By Donna Dawson

The plant world contributes the pumpkin for Halloween, and it offers The Dracula orchid which never raises its face in the daylight hours. The Dracula is a fascinating and rare orchid species with monkey faces, long tails and sometimes even hairy blooms. The name means “Little Dragon” and these dragons are as unique as their ancestors.

This strange and intriguing genus was created by Dr. Carlyle Luer in 1978. Prior to this time they were included with the Masdevallia genus. There are approximately 124 species found in the Dracula genus. Of these, ten species originated here in Panama including the Dracula roeslii ‘Finca Dracula’.

La Finca Dracula (The Dracula Farm) is located in Guadalupe, Chiriquí, the highest village in Panama. It was started as a hobby in 1969 by Andrew Maduro of Maduro Tropical Flowers and covers 22 acres of tropical forest that is often bathed in clouds. Here you will find more than 2,200 different orchid species from Central and South America. It is one of the most important orchid farms in Central America.

Nestled at the edge of Parque La Amistad (Friendship Park), a World Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO world heritage site, it is a joy to walk around the gardens, and of course to buy some orchids to take home as a memento of your experience. Visit www.fincadracula.com or telephone 771-2070 for further information.