| I
first saw the orchid genus Satyrium in the Drakensburg
mountains. I had never heard of it before and soon
forgot about it, until last year when its name cropped
up in the unlikely pages of the Glendoick catalogue of
Cox Rhododendrons. |
| The
species offered for sale was Satyrium nepalense.
I obtained a tuber and planted it outdoors in
the autumn of 2005 in a sheltered spot which
stlll got light and sun. I used about equal
portions of crushed bark and coarse grit to
provide some moisture retention in good
drainage. The first signs of of life appeared in
June of this year and the plant matured and
flowered in August. It is slim and tiny, 5"
-6" tall, with delicate pink florets
growing tight to the single stem. Seen through a
close-up macro lens it looks dramatic, but is
almost insignificant to the casual glance. I am
eagerly looking forward to next year to see if
it spreads, or develops, or even survives! |
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| Photo
David Lapsley |
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