Comments on: Wildflower families: Orchidaceae

By: Lizzie Harper

Lizzie Harper — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 08:02:22 +0000

In reply to Antoine. Why thankyou, Antoine

By: Antoine

Antoine — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:18:34 +0000

I love the elegance of your drawings. Orchids are some of my favourite flowers and your version of them give them justice.

By: Lizzie Harper

Lizzie Harper — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 16:14:18 +0000

In reply to Lily Johnson. Thanks Lily, glad to be of use!

By: Lily Johnson

Lily Johnson — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 08:51:59 +0000

This was a fascinating overview of the Orchidaceae family. I especially enjoyed the explanation of pollinia and the way orchids adapt their flowers for specific pollinators—it really highlights how complex plant–insect relationships can be. As someone who often reads botanical content while supporting students with plant science coursework, posts like this make it much easier to understand real examples from nature. Thanks for sharing such detailed observations and illustrations.

By: Lizzie Harper

Lizzie Harper — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 12:36:06 +0000

In reply to Anita.

Hi Gleny

Ah, you see! It’s never too late to start drawing and painting, whatever point in your life you’re at. What a shame your local class disbanded, it sounded perfect, and like it really made you realise just what you’re capable of. And the broken wrist – oh man. One of my good botanical illustration friends broke her wrist in November and is going stir-crazy not being able to paint the mosses she’s currently working on. Poor you.

I have a youtube channel with lots of step by step tutorials, feel free to visit and see what appeals. I try to upload a new one every couple of months: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd_5uf3Zy8q0bLFy5b5PHiw

I’m also working on a couple of “how to” books, due to be published in 2027. No doubt I’ll shout about them on my blogs once they’re published!

It sounds to me like you’ve really got the bug, so I think if you can, you should feel brave enough to find another art class. Having done a bit of teaching, I can assure you that all that’s needed is enthusiasm and the will to try. And you’ve already got that!

I’d also suggest you buy some ok art supplies, especially if you’re doing watercolour. Nothing crazy posh, but a decent brush (maybe a Princeton Neptune number 1 or 2 size), a little set of watercolours (nicer than what they give you at school, they often have “Student” grade. For example choose the Cotman watercolour set rather than the much more expensive Winsor & Newton professional ones. Unless you fancy splashing out, that is!). And some hot press smooth watercolour paper. Maybe a sketchbook too.

But the main thing is to do it, and it sounds like you’re already up for that.

Good luck!
x

By: Anita

Anita — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:05:18 +0000

Hi Lizzie.
I have just watched in absolutely fascination your 2019 video of you painting a sprig of Rowan berries, in real time.
I attended One term of an art class almost 2 years ago, an was amazed how I was able to make a piece of fruit or a shoe or a fox come alive on what started as a blank sheet of paper.
I enrolled one to a second term but before it began I broke my right wrist. Then the class went into liquidation . I didn’t regain the courage to find another class.
I would really like to join your on line tutorials. Or at least to start have some information how to access what you have to offer.
I’m 75 in May but I feel I could follow your inspiring tutorials, I have no life experience of painting, since primary school..

By: Lizzie Harper

Lizzie Harper — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 18:58:09 +0000

In reply to Max Rykaczewski. My absolute pleasure. I've updated the Research Gate profile. Thankyou!

By: Max Rykaczewski

Max Rykaczewski — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 12:52:24 +0000

In reply to Lizzie Harper. Thank you for mentioning me at your text! I'm glad I could help :) My Research Gate profile is https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Max-Rykaczewski/research

By: Lizzie Harper

Lizzie Harper — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 08:48:13 +0000

In reply to Max.

Hi Max

Thank you so much for this feedback, and for updating my research! I have tweaked the text in the blog, and am very grateful to you for taking the time to get in touch. I’ve popped in a link in the text to your profile on Researchgate, if there’s a different link you’d prefer me to use, just let me know.

x Lizzie

By: Max

Max — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:06:16 +0000

Hi Lizzie, lovely article about Orchids. They are close to my heart, as I spend years on studying them. One little thing need to be corrected. When you write about leafless orchids, you call them parasitic. In fact they are not. Years ago botanists used to think they are parasites on trees, but the truth is much more amazing. Leafless orchids reduced their leaves and take an even more intimate relationship with mycorrhizal fungi which provide them with a lot more nutrients than in regular fungi-orchid symbiosis. However it is worth to mention that in leafless orchids roots are photosynthetic organs. Wishes!