Here is a thread for new purchases.

To replace from my collection of twenty years ago... a modestly sized Cattleya aclandiae, and a bloom sized Brassavola cucullata. In addition, and because I must be crazy, a miniscule Stanhopea wardii (the stuff that dreams are made of when the orchid cash runs out).

I just bought:
Laelia lundii (another)
Bulbo biflorum
Ascocentrum ampullaceum
Cirrhopetalum guttatum
Lc. Pink Favourite 'Hawaii' (a miniature)
Tolumnia Pink Panther
Bl. Seagull's Yellowbug (who could resist a name like that!)
Cleisostoma striatum
Laelia pabstii
Laelia fournieri

You are baaad to the bone! Actually I've been letting my gift certificates ride at Andy's and am trying to decide on two orders over several months (so I can get to know a few plants at a time) or one larger order.

Ha ha. These are all orchids I've been wanting, so when I found them mostly from one seller, my buying shoes went on.

Your advice under What To Look For when Buying Orchids is spot on. Shows are the absolute best places to get high quality orchids. However, while stalking Lowes today for an ID to one of my newly acquired Tolumnias I ran into the plant mgr.. Miffed that they were supposed to receive a shipment of Tols. two days ago that has still not arrived I mentioned that the remaining seven Better Gro orchids in bags were in poor shape and it wasn't like impatiens...you couldn't water and revive them in a few hours. Well, she felt badly that I'd made two trips and the next thing I know I'm walking out with all seven orchids in a bag for seven dollars. I've been in the OR (that's orchid room) ever since. They're in recovery now and their eyes are open.

Margaret Mead said, "It has been a woman's task throughout history to go on believing in life when there was almost no hope". I know she was referring to those orchids I'm always rescuing.

Laurel you are the only grower I know who is successful at orchid rescue. Must be that nursing background.

I'm not recommending this method of acquiring a collection to anyone. On the plus side, the plants were healthy when shipped. No snails, scales, or mites just no water or light for a month or more. It did throw me off track with the Andy's order today. I need to take care of that immediately.

Laurel, like you, I brought home Better Grow orchids last week from Lowes. 8 of them - 2 Vandas, Brassavola nodosa, 3 Catts, 2 epicats. All are robust, in good size pots and healthy.( I did, however, see some not so healthy ones with leaf problems.) The shipment had just come in. The manager told me when the next shipment comes in, and I plan to be there.

Around here, they return them to the vendor, if they are bad. Guess I'll just have to go to the show in San Diego.

Lowe's in Va. would sometimes return them to the vendor if they were damaged enroute to the store..once they got on the shelf and were subjected to daily soaks, no ventilation, no light, no love...well , you get the picture

Carol, the San Diego show and the Philly show are happening the same weekend. That's why I'm trying to get in touch with Andy's beforehand. I don't want to be left with your and Ursula's leftovers!

Kathy, I should have two lists of plants, the actual orchids and then items like a single back bulb of Enc. tampensis x Enc. steinbachii from Dave Johnston, the dried up Den. lead found on the lawn in Miami, the twenty plus year old Catt. aurantiaca that's been frozen and squirreled and all the rescues.

So sad, all those beautiful orchids...

Cross posted. yeah, lots of things on my list are just holding on and soon to be a goner. I keep it all on one list!

2 Catts arrived today from Carter and Holmes and they were packaged with such care! They are just beautiful and one is in bud. Carter and Holmes is not that far away, so maybe it would be a good trip, tho DH would be appalled at "More orchids??" Their catalog, too...yum!

You should go, Janice, and be sure to take pics for us!!
I actually got 4 orchids from ebay yesterday and they also packed them so well! They came out smiling. The sellers were cschaz and shermanp and I often buy from them. Three of them were laelias.

Janice, aren't you just a few hours away from Owens Orchids, in Pisgah Forest? I used to day trip there years ago and their nursery was fantastic! It's near Asheville, so you could find a million other excuses to explain the trip to DH and just happen to suggest a side trip while in the 'hood. Then, as we all know, the orchids while follow you home.

Oh, and I spoke to Harry, at Andy's today about my gift certificates, life and the universe (according to Douglas Adams) and how Harry thinks Atlanta's water quality is second best to rain. I've mentioned this before. The upshot is...
1. Stelis ciliolata
2. Pths. canaligera
3. Max. sanguinea
4. Ddc. javieri
5. Den. unicum (rigidum will have to wait 'til next time)
6. Haraella odorata (liked it before but really fell in love when Ursula posted hers way back when)
...the foster 'chids will be here next week.

I know stelis, max, den, and haraella. What are Pths., and Ddc.?

Pleurothallis and Dendrochilum.

Nice picks!
I like the Stelis ciliolata and Dendrochilum javieri is a very pretty yellow one.

Keep us posted on the Den unicum.