Orchid Fever

Just finished reading the book:


ORCHID FEVER
A Horticultural Tale of Love, Lust, and Lunacy
by Eric Hansen

A fabulously enjoyable read about the fanaticism of orchid collecting and the bizarre 'conservation' policies set forth by CITES.








Some interesting items mentioned in his book:

• Grammatophyllum Speciosum - the largest orchid species. This epiphyte weighs 1/2 ton and can be 40' circumfrence
  
• Sphagnum Moss Strip Mining
• The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay by Arthur Phillip Published in 1789
• Kew Gardens of London
  
• Sir Joseph Banks - the botonist who accompanied Cook on his voyages and would eventually start Kew Gardens
• Dr. Gunnar Seidenfaden Danish diplomat, explorer, naturalist, and expert in tropical Asiatic orchids died on 9 February 2001
• Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad published 1902