Sounds exciting, Jim!!

I have been moving my orchids back inside, since the night temperatures have been dipping into the forties here in Fair Lawn. Some of these pictures have been taken yesterday, today most of the shelves are filled up. And some of the Paradise fish babies are in their tank in the greenhouse. Very cute, these little fish are so nosy! ( a first large batch of babies/ca 300 or so have been dropped off already.) The rest of the fish will be relocated before the week is out.
Happily busy here....
The Encyclia cochleata 'Waterfield' grew some more over the Summer

Sc Crystelle Smith 'Rheagan' starts blooming


Lc Mini Purple 'Shibuya' has a nice bloom. I mounted my other plant of this on a piece of driftwood and that one grew much better over the Summer, but no blooms yet.


Renanetia Sunrise 'Prasong' opened another spike.


Laelia alvaroana is also in bloom

Lc Mini Purple 'Shibuya' is a beauty! I can't get any of my many rup. laelias to bloom. What's your secret?

Thanks Kathy! Secret? Not really. I kept them all Summer in the middle of the cage in full exposure to the elements/full sun. They did alright, I see a lot of growth on those. A few have very reddish leaves, which is ok.

It is pouring buckets here today!! What a nasty storm! I am glad I got a lot of my Orchids inside, hopefully the remainder in the cage and on the deck are ok.

They are all gorgeous, Ursula. The Enc. cochleata has such dainty flowers, the whole plant is pretty as a picture, are you growing it in a basket?

Elaine, I planted it years ago into an Epiweb ( now Ecoweb) basket. But that one is completely overgrown and mostly hidden by now.
In case you are not familiar with the stuff, First Rays sells it from their website. Here is the info on it.
http://www.firstrays.com/ecowe...

Btw - to all you beginning Orchid addicts out there - Encyclia cochleata is THE starter Orchid! This is one tough plant and blooms pretty much year around. I don't think I ever saw a bug on the plant either. I drench it daily, those free roots love it. Not fussy at all.

Thanks for mentioning that!

And I DO like the looks of it!

I pinned it onto "Plants I want" and anonymously quoted you there.
http://pinterest.com/pin/80713...

Ursula - there are NO photos in the database and yours are very good!
(hint hint hint)

Ursula, it looks like your plants had a fantastic summer vacation at 'the cage'...beautiful happy plants!
Jim, I love your Bllra. Marfitch 'Howard's Dream' AM/AOS...great markings and a really nice deep color. . . High drama!

Very nice show, Ursula. I'm a big fan of Laelia alvaroana. Also, you may find an orchid very close to Encyclia cochleata 'Waterfield' called Encyclia Green Hornet. Mine looks identical to the one Ursula posted and blooms constantly as well.

It is pouring buckets here as well so these pics may be a little dark but here is my first attempt to photograph Vanda Sanderiana, var. alba. I bought it in bloom at a show for $50.00 and thought I had been taken to the cleaners until I looked it up and found I got it on the cheap. That was two years ago and it is finally re-blooming for me. I just love it.

Jim

wow Jim Love it!

beautiful, Jim!

It is a gorgeous thing, Jim. Elegant colors.

I'm trying to resist spending that much on any one orchid, if I can. Growing them outside, it's just too risky for me. It was so great for me to be able to get a bunch of inexpensive orchids from my local fellow who closed his greenhouse. It's given me lots of plants to raise, while I climb my steep learning curve, and find the good places in my yard to grow them. Buying a big, expensive orchid in bloom is great, but seeing one that you have raised for a year or two bloom for the first time, now that's a thrill!

Luckily I have not killed more than two or three, although I found out yesterday that neither of my bare-root starts of Laelia Anceps made it. I had mounted them on the big oak branch, and between wind, weather, and squirrels having their way up there, the last leaf turned brown yesterday. Now, got to go find me some Ecoweb to re-pot the little 'Green Hornet'. (thanks, Ursula)

Thanks!

You are welcome, Elaine.

Jim, congrats on getting your Vanda sanderiana to bloom!

Just as good as my memory, Jim. Love it!

Beautiful Jim!
I can see how you would get spoiled shopping in Apopka and paying $5.00 a plant...but that's a really nice flower!

Just like all things in life, you evolve in collecting orchids. There was a time where I would take $100 to an orchid show and come away with 8 to 10 orchids. Now I will take the same money and come away with one or two. I have about 220 orchids so quantity is no longer important. When I spot something like this Vanda, I will snap it up and forgo all of the others.

Jim

Of course, you are much more discerning , and you have a wonderful controlled environment for your babies, too. I'm evolving towards more types that will grow and possibly naturalize out in my garden. Mostly.

Still, . . I do recall you racing around those greenhouses in Apopka with a big grin on your face and your shoes on fire, pretty excited about getting nice vandas and catts for $5 each. Evolution only works so far when there are bargains to be had, right?

Apopka isn't like strolling through an orchid show looking for quality orchids and bargains. It's more of a feeding frenzy.

Here is a minor OC update:

Psychopsis alba has put out a new bloom.


There is also a new bloom on Blc. Golden Tang and a fat bud in the hanger.


B. nodosa X C. netrasiri 'waxy' is holding its colors very nicely.


And finally, what would life be like without dancing ladies?


Jim