Everyone, whether an orchid grower or not agrees...

Everyone, whether an orchid grower or not agrees that there is something magical about orchids. For centuries, the orchid has stood firm as the symbol of beauty, love, and luxury. The Chinese referred to orchids as the "Plant of the King's Fragrance", the Greek called orchids a symbol of "Virility", and during the Middle Ages, the orchid was used for its herbs and medicinal remedies. In fact, since orchids were considered a strong aphrodisiac, being the prime ingredient in love potions. Even today, the orchid is associated with romance and love.

Scientists have confirmed through years and years of research that orchids actually date back 120 million years. The actual cultivation of orchids is still something not known but the first reference known was made by a Chinese Emperor by the name of Sheng Nung. You will also find a huge variety of wild orchids in South America, creating color and beauty in many different regions of the country. In fact, it is common to find people of South America growing orchids as houseplants, sometimes in a sunny window and other times in a hothouse.

The process of collecting orchids dates back to the 18th Century when the gorgeous and unique flowers coupled with an intoxicating fragrance drew the attention of people around the world. During this same time, just a few orchid samples were brought back to England by sea captains that had visited far away lands. For the amateur gardener and the botanists, the orchid was a curious flower that stirred up intense curiosity. During the 1700's, the orchid received tremendous attention.

For example, in 1712, a German doctor by the name of Englebert Kaempfer mentioned the orchid from the East in a special study called the Amoenitatum Escoticarun and then in 1735, a Swedish botanist named Carl Von Line (Linnaeus) wrote a study called Genera Plantarum, which later paved the way for Darwin's studies. He would write another study in 1763 whereby 100 different types of tropical orchids were identified.

Then in 1830, the famous botanist, John Lindley, wrote several books on the subject of orchids with "The Genus and Species of Orchidaceae Plants" propelling him to success. However, it was in 1862 when the first real contribution regarding strategies for propagation was published by Darwin. Even so, William Cattley was the person to change history when in 1818 he made a great discovery.

We know from historical reports he was unpacking several plants he had purchased and had shipped home. When the box was opened, he found that his plants were packed in a strange material, which was actually a plant form of unknown origin. Curious, Catley planted the strange "packing material" only to discover that eventually, they bloomed. Those plants were what we know today as the Cattleya Orchid.

Upon his discovery, everyone wanted this "new" plant and soon millions of orchids were stripped from entire forests, many coming from South America. Then by 1878, Catley had been able to identify up to 500 different orchid species, leaving many forests completely void of this magnificent flower. For this reason, collecting orchids is now banned and many species reside on the endangered list. By the 19th century, people had an unassailable appetite for the orchid, which skyrocketed prices. With that, growers began learning more about this flower along with the special needs of successfully growing them.

From that time to the present, the germination process was identified, new species discovered, and in depth understanding gained. The orchid is by far one of the most diverse species of all plants. You can find these stunning plants in tropical rain forests, up high in the mountains, and at your local gardening center. Whether from the United States or South America, orchids are magnificent species unmatched by any other plant.

Today, the orchid family consists of anywhere between 25,000 and 30,000 different species as well as 70,000 hybrids. Although the most popular orchids hail from Asia, South America is especially rich in wild orchids. When visiting South American countries or other countries where orchids grow, you will notice this flower growing in two primary ways. First, there is the monopodial growth, an upright axis from which leaves will appear and second, the sympodial growth, which means a prostrate axis from which shoots appear.

Then within these two categories are four specific groups. First, there is the terrestrial orchids, which have roots in the soil, climbing orchids that grow in treetops with the roots clinging to the bark for nutrients, Lithophytes, which grow on rocks or places with little soil, and then saprophytes, which get nutrients and water from decaying matter of fungi. However, the most amazing aspect of orchids is that not only do they come in every possible color but they also have a magnificent fragrance.

Tijuana

Tijuana is the largest city in the state of Baja California, Mexico. Tijuana is also the most northerly city in Latin America. It is known as the corner of Mexico and consequently of Latin America. The city is bordered to the north by San Diego County, California, United States; to the south, by the municipalities of Playas de Rosarito and Ensenada; with the municipality of Tecate to the east; and to the west, by the Pacific Ocean. The municipality of Tijuana has an extension of 1,727 square kilometers and includes part of the Coronado Islands located off the coast of the municipality in the Pacific Ocean.

