Orchids we saw in Porto, Portugal

A different post today. Travelling in Porto, Portugal this Thanksgiving week and walking around we saw orchids on balconies. Some with buds and some just resting. Then we walked by a beautiful flower shop and I decided, I have to share the beautiful photos I took. In addition, I took some beautiful photos of Porto. I hope you will enjoy them.

A) Porto by day.

B) Walking around the neighbourhood, we noticed a few balconies with orchids just 'hanging' out. Upon closer look, we deduced they must be some kind of Cymbidium.

C) Walking further up along the streets, we came across this flower shop, Jardim do Norte, owned by a wonderful lady named Clara. A beautiful Portuguese lady born in Angola, extremely well versed in botany.

D) Jardim do Norte front window display. Mostly fully bloomed orchids. Most of them were Phalaenopsis hybrids but one was a pure species.

D) This small beauty is Ludisia discolor, a pure species according to Arne. Strange with my increased interest in orchids, I noticed the special ones are the more modest beauties. This orchid is normally cultivated for their beautiful leaves. Ludisia is a genus of orchids that contains only one species, commonly referred to as a jewel orchid. A native of Southern China, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Burma.  

E) Ludisia discolor upclose.

F) The flamboyant Cattleya hybrids, of course! Simply gorgeous.

G) A Dendrobium nobile hybrid that caught my eye.

H) Zooming in for a better view, 

To conclude this 'travel' post, we did go to the botanical garden, Jardim Botanico, yesterday but we couldn't get in the green house. There were renovations but we did see some orchids resting. Maybe, we will return again and see these plants in their full glory.

I) Porto by night taken from the other side of the river on Vila Nova De Gaia.

Beautiful, historic Porto. Home of port wines.