Wild Orchids
There are tiny orchids in our forests in the Northwest. Rare and unusual specimens that play
by different rules than their tropical relations. Most folks know nothing about these unusual and delicate plants.
In our old growth forests we have diminutive Fairy orchids under 5 inches growing
deep in the moss. They use deceptive shape and scent to woo the early bumblebee queens to help move their pollinia. The queens are deceived by the shapes similar to pollinating flowers, drawn onto the yellow hairs of the fairies lip and the pollinia drops onto their backs.
Coralroots and similar mycorrhizal feeders like Phantom orchids don't use chlorophyll, but utilize their fungus neighbors at the roots of trees. Long and thin these orchids have no leaves and some lack color as well.
Moccasin flowers are what the native peoples of the Americas called the Lady slipper or Mountain slipper.
The shoe shaped lower lip is cupped and insects get trapped in order to delay their exit long enough to pick up pollinia for its journey to the next orchid.
The pollinators of these plants include hover flies, parasitical wasps, bees,
bumblebees, flies and other insects. I love insects of all sorts, so really enjoyed sculpting these tiny orchid partners. Often ignored or sprayed to death, stinging insects are excellent pollinators and as valuable as any butterfly or ladybug (the bugs humans seem to covet).
by different rules than their tropical relations. Most folks know nothing about these unusual and delicate plants.
In our old growth forests we have diminutive Fairy orchids under 5 inches growing
deep in the moss. They use deceptive shape and scent to woo the early bumblebee queens to help move their pollinia. The queens are deceived by the shapes similar to pollinating flowers, drawn onto the yellow hairs of the fairies lip and the pollinia drops onto their backs.
Coralroots and similar mycorrhizal feeders like Phantom orchids don't use chlorophyll, but utilize their fungus neighbors at the roots of trees. Long and thin these orchids have no leaves and some lack color as well.
Moccasin flowers are what the native peoples of the Americas called the Lady slipper or Mountain slipper.
The shoe shaped lower lip is cupped and insects get trapped in order to delay their exit long enough to pick up pollinia for its journey to the next orchid.
The pollinators of these plants include hover flies, parasitical wasps, bees,
bumblebees, flies and other insects. I love insects of all sorts, so really enjoyed sculpting these tiny orchid partners. Often ignored or sprayed to death, stinging insects are excellent pollinators and as valuable as any butterfly or ladybug (the bugs humans seem to covet).
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The WILD ORCHIDS are HERE.
A series of Native and Exotic orchids in porcelain and copper will be featured at Childhood's End Gallery in Olympia, WA. June 17th thru July 31st, 2022. A video of the show will be available after June 30th. WILD ORCHIDS Loralin's current work echoes the naturalist eras of the past: times of explorative worship of the natural world and its tensions. The wild orchid series references orchids and their cycles with whimsy and wonder. The wall pieces are the Exotics, orchids from other states and continents. The 3d Sculptures are the native Northwest orchids. “My passion to create this year is inspired by the innocent mutualism of different plants and pollinators. Recently I personally discovered the native orchids here in the forests and was stunned into reverence. I only aspire to invoke their imagery. “ Her past work spans many symbolic and mythological themes, a foundation for her current botanical sculpture. Often the imagery reflects on insect cycles and predator/prey aspects playing out their dramas below beautiful flora. The simplicity and collaboration of nature suggests an evolution we as humans can aspire to. One may see similarities to the flower and underworld paintings of the 1600’s In Europe. Her experiences have paved the way to combining classic materials in detailed and diminutive combinations. Each Orchid artwork can take months to finish, and includes hundreds of components. Working in a difficult medium of translucent porcelain, she adds china paints and then formed copper foliage to suggest movement. Finishing with crystals and silk velvets create additional luxury and texture. Altogether they direct the viewer to reflect on the wonder of evolution in flora. Perhaps encouraging one to consider the tiny and often overlooked orchids of our area. The artist intends that the sculptures invoke your own precious moment of blissful adoration of something rare in the forest. 
porcelain coralroot blooms and actual coral root blooms!
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A Fairy orchid in the forests of Oregon. I was in tears of adoration when I found it!
Coralroots in forest about to bloom, May 23, 2022
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