I don’t have a green thumb but I love flowers, especially orchids. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to love me. Each time I buy one, I think it will be different, it will last more than a few months. Each time, I’ve been wrong.
Now that I’m in Jamaica, where orchids are plenty and grow wild, I’m tempted but I’m gun shy. So for now, I’m satisfied to take photos of the ones I see.
![TPT Orchid1 Jamaican orchid](http://insidejourneys.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/TPT-Orchid1.jpg)
Over 30,000 species of orchids can be found worldwide. Approximately 230 are found in Jamaica. Of that number, about 70 are endemic to the island.
The main threat to Jamaican orchids is from the destruction of their habitats caused by land clearing for housing, hotel and agricultural development, bauxite and/or limestone mining, harvesting of forest products for timber, fuel wood, fish pots, yam sticks and fence posts.
![TPT Orchid2a Jamaican Orchid](http://insidejourneys.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/TPT-Orchid2a.jpg)
![TPT Orchid2 Jamaican Orchid](http://insidejourneys.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/TPT-Orchid2.jpg)
The second greatest threat to the species is believed to be collection by orchid enthusiasts for local and international trade. The government has enacted legislation to protect their habitats and regulate the orchid trade. Sanctuaries have also been established to relocate orchids that are found in areas under threat.
These orchids are from the gardens of friends and family.
![TPT Orchid3 Jamaican Orchid](http://insidejourneys.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/TPT-Orchid3.jpg)
![TPT Orchid3a Jamaican Orchid](http://insidejourneys.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/TPT-Orchid3a.jpg)
![TPT Orchid4 Jamaican Orchid](http://insidejourneys.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/TPT-Orchid4.jpg)
![TPT Orchid5 Jamaican Orchid](http://insidejourneys.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/TPT-Orchid5.jpg)
![11-29-2010 9-42-28 AM Jamaican Orchid](http://insidejourneys.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/11-29-2010-9-42-28-AM.jpg)
![Screen shot 2012-01-22 at 8.26.41 AM Jamaican Orchid](http://insidejourneys.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Screen-shot-2012-01-22-at-8.26.41-AM.png)
![Ja Orchid Jamaican Orchid](http://insidejourneys.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Ja-Orchid.jpg)
This one is known locally as Poor Man’s Orchid. It sure looks like it could be.
![TPT Orchid Poor Man's Orchid Poor Man's Orchid](http://insidejourneys.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/TPT-Orchid-Poor-Mans-Orchid.jpg)
This is my submission to this week’s Budget Travelers Sandbox Travel Photo Thursday series. Be sure to check out other photo and story entries on their website!