For a small country, Ecuador is rich in bio-diversity – a strong selling point for a visit. 4,000 species of orchids can be found in Ecuador. Compare this to 200 species in the United States! When we arrived in Quito, we decided our first stop should be the Jardin Botanico de Quito to see some of the orchids.
We have seen few orchids in the US aside from inexpensive plants sold in nurseries and a few at Botanical Gardens. The color and size range was fairly limited so we never knew orchid flowers – like this one seen in Quito — came in so many colors, sizes, and shapes.
This orchid reminds me of rich chocolate (also grown in Ecuador).
We thought of orchids as a single flower on a long stem. It was a surprise for us to see clusters like these.
Our friend, Louise, helped us explore the greenhouses. The plants were nicely displayed, and none were the old, familiar species.
The ethereal, delicate quality appealed to us.
A minor disappointment was the lack of any identifying signage. While we’d love to grow this orchid – if only we knew its name – the reality is that it’s probably best suited to be grown only in an Ecuadorean-type climate.
A surprising number of the flowers were quite small….
…or didn’t resemble our preconception of what an orchid looked like.
We had spent many happy hours looking at the orchids in the greenhouse and the wide range of botanical plants lining the adjacent garden paths. It’s amazing to think that here we were in Quito, virtually on the Equator, and in the Andean mountains at an elevation of over 9,000’. The many plants we saw thrived in an environment that is so very different from where we used to live.
After looking at the many new orchid species in Quito, we found ourselves quite taken with these beautiful flowers and will never think of orchids the same way again.
June 2016
simpletravelourway 
Orchids and Quito – what a nice surprise. How are you adjusting to the altitude?
Quito was only 1000 ft more than Cuenca, so no problem for us … as long as we’re not trying to go uphill, then we notice the altitude.
Nice photos. I love the first orchid. It looks like a ballerina! Have you ever been to the NY Botanical Gardens? They have an orchid show every year (and they’re labeled).
Thank you for that suggestion. We will put the NY BG on our list now!
Orchids are exquisite aren’t they. Mother Nature excelled when she created these blooms. Nice photography Beth and Joe.
Yes, she is quite an artist, Mother Nature. Thx!
Hi Beth & Joe –
When you’re back in the states and ensconced at Kendal, you’ll be able to visit the orchid rooms at Longwood, and enjoy the many (many!) species in this extraordinary – and extraordinarily large – family. Perhaps even grow a few in the greenhouses that I assume Kendal must have on their grounds… somewhere.
Hope you’re well, having a wonderful journey, and speaking Spanish everywhere.
Hola, mi amiga. Many have been the times that we saw a flower, a bush, a vine, a tree, a type of grass and said, “I wish Joyce was here to tell us what this is.” We do look forward to regular visits to Longwood…and we hope you will join us occasionally for a few of those visits.
awesome post, can relate to the experience.
Thx! Seems that appreciation of the natural world is common to us all, and the more we observe nature the more amazing it is to us.
Welcome. Indeed.
Great pictures; looking at plant & flowers during our walks, many of which are new to us, is one of more enjoyable travel experiences
As we get older, we stop more often to see plants, flowers, little bugs, and, of course, birds, and we take more time to observe. Perhaps you do too.