plain vanilla
There is nothing plain about vanilla. The history of this spice is chock full of intrigue and legend. Wayne and I have three vanilla orchid plants. None of them are marked, so I don't know their species names. We bought them at various plant sales in hope that one day we might have flowers and our own little vanilla plantation, not having to pay exorbitant prices for my favorite flavor. We have our plants in hanging pots. One of them is in orchid bark, which I now know is the wrong medium for this plant. While shelving new nonfiction books at my library, I came across Vanilla Orchids: Natural History and Cultivation by Ken Cameron. I have a new understanding of this amazing plant after reading the book. First, we need to repot them in compost. Vanilla is a terrestrial orchid. Planting in rich soil or compost is best. Vanilla is also a vining orchid. It needs support on which to grow. It wants shade. There are about...