orchids

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We had a chance to see orchids from their inception; as I understand it, on the farm the little orchid sprouts spend three months in their bottles, and then another fifteen months looking like asparagus stalks. Then they're painstakingly tied individually to support strings. By the time they look like beautiful orchids, they represent a lot of human effort.

Orchids also grow in the wild, of course, and live as graceful decoration for temples and gas stations. But orchid farming is big business in Thailand, labor intensive and admired by all.

--------------------------------------------On the tray are orchids at the temple; money for the flowers goes to the temple upkeep (and the monks' upkeep as they get no salary). Then the bundles of flowers are presented reverently at the "altar" area, usually a grand statue of Buddha with a space for people to kneel in respect.

And orchids in arrangement with other flowers, usually for presentation to somebody you want to honor. A common occurrence, honoring with music, dance, flowers--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This was a display made by one of our students for Honor the Teachers day; note the folded banana leaves and variety of flowers.

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Below you see a flower display in central Bangkok, special for the Queen's birthday. And our school dancers, each with orchids in her hair.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------