It's Raining Orchids!

[Wireman]

Originally Posted by Curtis2010

Yes, Atlantic coast of Guatemala on the Rio Dulce. Loads of naturally occurring orchids here. Hard to find a tree at my place that does not have at least one native orchid on it and many trees are covered in thick mats of orchids.

When I find them on the ground, or in the water, I usually stick them back in a tree or mount them so I can move them closer to the house.

The ones pictured in this post I think I will mount as is -- just run a wire through the limb and hang it up.

I have another one like this that came with its own beehive inside a short section of tree trunk (a type of small stinger-less bee). Hung it up and the bees never missed a beat, they've been living there for years now. Pretty cool to watch.

That sounds incredible!!! I'd love to see that in person. I may just have to take a trip down to Guatemala not only the Pre-Columbian studies, but for the orchids as well.

[Curtis2010]

Originally Posted by Wireman

That sounds incredible!!! I'd love to see that in person. I may just have to take a trip down to Guatemala not only the Pre-Columbian studies, but for the orchids as well.

Yes, Guatemala is a spectacularly beautiful country with an amazing range of ecosystems. You can find a wide variety of orchids in a habitats from sea level to over 9K feet.

Yesterday, I was in the hot humid Rio at sea level. Today, I am in chilly Guatemala city at almost a mile high.

The area around Coban (Alta Verapaz) is particularly well suited for orchids. Altitudes range for 4K to over 9K feet and much of the time you are in the clouds with cool moist weather. There are a number of eco-lodges there with extensive hiking trails. And "Vivero Verpaz" has an expansive collection of orchids covering several acres.

The population of Coban is mostly Mayan so you can integrate "Mayan Studies" and searching for orchids in the same venue. Try to time your visit to coincide with the Rabin Ajau festival if possible -- a very unique "Mayan Beauty Pagent". If you attend, then you will probably be one of the few foreigners there.

There is also an orchid festival in Coban.

A few related pics from Coban attached. Taken at the Rabin Ajau festival, the Orchid Festival, and Vivero Verapaz.