Exotic, captivating, and seductive, orchids have long fascinated plant lovers. They first attracted the attention of Westerners in the 17th century, when explorers brought back samples from South America and Asia. By the mid-1800s, orchid collecting had reached a fever pitch, not unlike that of the Dutch tulip craze of the 1630s, with rich (and rapacious) collectors hiring emissaries to strip the jungles and forests bare. Today the passion aroused by these beautiful plants is as strong as ever. Once reserved for wealthy gentlemen gardeners, orchids can now be bought at nurseries, supermarkets, and department stores at affordable prices. Their popularity continues to increase as gardeners discover orchids are not quite as difficult to grow as commonly believed. Still, new owners often allow their plants to suffer because they treat them like ordinary houseplants. Orchids are unique, growing in bark instead of soil, and their light and water requirements differ greatly from other plants. The key to successful cultivation lies in knowing where a specific type of orchid naturally grows (in the jungle? the forest?) and providing similar horticultural conditions. In this article, the author provides a list of orchid resources for public and college libraries.