Painting # 20 Phragmipedium
"Phragmipedium Grande" Original watercolor Mindy Lighthipe ©2012
I attended the Gainesville Orchid Society in February 2012. Each month they have a guest speaker and in February it was Mark Whitten from the University of Florida. I introduced myself after the meeting and asked him I could come to the UF orchid green house. He graciously invited me to the green house and let me take home some of the specimens to draw. I was thrilled! This orchid is the first orchid I painted. It is a hybrid that occurs naturally in Costa Rica. It is called Phragmipedium Grande. It appears that through cross pollination more than likely by orchid bees, Phrag. caudatum cross pollinated with Phrag. longifolium. It reportedly was collected in the wild in Costa Rica decades ago, and has been distributed among several orchid growers here in the US. The hybrid has also been artificially recreated by orchid breeders many times. The tendrils were the longest I have seen so far! It was loads of fun to paint. I am working on several other orchids from Mark and he has even given me specimens of the orchid bees that pollinate the plant. These paintings are taking me a long time but I will post them as I get them finished.
The original watercolor is for sale $1800. Contact me if interested. mailto:MLighthipe…
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Mindy how lucky you are are to have near this Orchid Society. And how BRAVA you are to portray this species.|||
How do you like Gainesville?
Renata,
I feel very lucky to have such a rich environment here to study and lots of generous people!
Hi Sandra,
I am really liking Gainesville. It is better than I thought it would be and I was already sold on living here. There is a wealth of great subject matter and it is sooooo accessible. How is everything on your end?
Mindy