yellow in my garden, but
have not tried the pink to date. May in the near future since I think I
have a spot where it will thrive now. If I get the Trailing arbutus
reestablished in the garden (I made the mistake of moving mine - again)
then I will put the Pink Ladyslipper in as a combination next spring.
     you may want to try establishing some of the more common and less
showy orchids in the area where you want to plant the lady slippers. Take
some of the putty root or cranefly orchids with clumps of soil to place in
the area. Hopefully you will bring the fungus in the soil the orchids need
to feed.
    For native plants  for a winter garden I have an article on my web site
that you may want to check out. It was written for a couple of native
plants society newsletters. I had intended to do another on the non-natives
in my garden but did not get around to it. A few you may want to consider
are the Helleborus, Hardy Cyclamen. heather and Heath, Late Gentians.
For late winter - early spring there are the Trout Lilies, Dwarf Snow
Trillium, Hepatica, Spring Beauties coming into bloom now. Perennials...
Helleborus - many species and hybrids - pansy, Lung Worts, primulas. Not to
get into any of the bulbs.
Gene Bush     Southern Indiana    Zone 6a     Munchkin Nursery
          around the woods - around the world
genebush@otherside.com     http://www.munchkinnursery.com
----------
> Hi All;
>
> Thanks to those who replied about the orchids; I guess the yellow ones
> are easier than the pink? Are there any of you who've tried the pink
> successfully?
>
> Also, for those of you already experiencing spring, what plants are
> already showing, and/or flowering? I'm trying to establish a little
> better balance in my garden and late winter/early spring still seems to
> be a bit bare.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Carmel Matsushita
> Queens, New York Zone 6
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