Orchids usually make us think of special occasions when a lady may carry a bouquet with orchids in it or may wear an orchid corsage. Most of us think of orchids as being grown in a greenhouse or other protected environment, but in many countries they thrive outdoors in the wild. There are over 400 varieties.
Orchids sold by florists are definitely lovely. For the most part, they have a trumpet-like main flower, backed by broad, smooth petals. A wide variety in different colors is available, but the most common is a deep lavender. Orchid plants are tough, and great numbers grow in rain forests and other tropical areas and even in the swamps of colder lands. Here are a few of the more unusual varieties.
The fly orchid’s petals look like and have an odor similar to that of a female fly. This attracts a male fly. Although he is disappointed in what he finds, the plant benefits from his visit as he unknowingly transfers pollen from one plant to another. This produces seeds to grow more plants.
Another, known as the ophrys, makes a variety of images with its foliage and flowers that look like spiders and other insects. These, attracting investigators, are pollinated the same way as the fly orchid.
One of the most interesting is the bucket orchid. This one benefits from red ants that live among its roots and crawl into the flowers for nectar. Again, the pollen is transferred from one flower to another. If it were not for the ants this orchid would soon die out, and if it were not for the orchid the ants would do the same. They need each other.
However, some orchids have been purposely designed by the Creator to be unattractive to insects, for they are best pollinated by hummingbirds. The hummers’ long beaks help the pollination process when the birds dip them deep into the flowers to reach the sweet nectar.
There are many other features of the lovely orchids, but these examples help remind us of how wonderful the Lord God’s ways are with all His creation. He often uses two living things of entirely different types to benefit one another in ways which only He can arrange.
He is your Creator too, and He can do far more than take care of your lifetime needs on earth. His wonderful invitation stands open for you to have eternal life in heaven by coming to the Lord Jesus who died on Calvary’s cross. He gives eternal life and forgives the sins of all who admit they are sinners and accept Him as their Saviour. That is the pathway to true happiness now and forever. Is it your pathway?
ML-08/01/1999