Population

According to the INEGI (Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática Eng: National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Data Processing) the municipality of Tijuana in 2000 included 1,210,820 inhabitants. More than 20 universities and centers for higher education give it a dynamic student sector. The city ranks fifth in population in Mexico, after Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey and Puebla.

Geography

This border city just south of San Diego, California, USA, is sometimes considered a mix of Mexico's good and bad: known for its economic prosperity, popular discos, and shopping areas, Tijuana is also considered to be Mexico's biggest illicit drug and prostitution center. Many of the prostitutes are women from Central America who hope to enter the United States.

Name and mottoes

Avenida Revolución has many open bars, pharmacies, and curio shops that attract many tourists. The majority of these businesses accept the U.S. dollar and use English to conduct everyday business transactions. Historians have investigated the origins of the name of the city of Tijuana. One legend says that it was the name of a ranch in the area, property of "Tía Juana" - Aunt Jane. In actuality, it is recognized that name comes from the Yuman Indian language from the early inhabitants. In other documents there are mentions of "La Tia Juana", "Tiguana", "Tiuana", "Teguana", "Tiwana", "Tijuan", "Ticuan", "Tijuana". Based on the Yuman language, historians have come to recognize Tijuana originating from "Tiwan", meaning close to the sea. These studies notwithstanding, many Americans still mistakenly believe the city to be called "Tiajuana".

The city is nicknamed "TJ", especially among English speakers, but also by the Spanish-speaking residents, who pronounce it as ti yei. The latter also refer to the city as Tijuas.

Tijuana's city motto is Aquí empieza la patria. The Mexican government actually translates it as "Gateway to Mexico", but the literal translation is "The homeland starts here". It is also sometimes known as the "Most visited city in the world", owing to its proximity to the world's busiest border crossing.

History

Traffic traveling into Mexico through San Ysidro tends to be less congested than traveling vice versa. The border entering Mexico is also less guarded.The area in which the city of Tijuana is situated in a region once inhabited by the Kumeyaay Indians, a tribe of Yuman-speaking hunter-gatherers. Europeans first arrived in 1542, when the Spanish explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo toured the coastline of the area, which was later mapped in 1602 by Sebastián Viscaíno. In 1769, Father Juan Crespí documented more detailed information about the area that would one day be called the Valley of Tijuana and Father Junípero Serra founded the first mission of Alta California in San Diego.

More settlement of the area took place near the end of the mission era when José María Echendía, governor of the Baja California and Alta California, awarded a large land grant to Santiago Argüello in 1829. This large cattle ranch, Rancho Tía Juana ("Aunt Jane Ranch"), covered 100 square kilometres.

In 1848, as a result of the Mexican-American war with the United States, Mexico lost all of Alta California. Tijuana acquired a new and distinct character and purpose on the international border. The city began to shed its cattle ranching origins and began to play in a new role, forming a socio-economic structure for the city.

The year 1889 marked the beginning of the urban settlement, when descendants of Santiago Argüello and Agustín Olvera entered an agreement to begin development of the city of Tijuana. The agreement was dated July 11 of that year. Decades later, during the second Symposium of History held in 1975, this date was recognized as the date the city was founded.

Tijuana saw its future in tourism from its inception. From the end of the 19th century to the first decades of the 20th, the city attracted large numbers of Californians crossing over the border, coming to Mexico for trade and entertainment.

During the Mexican Revolution, Tijuana was also a small stage for revolutionaries loyal to Ricardo Flores Magón, who took over the city in 1911. Shortly, thereafter, federal troops arrived and routed the rebels. Being so close to the action, San Diegans could watch the battle from the safety of the international border.

In 1916, the Feria San Diego, California Panamá brought a great number of visitors to the neighboring American city to the north. Tijuana took the opportunity to attract these tourists to the other side of the border with Feria Típica Mexicana. The fair included curio shops, regional foods, thermal baths, horse racing and boxing matches. With this event, the city became universally known as a tourist destination.

The 1920s changed Tijuana forever when the enactment of prohibition in the U.S. sent droves of Americans across the border to partake in legal drinking and gambling. Large and impressive casinos opened, like Agua Caliente in Tijuana. The Caesar Salad was invented there during this period.