Epidendrum ciliare and a remembrance of things past.

[Ricardo in PR]

In the early eighties one of my favorite activities was camping and hiking. Many of the camping trips were to small islands near Puerto Rico. One of my favorites was Culebra Island. I loved to camp on the huge Flamingo Beach, arguably one of the most beautiful beaches in the island. With my friends I would go and climb some of the rocky hills of the island that were (then) covered with forest. On one of those trips we found a huge population or orchids. The orchid was Epidendrum ciliare, at the time we chanced upon it there were many thousands of plants, all blooming. The plants were in a particularly difficult spot to reach which probably explained why the population was still pristine. The plants covered every boulder in sight with masses of plants six feet wide or more. The canopy was far above the plants without any understory to obstruct the light, it gave the feeling of a huge cathedral filled with flowers for a solemn ceremony. I returned several times but, never thought of taking a photo of the place, which I now regret immensely. This population thrived unmolested until September 18, 1989. That day it was almost completely destroyed in a few hours. Hurricane Hugo passed near the island of Culebra as a category 4 hurricane, the destruction on the island was unbelievable. In some places all large trees were felled. When I returned to Culebra the year after the hurricane, I found it impossible to reach the spot where the orchids grew. Unfortunately due to the severe damage the forest sustained I could see the area clearly from a nearby hill. Every tree in the place had fallen and almost of the orchids, exposed to the full sun, had died from sunburn. I could see the ghostly dead remains of the huge clumps even from a distance. But I also could see, here and there, tiny spots of green where a few plants had survived. I have not returned to the area for many years now but I hope, that as the forest grows again to a lofty height, the great masses of orchids will reclaim their former glory. I suspect that this cycle of destruction and rebirth has happened many, many times in the past. Along with the flower photos have also posted a picture of the effect of Hugo on an Island forest so you can get an idea of the severity of the damage.

[Kathy-WPalmBeach]

Oh Ricardo, what a story! What a sight that must have been! How lucky you are to have experienced such a sight. I hope that when you return you'll be greeted once again with a newly established colony that you'll be able to photograph for all of us to see! Thank you for sharing your experience. I feel as though I was there.

[Marci in SoFL]

How fortunate you were to have seen such a marvelous sight. So sad about the destruction of such beauty. Hopefully there will have been a repopulation of the plants when you next visit.

[Ricardo in PR]

The area where the orchids grew was fenced by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Not because the orchids, but because the orchids grew on a hill close to a beach where leatherback turtles nest. As a result the whole area is protected but it is also difficult to get to. But I am happy to know that the orchids will dwell in peace, at least until the next great hurricane. But life is that way carpe diem for us and the orchids.