A friend found this on the AOS forum. Thought I'd share, as I believe it
expresses what many of us feel.

Diana

Following is a partial transcription of a chapter in a digitized book
published in 1893.
The book that the excerpt comes from is at:

http://digital.lib.msu.edu/projects/...=jpg&PageNum=2

About Orchids
A Chat
by Frederick Boyle

Among the gentle forms of intellectual excitement I know not one to compare
with the joy of restoring a neglected orchid to health. One may buy such for
coppers--rare species, too--of a size and a "potentiality' of display which
the dealers would estimate at as many pounds were they in good condition on
their shelves. I am avoiding names and details, but it will be allowed me to
say in brief, that I myself have bought more than twenty pots for five
shillings at the auction-rooms, not twice nor thrice either. One half of
them were sick beyond recovery, some few had been injured by accident, but
by far the greater part were victims of ignorance and ill-temperment which
might still be redressed. Orchids tell their own tale, whether of happiness
or misery, in characters beyond dispute. Mr. O'Brien alleged, indeed, before
the grave and experienced signors gathered in conference, that "like the
domestic animals they soon find out when they are in hands that love them.
With such a guardian they seem to be happy, and to thrive, and to establish
an understanding, indicating to him their wants in many important matters as
plainly as though they could speak." And the laugh that followed this
statement was not derisive. He who glances at the endless tricks, methods,
and contrivances devised by one or other species to serve it's turn may well
come to fancy that orchids are reasoning things.