xvi, 285 pages illustrations (chiefly color) 28 cm
Type:
Nomenclature
Place:
United States
Date:
2024
Summary:
For as long as orchid hybrids have been made, breeders have been naming them after prominent women of the day. European royalty were often honored and included queens, princesses, empresses, and baronesses. Royal titles are not part of the American culture, so in the United States, orchids are named for the wives of presidents. From Woodrow Wilson's second wife, Edith, who coveted "canaries, bourbon, and orchids" and was given a fresh orchid bloom every day by her husband, through Doctor Jill Biden, who lives just minutes from the Chadwick home in Wilmington, Delaware, and spent half an hour with Art discussing orchids in the green room of the White House, we now have nineteen consecutive first ladies with namesake cattleyas. The Chadwicks are responsible for much of this history. They acquired, bred, named, or presented the hybrids, got them awarded, corresponded with the first lady (or her children or grandchildren) then donated the entire collection to the Smithsonian.--Book jacket
