Blood Orchid: An Unnatural History of America

In his latest book, Blood Orchid, Michael Pollan explores the dark side of our relationship with the natural world. He traces the history of the American orchid industry from its beginnings in the 19th century to its present-day global reach, revealing the environmental and human costs of our obsession with these beautiful flowers.

Pollan begins by telling the story of the first American orchid hunter, a young woman named Ellen Rogers. In 1833, Rogers set out from New York City on a journey to collect orchids in the wilds of Florida. She was drawn to the flowers' beauty and rarity, but she also knew that they were worth a great deal of money. Orchids were then the height of fashion, and wealthy collectors were willing to pay top dollar for them.

Blood Orchid: An Unnatural History of America

by Charles Bowden

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1777 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	276 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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Rogers' journey was arduous and dangerous. She had to travel through swamps and forests, and she was often threatened by wild animals. But she was undeterred. She collected hundreds of orchids and sent them back to New York, where they were sold for a small fortune.

Rogers' success inspired other orchid hunters to follow in her footsteps. Soon, there were professional orchid hunters all over the country. They collected orchids from every corner of the United States and sent them to New York and other major cities. The demand for orchids was so great that the flowers were quickly becoming extinct in the wild.

In an effort to protect the orchids, the government passed a law in 1933 that made it illegal to collect them from public lands. But the law was difficult to enforce, and orchid hunting continued. Today, many of the native orchid species in the United States are endangered.

The orchid industry has also had a negative impact on the environment. Orchid hunters often clear entire forests in order to find the flowers. They also use pesticides and other chemicals to protect their plants from pests and diseases. These chemicals can pollute the environment and harm wildlife.

Pollan's book is a fascinating and disturbing look at the dark side of our relationship with the natural world. Blood Orchid is a must-read for anyone who cares about the environment and the future of our planet.

Alt Attribute Keywords

* American orchid industry * Blood Orchid * Ellen Rogers * Environmental costs of orchid hunting * Extinction of native orchid species * Human costs of orchid hunting * Michael Pollan * Negative impact of orchid industry on environment * Orchid hunters * Pesticides and chemicals used in orchid industry * Protection of native orchid species * Rare and beautiful flowers * Search for wild orchids

Long Tail Title

Blood Orchid: An Unnatural History of the American Orchid Industry and Its Impact on the Environment and Wildlife

Blood Orchid: An Unnatural History of America

by Charles Bowden

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1777 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	276 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE