Lovely, Ursula. The little Octomeria is a pretty, graceful little plant, too.

I have a variegated phal that is morphing into plain leaves gradually, too. I've had it 3 years and the last leaf just had a narrow flash of cream along one side.

I wonder if the variegated leaves make less food for the plant so as it gets bigger and needs more chlorophyll, it makes less variegated leaves and more green ones? Plants seem to be sensible that way, yes?

I have my big NoID brassavola ready to pop a couple of flowers any day now.

Thanks Elaine.
Regarding the "needing more Chlorophyll" - hmmm.....

Very nice show, Ursula. The Aspasia lunata certainly looks like a Miltassia. Is there a difference?

Opening today for me is Epc. El Hatillo 'Pinta'

Jim

Nice one, Jim. Is it fragrant?

New at my house is the first of a few new spikes opening on my big noid Brassavola. Opens pink, but matures to orange petals and a yellow lip.


Howeara Lava Burst 'Puanani' almost fully open. Amongst 4 little plants I have 5 more spikes coming. Very exciting for me.

Ohh, very pretty Brassavola. Some hybrid perhaps?

Jim, I love the 'Pinta'! Yours is way ahead of mine!
Aspasia lunata is a species, Miltassia is a hybrid of Miltonia x Brassia.
But one of the synonyms of Aspasia lunata is Miltonia odorata, so that's why you perhaps see a bit of similarity?

Ursula, you Neofinetias are lovely. I only have the one that I got last year and it started a spike a while back which got to about 1 1/4 inches long before I noticed it and after I noticed it never grew any more. The Lc Love Knot coerulea is wonderful as well.

Jim, you Epi-Catt is a real stand out wearing that bright lipstick.

Elaine, I really love the color of your NOID Brassavola, it looks like it is a nice pastel peachy color now.

Odontocidium Wildcat 'White Lip'


Oncidium Ruffles 'Scent of a Woman'


Miltoniopsis Newton Falls came as a bonus plant in spike earlier this spring.

Very pretty, Ken! I think I need another Miltoniopsis!

Yes, the Miltoniopsis is outstanding. Too bad all of mine head for the compost pile in less than a week. That Ruffles is a standout as well Nice growing, Ken.

Jim

Lots of cool stuff happening here on this thread lately...
Elaine your Brassavola is amazing...love the color on that!
Ken, what a nice bonus Miltoniopsis Newton Falls is...love the spots on that one!
Jim, Epc. El Hatillo 'Pinta' is a knock out..I love that family , and wish I could find more of them!

My second plant Blc. Hawaiian Leopard 'Mei-Ling' opened this one is from Kawamoto orchids
and the frog that had been guarding the 2 fat buds on Lc. Mari's Song 'CTM217' HCC/AOS
left and look what happened..I think I prefer plants that spike and flower in the greenhouse!

Ouch! Hurts to see a bud becoming a happy meal..

That's really a shame, Lindsey. Do I see a tanker truck full of Bayer 3 in 1 pulling up in your drive?

Jim

P.S. Very nice Hawaiian Leopard you have there.

That's one spotty Leopard, Lindsay. So pretty.

What a shame on those buds. Does the Bayer nuke work on slugs, though? I think I see a slime trail going down the stem on the left one. Or maybe it's just bleeding.

I have been incredibly lucky so far, none of my 'outside' orchids have so far sustained any damage, insect, animal or mollusk. (knocking furiously on wood, here)

I don't think the Bayer product works on slugs, because I use it every month or so....I've been
pulling the budded plants out of the big line-up where (allegedly) I can keep them a little drier
and monitor these problems before they become big problems...I guess I have to revisit the
whole concept!

I've been enjoying the show all month, and wishing I had room to add some I've seen, but alas, I don't. At least my Laelia purpurata v. carnea is not a month or more behind. First bloom.

Carol, your L purp carnea is gorgeous!

No, the Bayer's definitely doesn't work on Slugs, hanging the plants in bud helps a lot, and otherwise simply vigilance and hit them with salt if one comes across one of the slimy creatures - and if one comes too late, swearing quietly under one's breath is somewhat helpful. Btw those tiny Bush-snails are no slouches either when it comes to damage like that. Lay out some Potato or Apple slices around the plants and see what you can collect over night.

As for me, this one looks like a Schomburgkia and acts like a Schomburgkia but it is called Ctna Maui Maid X Mcp Brysiana. If you look all of that up, you will find a load of Schomburgkia in the family tree. The spikes are 30 inches long with several flower buds on the last 3 or 4 inches.


Oncidium Sweet Sugar now has a full contingent of dancing ladies in formation in the OC.


Jim

I forgot to mention how much I love the purpurata, Carol. Great red in the lip.

Jim

It's just not fair, if a person wore Schiaparelli pink and golden yellow like Maui Maid it would look terrible, but those flowers are just gorgeous.

The dancing ladies are just amazing, too, and they really do look like that c/w faces and hair and flaring skirts. On a white background they'd look like the Ice Capades.

My new baby is getting very yellow now, and her sister is open.

I miss my Dancing Ladies I think they are sulking when I divided them.

Jim, I love that Ctna. 'Maui Maid' X! Wish I had room for some of the larger ones, but I don't. The L. purpurata v. carnea was almost hitting the ceiling in the shack so I'll just have to live vicariousely thru folks with greenhouses.