Rapee Sagarik
The Orchid family is both massive and ancient. The famous Thai botanists, Rapee Sagarik, spent a lifetime studying and cultivating this uniquely beautiful and diverse species. One of the largest families of flowering plants on the planet, It’s beauty is both unique and wide spread. With more than 28,000 accepted species and growing, the orchid family thrives on every continent except for Antarctica.
Unfortunately the Orchids greatest proponent, Rapee Sagarik, died on February 17 of this year. But I had still come some half the distance of the world to see his work. He established the standard for which all commercial Orchids are grown and shipped. In 1984 he founded the first Asia Pacific Orchid conference. Just nine years later he created the first Thai Orchid Library. Through his devoted work to the Orchid he has brought it from the gardens of the wealthy to kitchen windows and common gardens across the globe.
If you buy an Orchid in America, or anywhere else in the world, it was probably cultivated and developed through Sagarik’s work. It is from the 1,300 native Thai species and Sagarik’s tireless efforts, that most of the global ornamental stocks originate. In fact Thailand is currently the world’s largest cultivator and shipper of Orchids. Today Diem and I were headed to explore a piece of his legacy. In the foothills of the Himalayas, outside the northern city of Chiang Mai. We were off to explore the world of the Orchid.
The Farm
About an hour north of Chiang Mai outside of Mae Rim and about 40 miles south of Myanmar (Burma) sits the Bai Orchid-Butterfly Farm. As we arrived at the farm and walked into its doors, there was, of course, Orchid paraphernalia everywhere. Real Orchids painted with glass like lacquer and trimmed in gold leaf. Perfumes from their essence, and fresh clipped flowers. The Orchid dominated the environment.
We had come to see some of the beautiful flowers and butterflies, so we headed through the shop and into the farm. The farm was quite substantial and far more intricate than I had expected. The orchid was grown beyond hydroponically, there was no soil or water to speak of. The roots simply hung in the air. The plants drew nutrients from the humidity in the atmosphere. They seemed to defy logic and float in and on nothing.
Vibrant blues, purples and yellows. There seemed to be no color the Orchids couldn’t produce. Row after row of beautiful, hearty flowers hung from the structure above. A quiet river, a waterfall, pots filled with water and flowers filling the water’s surface. It was an incredibly beautiful and peaceful place.
Butterflies for Orchids
Next to the cultivating area was a butterfly enclosure. Part pollinator producer and part exhibit, It was decently sized and full of many different species. With bananas fastened to many of the plants here, the butterflies swarmed the sweet natural treats all around us. The butterflies were as colorful and varied as the Orchids and Diem and I had a wonderful time getting up close and personal to one of nature’s most loved and delicate creations.
There are so many types of butterflies and Orchids here it’s hard to know where to start. I think the pictures will speak for themselves in this instance. So enjoy nature’s brilliant and beautiful creations. Next we will explore some very touristy and some not so easy to find waterfalls in the foothills of the Himalayas.
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