You are shipwrecked on a deserted island with the perfect habitat(s) for orchids. High montane areas, sphagnum bogs, dense forests, waterfall seeps, you name it. If you need it, you got it on this magical island. A crate washes ashore containing *surprise!* your10 favorite orchids. What are they and where do you put them?
1) Masdevallia coccinea - all color forms placed high along a trail leading over the misty mountians to
2) a sweeping flat plain where teh mists collect and seep for Disa uniflora in all its color forms.
3) Along that pathway, from the high mountains to the seep valley Dendrobium cuthbertsonii, mostly the bicolor red/orange form abounds.
4,5,6) Continuing on past the seep valley the trail wraps to the windward side of the mountains and cuts into a mixed forest where Laelia purpuratas abound in the crotches of tree limbs accompanied by Lycaste deppei and Mormodes sinuata.
7,8) As the trail breaks into a more open field one can find Brassavola cucullata and Rhyncholaelia glauca exposed on trees.
9) Hidden amongst rocky cracks you can find Laelia pumila.
10) As the trail finally descends toward the rocky shore Thelmytras (previously only seen in pictures) fill the sandy (shaded?) hillsides.
What do you populate your island with? I chose species, but hybrids abound there, too. I thought I saw a C. Bow Bells darting through my forest, but it was a shy elusive creature, not often found in collections anymore.
K Barrett