I really enjoyed our forum this last year! It was so nice to see everybody mixing in here, new and old "orchidiots" alike.
We came from here:
The thread "Our Orchid Blooms in December 2013" in Orchids forum

It is not quite time to raise our glasses for the new year toast yet, but I am in the mood of starting the new thread already!
Here we go:

Phragmipedium Jason Fischer has been in bloom for a while and now starts another, new spike.


and Paph spicerianum opened the first of two blooms


Unfortunately I did break one of the spikes of my Schomburgkia superbiens, but the first of the remaining 5 spikes is now in bloom.


The so-called Christmas Orchid - Cattleya percivaliana 'Summit' is in bloom a couple of days off schedule, but who is to complain.


and Cattleya loddigesii 'Shorty' x Cattleya walkeriana 'The Chairman'


Please, let's post and discuss successes and failures and have a good time!
Looking forwards to Jim's Schomburgkia undulata!!

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great start to 2014, my friend. This is way past my bedtime!

Jim

Actually mine too….
Thanks Jim and Melanie!

Up early this morning to take pictures and my camera was out of juice. I finally have that problem fixed so here is the promised Schomburgkia undulate.



I also have a new flower on my Brassavola nodosa.


Ursula, I'm reading that you had six spikes on your superbiens. Great growing Also, I love the Cattleya percivaliana 'Summit'. It reminds me of L. purpurata.

Jim

That Schom is really great looking, Jim. What a long spike there!

What a lovely color combo on the Christmas orchid, Ursula.

Such slow progress on the blooms opening here, due to cool, cloudy weather this week. Oh well, one cold night coming up and we'll be back to sun and warmth, let's hope!

Happy New Year everyone, Jim I need a vac swap. I pick your place! Beautiful orchids and environs but how do you keep the runoff from watering and ect . out of the pool? Ha!

Now that I got my first Bulldog type paph to bloom I am critical, I think the floppy wings are due to dry indoors here, I have two humidifiers going but it's only 38% at noon.


This is Paph Star Stone and it's usually upright and flatten out from others pictures.

My sister, Patty just left with the blooming division of Fire Dance 'Patricia' as a thank you for putting up these sheers, I got a real bargain in her helping me to prevent any more burn episodes. And as most of you know she will love that plant!


Wishing good fortune and good health for 2014 to all.

Bert

Light but steady rain since I awoke this morning. It is a real treat in the middle of the dry season. I can almost see the lawn and garden perk up as the rain continues.

Bert, I am much too fragile for a vacation swap to Memphis at this time of year. Contact me in July and perhaps we can arrange something. The pool deck is sloped slightly away from the pool and into deco drains which carry the water out into the yard. I've had no problem with drainage. The 15,000 gallon pool helps to keep the temps constant in the OC as well as providing humidity in the dry season. It also keeps me on my toes as I have fallen in a couple of times while misting the orchids.

Jim

Jim I bet you are cooler in July than we are here in Memphis, 100's are really seen more in July than in Aug the last few years. I was offered a Travel Nurse job in Wyoming, now till mid March. I had to call them back, give them the 'are you Crazy speech'!! But 13 weeks anywhere in Fl will be fine thank you! So I'm back to looking the want adds.

Bert

Great pix to start the year

Totally beautiful, everyone!

Hi All!

Jim, I love the Schom undulata! Beautiful curly blooms and that long spike is awesome! Must be nice to spend time inside your OC. I could imagine the acoustic is great for some Choral music bouncing off the glass?

Bert, how nice! That is a big bloom on your Paph!
And your plants look great, I am certainly looking forwards to them in bloom. I am so happy you figured out that picture posting thing!

I hadn't thought about going out there to sing but I think it is a good idea. It is still warm and overcast here but the wind has picked up and they are calling for storms and cold temps to move in. The low tonight is now predicted to be 45 so I have closed all of the OC windows to preserve the heat. As I type this, a band of rain is moving through. It sounds like a night for comfy clothes, a blanket, a good book and a glass of Bordeaux. :greengrin:

I have a NOID Catt that has put on a new spike and three blooms that are smashed all together. I see no way to get a good picture so I'll just shoot it as is.


Jim

Lovely color. To get down near frezing on this side of FL tonite. and the winds will drop the feel to about 20!!!!!

Super floof!! That is a 100 on the floof scale!

Jim, by sheer dumb luck we realized that the double glass in our greenhouse provides excellent acoustics, especially when playing choral music or Opera bounced off the ceiling.( the glass walls have too many plants in their path) I have small, but excellent speakers high up on the shelf directed at the ceiling panels. But then you can sing yourself, even better!!

Anyway, I thought I was playing with the twins today after school, but the brewing blizzard here kept me home, since it won't be such a great idea to drive home in the dark and the predicted blinding snow. Tonight will be around 0 degr F.
Kathy further North will be surely looking at a foot of snow and temps at -10 dgr F.
Keep warm!

I've been watching the weather news and it looks like Kathy is in the eye of the storm. I sure hope she is prepared. She has plenty on her plate already.

Jim

Good afternoon all, batten down ye hatches, there's a storm a coming. We missed the storm effects just have the artic chill that will hit ya'll later.

Ursula, do you grow Lepanthes calodictyon?

Thx again, to all who helped me with the iPad tricks. My niece can't understand how I didn't know this computer stuff, how did I survive all these years and not know ? I told her that when I completed Grad School in 84, they were not thought to be that big of a deal. Now the upgrades and new versions are major changes several times a year. Next I want to tackle photography, and my picture should get better. Hey, first New Year resolution!

Bert

Lepanthes calodictyon?
I had a plant many years ago, it grew well for me, a real cutie. Then I went on vacation and it just didn't get the daily super attention for a couple of weeks, I am guessing that is what happened. It was as dead as a door nail when we returned. I decided then that to keep this plant I could never leave the house for more than 2 days in a row. So I didn't replace it.

Some repeat bloomers here -
Lc Love Knot v coerulea has been blooming non-stop for several months now, it is hanging right under the glass ceiling. Photo taken on a step ladder.


Lc Mini Purple 'Shibuya' keeps opening buds, while some faded blossoms are already cut off.


My second plant of Cattleya Nancy Off 'Linwood' AM/AOS ( 1010) in bloom now, this one is from Waldor. ( the first plant posted last month was a division from Silva Orchids)


And while I was on the step ladder anyway - this mounted Den moniliforme ( only one small piece here shown) is a very happy camper this Winter

Thx for your thoughts on the Lepanthes, I was thinking of putting it in one of those air plant clear glass hanging balls. The tillantesis were dead by the time I opened the nieces present. Any suggestions for something small that May like that environ, I can't grow cool?