Two flowering heads are just emerging from their flower pouches while the third is still under wraps. The word rhubarb, by the way, is related to barbaric which is how some may describe these flowers. We're fascinated by the shapes, shades and textures. We think the dozens of communities that throw rhubarb festivals every year might agree with us. Should you happen to be in Lancaster County on Saturday, May 17th, you can catch racing rhubarbs at their semi-world-famous Rhubarb Derby. This just in! Can't get to Beijing? Starting training now for the Rhubarb Olympics in Minnesota.
These are two masdevallias we had in the shop recently. Many orchid varieties have pseudobulbs that hold nutrients and waters. Masdevallias don't. Forgetting to water them can be fatal. That said, don't treat these little jewels like creatures of the bog. In the wild, these Victorian favorites grow on trees. Let the potting medium dry out slightly between waterings. 
These incredibly beautiful Disa orchids are rare as a cut flower, even rarer as a plant. African natives, they're named after a character in a Swedish folk tale. African doesn't always mean tropical. These orchids prefer a cooler climate. They're terrestrial, which means you'll find them growing in the ground, like lady slippers.
