The Exotic Orchid

Annie, the main character of the story, is a Javanese woman of noble birth. Her arranged marriage, and followed by her husbandâÂÂs adulterous betrayal, then subsequent lost of custody of her only child forced her to escape from Indonesia to New York with only a few hundred dollars in her pocket, determined to find a better life. She finds a job as a Balinese dancer. Through hardship, long and winding roads for years in work, courtship and motherhood, such as having an illegitimate son that is disgraceful according to Indonesian moral standard, and being expelled by Indonesian community in New York, she strives to become a distinguished fashion designer. The story of an immigrant struggles for her existence is relevant to American society. I also include Javanese and Balinese traditions, which manifest themselves, shown in the characterâÂÂs inner conflicts, as her efforts to release herself from her original cultural binding and enter the American way of thinking

Comprising some 28,000 different species, orchids are by far the largest flowering plant family on Earth. Every year, new species are being uncovered in the wild or created by humans, and so this number has only continued to blossom. This book is intended for those who wish to learn about the multifaceted nature of this amazing plant. It covers many different aspects of orchid study, from its cultural history to its evolutionary development and from its first discoveries to ongoing scientific research. No matter your specialty or level of orchid expertise, you can find in this book new and fascinating facts and stories that will make you gasp, laugh, and read on. Through the many exotic and beautiful pictures permeating these pages, you will come to know something of the infinite diversity of this plant family and at last learn why so many orchid growers and fanatics have embarked on this same endless path. “I was smitten with this book after reading the very first chapter on the history of Orchids...There are plenty of interesting facts to charm your orchid friends and impress even the most studied researcher... All in all a fabulous read that is well illustrated and with a reference section the likes of which I have never seen before with its vast and varied appendices on a slew of subjects. If you are looking for a book that is engaging and educational with lots of good humor thrown in, then this book is for you. I know that I will treasure my copy for years to come.” -- Laura Newton, American Orchid Society Awards Registrar and Accredited Judge, ORCHIDS Magazine (May, 2018) "Joel L. Schiff brings to life not just the science surrounding orchids, but the human process of recognizing, cataloging, and appreciating them...It's this approach, combined with lovely close-up color photos throughout, which makes Rare and Exotic Orchids a recommendation not just for professionals or botany libraries, but for general-interest readers who will enjoy a highly accessible study that invites an in-depth interest in orchids and their importance to human affairs."-- Diane Donovan’s Pick of the Month (April, 2018)

Learn all about beautiful orchids with this useful and portable flower reference book. This handy field guide provides an excellent introduction to over 120 exotic orchid species found in Thailand, many unique to the region. Included are full-color photographs of their extraordinary beautiful blooms and a wealth of expert botanical information. The photographs and text by David Banks, noted authority on tropical orchids, will delight orchid lovers the world over. Periplus Handy Pocket Guides are practical field guides, useful for identifying various natural objects ranging from plants and animals to gemstones and seashells. Each page of each title throughout the series is filled with clear, precise photographs and informative text. Scientific and local language names are given.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK A modern classic of personal journalism, The Orchid Thief is Susan Orlean’s wickedly funny, elegant, and captivating tale of an amazing obsession. Determined to clone an endangered flower—the rare ghost orchid Polyrrhiza lindenii—a deeply eccentric and oddly attractive man named John Laroche leads Orlean on an unforgettable tour of America’s strange flower-selling subculture, through Florida’s swamps and beyond, along with the Seminoles who help him and the forces of justice who fight him. In the end, Orlean—and the reader—will have more respect for underdog determination and a powerful new definition of passion. In this new edition, coming fifteen years after its initial publication and twenty years after she first met the “orchid thief,” Orlean revisits this unforgettable world, and the route by which it was brought to the screen in the film Adaptation, in a new retrospective essay. Look for special features inside. Join the Random House Reader’s Circle for author chats and more. Praise for The Orchid Thief “Stylishly written, whimsical yet sophisticated, quirkily detailed and full of empathy . . . The Orchid Thief shows [Orlean’s] gifts in full bloom.”—The New York Times Book Review “Fascinating . . . an engrossing journey [full] of theft, hatred, greed, jealousy, madness, and backstabbing.”—Los Angeles Times “Orlean’s snapshot-vivid, pitch-perfect prose . . . is fast becoming one of our national treasures.”—The Washington Post Book World “Orlean’s gifts [are] her ear for the self-skewing dialogue, her eye for the incongruous, convincing detail, and her Didion-like deftness in description.”—Boston Sunday Globe “A swashbuckling piece of reporting that celebrates some virtues that made America great.”—The Wall Street Journal

The stunning photographs in this exquisite small volume capture the exciting variety of contemporary orchids. Over 100 orchids are illustrated, all of which can be grown successfully in the home. All specially shot, the photographs reveal the beauty and amazing individuality of the orchids and for each there is a detailed description as well as practical information on size and required temperature. Orchids have the most exotic flowers in the whole plant world but they are surprisingly easy to grow at home. All the most popular flowers are included, as well as many that are less well-known. For all those who are attracted to orchids and want to pursue their interest, the book includes a complete final chapter that explains all you need to know about care and cultivation.

Englishman Burbidge was a legendary and intrepid collector of tropical orchids. His experience trying to cultivate these tropical plants in more temperate regions led him to publish "Cool Orchids" in 1874, which focused on successful orchid growing in cooler climates. Illustrations.

Slecting, growing and displaying Orchids. Endorsed by the American Orchid Society.