Orchids? In San Mateo? Yes, indeed!
Orchids have the reputation for being native to distant lands, and difficult to grow here “at home.” Actually, neither is true.
The “difficult” reputation arose when explorers brought back exotic varieties from hot, humid jungles; replicated those conditions in a greenhouse; and, then put every other orchid they found anywhere in the same conditions. Orchids come from all over the globe, and each one will grow nicely if the grower replicates its native conditions. Dendrobium Spectabile 
grows wild in the Solomon Islands of the South Pacific, but might be a challenge in San Mateo.
Other varieties from exotic locations, like cymbidiums
are common here in hybrid forms, although the species they originated from are found at high altitudes in tropical and sub-tropical Asia. The hybrids are widely available in varied color patterns and can be grown inside the home, on a front porch, or other suitable location. They have attractive long-leafed foliage, so when the blossoms come it’s a bonus.
But they aren’t native to San Mateo. We can find Epipactis Helleborine
growing wild in shady woodlands, but E. Helleborine is found across the U. S. and Canada. It’s native to Europe and Asia.
For a couple of true San Mateo natives, we’ll need to go to Laguna Creek up along the San Andreas fault, where it flows out of Edgewood County Park. Douglas firs in the upper watershed of the creek produce “fog drip,” comparable to an extra 10-12 inches of rain, on average, creating conditions that are home to Epipactis gigantea
and Cephalanthera Austiniae
I expect I’ve missed others. Orchids are impressively varied, in where they’re found, and what form they take. Consider, as our last example, the Australian subterranean orchid, which grows underground and only breaks the surface to bloom, Rhizanthella Gardeneri
The flowers are tiny red bulbs, similar in appearance to pomegranate seeds. The entire flower pod is an inch or less across, but may contain as many as 150 blossoms:
-dc-
What I've Learned... 