Marta McDowell and I are at work on a new book collaboration: Orchidaceous.

As with the Garden Alphabetized book, I'll be doing the images, Marta the writing.

This image is very much my favorite at the moment. It expresses very well that flirting with joyous insanity that is associated with orchid obsession. And that I feel rising within myself every now and then when I behold a new exotic beauty.

This phalaenopsis is a Phalaenopsis Upin Fair lady and was a winner of best in class at the February 2008 Deep Cut Orchid Society show.