Some orchids from an old ladies obsession for them. She cannot afford Christmas presents so is forever growing these Phalaenopsis Orchids, for Christmas presents.
Regards.
Neil.

Great Xmas present!! I wouldn't mind being on her list!! And wonderful pics, Neil!! Thanks!

Dear Kathy, you get a jar of Homemade chutney some pickled onions a handmade Christmas card and one of these off her. Better than any shop bought Christmas present!
She has hundreds of them but these were in flower much to her annoyance, so I just took some photos. I put them on my own cubit and then immediately onto yours as I thought you might like them.
Anything for you my dear.
Regards.
Neil.

I definitely want to be on her list!!!
Thanks so much for thinking of me and my members, Neil! You are a peach!

Wonderful photos, Neil! Thank you!

Very pretty, Neil! And - such a nice lady!!

She is indeed a lovely lady, and a neighbour of mine. She will also be 90 years old next year, so she does not do bad for her age. Unfortunately she cannot do her back garden that well, so I sort that out for her, and she does her beloved orchids and her house plants. I give her pots and canes etc., whilst the gentleman who lives at the bottom of our road works for the contractors that do the plants for the civic buildings, so he gives her bags of compost. Plus when her legs are bad due to the weather I do her shopping for her across the road.
She also grows Cymbidiums as well, as they can stand quite a lot of cool temperatures.
I wonder what she would say if I could get hold of one of these for her?
Regards.
Neil.

They are for sale here, Neil. Do they sell cyps in England? I have a collection but have never been able to grow the acaules that grow wild in my neighborhood (all pink). Here is a pic of one I grow.

Dear Kathy, they do sell them but not our own one Cypripedium calceolus. This was thought to be extinct before the second world war, that was due to the Victorians who were mad on plant collecting. Except they did not quite collect them they stole them from the wild just to put on a Dinner table as a status symbol. Then in the late 1950s someone found one of our native Cyps. left, the only one growing on limestone which is what they need. Lord Sainsbury who owns the supermarkets Sainsbury is an avid Orchid fan and his massive company pays to have the last surviving native Cypripedium guarded 24\7. The exact location is a closely guarded secret, and for those of us lucky enough to go and see it you are taken in a van with no windows. You are not allowed cameras, mobiles or of course anything that might have GPS on it. I know as I was one of the lucky ones to have seen it. Kew has them and most of the other Botanical Gardens, but ! have never seen one for sale.
Regards.
Neil.
I

Very interesting Neil. Here's a video. http://www.arkive.org/ladys-sl...

This has to be my all time Fav.
Dendrophylax lindenii, the Ghost Orchid

Wonderful!! I assume you shot this picture in situ?