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Orchids have the reputation of being difficult to grow in the West. Gardeners shy off from attempting to grow them because they think that they are difficult to grow and because they are expensive. This is easily understood, but there is more to the story than that. The fact is that most countries have their own native orchid species, so it is possible to grow orchids wherever you live, if you choose the right species.

The other side of the coin is that what most gardeners in the West think of as orchids are orchids from exotic countries and they can be a problem to grow. I say difficult to grow, but that is not the whole story either. If you can create an environment similar to where the orchids come from, it need not be a problem at all.

A lot of the spectacular orchids are parasites, like mistletoe is a parasite plant in the temperate countries of the West. These orchids often grow on trees. In trees and on trees, that is. So, their natural environment is to become attached to the bark of a living tree or to be lodged in the fork of a branch.

The orchid will then draw its nutrients and water from the inside of its host much in the same way as does a flea or a bed bug. Another thing to be aware of is that if a plant lives under the canopy of a tree, it seldom, if ever, experiences direct sunlight. Wooded areas are also fairly humid. It is also worth mentioning that exotic plants usually come from warm or hot countries.

Therefore, if you can recreate these conditions of providing warmth, humidity and a host, growing exotic orchids should not become that much of difficulty. And in truth, it is not, although in the West it might require a greenhouse.

Thailand is home to numerous parasitic orchids, most of which grow on trees in the forests, which are warm to hot and humid, but most people do not live in those conditions. Most Thais live in either open villages or cities where conditions are not favorable to growing jungle orchid varieties. However, most Thai gardeners do not want or even have greenhouses.

Instead, if a Thai gardener is interested in nurturing jungle orchid species, he or she will purchase (or acquire) the root complex of a dead tree which also has a tree stump of, say, a metre attached. They will then move this tree stump in to a very shady position, say, under a canopy and grow their wild jungle orchids on that.

How is that done?, you may ask. Well, it is actually simplicity itself. First you acquire a sample of the orchid and then you affix it to the stump with a ‘strap’ of something that will both permit the orchid to expand and to breathe. Most Thais use some of the fibres from inside a coconut.

The gardener will strap the baby orchid to the stump using the coconut matting as a band-aid with either staples or small nails. By the time the orchid has sunken its roots into the host, the matting will have rotted away, as will probably the staples.

The only thing left to do is to keep the tree and the infant flower well watered so that it can draw the remaining nutrients out of the dead tree. They will flourish for numerous years under these conditions and the tree stump will be a living flower pot, of sorts.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on several topics, but is now involved with Loy Krathong. If you would like to know more, please visit our website at Package Holidays to Thailand.

Historic flags have fascinating meaning, including military flags that are displayed on behalf of world countries. One such flag in my opinion is the national flag of Zimbabwe. The flag-design features striking colors that make this flag stand in comparison to other international flags hoisted on flagpoles and such. The colors displayed are black, green, red, white and yellow.

Unlike a more traditional tricolor, the Zimbabwe flag-design features 7 horizontal bands displaying the above-mentioned colors. On the left or hoist part of the national flag, a white triangle is shown. The triangle displays the so-called Zimbabwe Bird. The horizontal stripe that is shown in the center portion of the flag is black. Going upwards, the colors of the following bands are red, yellow and green.

It is not surprising that the colors have specific meaning. For example, the color green is said to symbolize the agriculture and rural areas of the country and yellow the wealth of abundant minerals that are found in the territory. Like many other banners and flags, red symbolizes the blood that was shed during wars of the past (specifically the so called “Chimurenga”). White symbolizes peace.

Zimbabwe is located in the southern part of Africa and land-locked between 2 substantial rivers, the Limpopo and Zambezi. South Africa is borders the republic to the south and Botswana borders the territory to the southwest. Other countries that border the republic are Zambia to the northwest and the country of Mozambique to the east. Interestingly, Zimbabwe’s 3 official languages are English, Ndebele and Shona.

Many in the west and other parts of the world first think of aggression and political unrest when they first think of this beautiful country. Considered a semi-presidential republic, the country has also has a parliamentary system of government. Back in 2005 the senate was re-instated and organized. Ever since the time of independence Robert Mugabe has been the president of the republic. Unfortunately, during elections of the past allegations of so-called “vote-rigging,” and “fraud” surfaced.

Back in the day, the flag of Zimbabwe was designed by Cedric Herbert, a Flight Lieutenant of the then organized Rhodesian Air Force. His design included and includes the so-called “pan-African” colors of green, red, yellow and black. The country has a rich history historical flags. The flag has been used for purposes of display, including the use of flag poles. The use of colors on this African flag (which is available for purchase from all kinds of suppliers throughout the world) is unusually original, if you would ask me.

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