Roberts and Rossing shed light on the beauty and allure of orchids. They informed me that orchids are the newest and most evolved plant on the planet. There are 35,000 native species and 50,000 hybrids, and they grow on every continent, except Antarctica.

Orchids evolved over millions of years with nothing but rain water. It is redundant to say aerial orchids, as they are epiphytes, which means a plant which grows on trees, but is not parasitic.

Roberts’ interest in orchids was piqued when his older brother returned from California describing colorful orchids living in trees, everywhere. “It breathed life into my dream of living in a warm climate and growing orchids, oranges and tropical flowers. I was in Denver at the time and had a landscape/construction business.”

Roberts continued, “I moved to Atotonilco to begin manifesting my dream. But I felt a bit isolated. I thought, ‘I need a hobby,’ so I went to the Candelaria and found orchids. I came back with eight of them! I returned many times over the next two weeks and ended up with about 50 orchids, but they were all the same kind! I gradually acquired a collection of species. Many people like the little Ballerina orchids, but I like the corsage orchids-the bigger, brighter showier orchids, like the Lady Slipper.

“ I’d procure orchids, kill them, then read up on how to ensure that they thrived. They don't like salt or urea, both of which are common in commercial fertilizers. Sandro Cusi wrote, ‘if you like to groom your plants, and water them, get yourself a fern!’ They do quite well when they are left alone, with good drainage, like lava rock, and without too much sun.” Roberts finds 40% shade cloth works best.

“I began to be amazed that in San Miguel, nearly every person I spoke to expressed a genuine interest in growing orchids!” Roberts continued.

“I decided to start the Orchid group. Oh, there were plenty of naysayers, but friends like Jerry Rossing encouraged me. We were a group of 3, then quickly a group of 30! We have so much fun; it is quite the social event. We admire our orchids, share photos and remedies, and drink wine.

“Some of our members have been working with orchids for decades and some have only just begun their journey to understand the world of orchids. We often find orchids that are not labeled and may be impossible to identify until they bloom, which can take months and sometimes, years,” Rossing added.

Rossing brought up the fact that there is controversy among orchid enthusiasts in Mexico. There are those who are against the buying of orchids that have been harvested from the forests. “I am not a part of that group and have no hesitation in buying orchids at Tianguis or Candelaria. Millions of orchids are decimated every year from illegal logging. If you take a drive through Michoacan or Oaxaca you’ll see mountainsides stripped of all vegetation. That is the real tragedy, not the few orchids that are collected by locals and sold to orchid collectors “ Rossing stated.

In three years, Roberts has turned the back yard of his colorful casa, located near San Juan Chapel, into a vibrant thriving vegetable and flower garden. He has cypress, cactus, Norfolk pine, elephant ears, plumbago, gardenia, lantana and salvia, along with succulents for ground cover. There is a hanging orchid garden with tree planks onto which orchids attach. He described the blooms of his catlaya orchids as bright purple flowers with yellow throats.

Roberts points to a medium sized pot with orchid plants jammed tightly. “When they finally get crowded, they go to town,” he said.

His roof top garden showcases more orchids, collection tanks for rain water (orchids aren't fond of chlorine) and a gutter system he designed and built.

They are most fragrant in the morning. One of Roberts’ orchids smelled like rose water; another smaller variety has a deeper musk note.

The conversation came around to Sterling Dickenson's prized orchids, which were intended to be protected and nurtured, but thousands of his best orchids were stolen. The remaining plants propogated.

“Those common orchids just keep proliferating,” Roberts stated.

The science is fascinating. The tiny orchid seeds, some of the smallest in the plant kingdom, have a symbiotic relationship with certain fungi. Some species will not germinate until the seeds are penetrated; the fungus' hair like structure enters the tiny seed, and the seed begins to digest the fungus.

How does the fungus benefit? The orchid flowers draw birds and bees and the fungus thrives on their waste products.

“Some species found in the Yucatan have tiny holes in their stalks which are inviting to ants. The ants keep the aphids away. The Aztecs made flutes out of this species' pseudo bulb, ” Roberts continues, elucidating mysteries of orchids at every turn.

“The psuedobulbs serve as storage tanks, in a similar fashion to a bulb beneath the ground. It takes three pseudobulbs for an orchid to survive. (Some species of orchids with thick leaves for holding food and water require no pseudo bulb.) The stalks which come out of the sheath leaves only bloom once. But they send up a new bulb. Many people decide to throw orchids out after they have bloomed. I am quick to tell them ‘give them to me, instead!’ “

We spoke of the many traditional uses of the orchid in Mexico. Indigenous peoples use orchids as a sweetener, and orchid plants' fiber is used to make bags. The powdered orchid bulbs, a traditional Chichimeca material, provides the glue used in the creation of Christ of the Column, the statue brought down to San Miguel de Allende from Atotonilco each year.

Roberts remarked, “Today, I was looking out into the yard and I noticed that two purple orchids had bloomed. I ran outside, yelling. It is really thrilling. Orchids have such mystique and allure. I just love them so. I joke that a more apropos name for our group would be Orchid Growers Anonymous!

I knew orchids were my passion and purpose and I’m just so deeply gratified that our community, San Miguel de Allende, loves and appreciates orchids the way our Orchid group does,” Roberts remarked.

“Last year was our first big event and show. There was a man on a motorcycle who sped off with orchids tucked under one arm. Many Mexican families showed up and bought orchids-that was so heart-warming. It isn’t just a gringo thing.

“This year’s Orchid Show promises to be bigger and better than the last. Come out and meet orchid people and bring some orchids home with you. They are just exquisite.”