Boston Flora

Tag: epiphytes

  • Saturday, October 4 – Sunday, October 19 – Madagascar With New England Wild Flower Society

    The New England Wild Flower Society invites you to join them to explore the natural heritage and unique flora and wildlife of Madagascar in October, 2014. This 16-day expedition offers travel enthusiasts an exceptional opportunity to become acquainted with the flora and fauna of Madagascar.

    Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world, isolated from the African continent for 30 million years. It is home to at least 12,000 plants—a high percentage that are unique to the country. Ninety‑five percent of the lemurs and reptiles, 80 percent of the flowering plants, 98 percent of the palms, and more than 100 birds are found nowhere else.

    Leading this tour will be Herilala Jonah, a superb Madagascar naturalist. Representing the Society will be staff member John Burns.

    The itinerary includes:

    • Antananarivo & the Lemur Park. Visit the capital city of Madagascar and this private reserve established in 2001 for lemur education and conservation.

    • Perinet Reserve, in the eastern rain forests. Look for the largest of the lemurs, the indri, noted for its ear-shattering cries and agility in traveling through the rain forest canopy. Explore the moist forest with trees covered in epiphytes, ferns, and large lianas with bamboo below.

    • Berenty Reserve, an internationally acclaimed wildlife reserve in the semi‑arid south. Enjoy the unique spiny desert plus a profusion of ring-tailed lemurs, sifakas, lepilemurs, and flying foxes.

    • Reserve de Nahampoana, an excellent botanical reserve near Fort Dauphin.

    • Isalo National Park, an extraordinary landscape in the southwest with arid sandstone ridges sculpted by wind and water, with lemurs and endemic plants.

    We hope you will join us for this adventure, and discover the magnificence of Madagascar in 2014!

    For more trip information, you can download the trip brochure by visiting http://www.newfs.org/images/learn/Madagascar%20brochure%20from%20Betchart-%20final.pdf.  Or contact:

    Betchart Expeditions, Inc.
    17050 Montebello Road
    Cupertino, CA 95014-5435

    Tel: (800) 252-4910 or (408) 252-4910
    Fax: (408) 252-1444Email: info@betchartexpeditions.com

    http://www.amazingplacesonearth.com//srv/htdocs/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Isalo-National-Park-Pool.jpg

  • Saturday, February 12 – Sunday, February 27 – Oh, Orchids!

    Escape winter and surround yourself with warm, lush, color at Oh, Orchids!, Mahoney’s First Annual Orchid and Houseplant Festival. Join us Saturday, February 12 through Sunday February 27 at 3 Mahoney’s locations: Winchester, Brighton and East Falmouth.

    “Oh, Orchids” features original exhibits of orchids and flowering houseplants – providing inspiration on the many ways you can creatively use orchids in your home or office. Plus walk through tables of gorgeous orchids – including the heart shaped Phalaenopsis just in time for Valentine’s Day.

    Also come see the all-new “Double Blue Mystique” – the first blue orchid – shown below. Blue Mystique is not painted, sprayed or hybridized, but gets its color through a patented process that induces the blue color in flowers. “The future flowers that are on the stem will be blue as well,” says Farid Khalil, Mahoney’s Greenhouse Product Manager. “It’s a closely held patented process. We don’t know how they do it, but it’s all the rave in Europe.”

    In addition to numerous exciting houseplants the Festival will feature epiphytes or “air plants”. Air plants “grow” upon another plant or object, using the host only for mechanical support, not for nourishment. Air plants get nutrients from the air, falling rain, and the compost that lies on tree branches. They can be used in terrariums, grouped in an attractive dish, or in a hanging glass orb. Air plants prefer bright, filtered light and only need to be misted to keep them happy. Air plants have a wide range of colors, sizes and textures to choose from. They will even bloom!  For hours and directions, log on to www.mahoneysgarden.com.