Speaking of $5 plants from Apopka, I got a nice big, healthy Angraecum sesquipedale last year when I went for a shop there with Jim. It's doing great, put on lots of new leaves over thesummer, and has some long air roots but I'm thinking it maybe needs to come indoors to keep warm in order for it to think about blooming - anybody have experience with these?

It looks a funny color because of the lighting, it's really very nice, green and healthy looking. No sign of a bud, though.

Elaine, I grow it with my Cattleyas, no special treatment. Perhaps I need to make a field trip to Sarasota. I could meet you for some orchid shopping and also visit my palm lady down there.

Jim

Oh, you lucky people. Places to purchase orchid plants, orchid shows to attend, and warm temps. What could be better. Our low here in NE Mississippi, Sunday morning, is supposed to be 26F!

These two plants are the Blc. 'Elmhurst'. The one on the right opened up approximately a week ago and is 7 1/2" in diameter. The one on the left opened up last night and (so far) is only 5" in diameter. Notice how the newly-opened flower petals/sepals are lime-colored but will change to pale-yellow as the flower matures. These are very fragrant flowers. Ken


Click on pic for best view

That's a really pretty color combo, Ken. Yeah, it's really tough on us tender tropical types, when the nights get down into the 50's and we have to close the windows in the evenings.

Jim, just let me know if you have the urge to shop in Sarasota. I'm always game for an excursion to Plantio and Tropiflora. Mondays or Thursdays are best days for me. Is your Angraecum showing any sign of buds yet?

Ouch, that really hurts, Elaine. Ken

Almost time to leave for the Airport. We are flying out to Northern Virginia to spend Thanksgiving with Patty's sister and family. An occasional dose of kids, dogs and freezing temps helps me remember why I am giving thanks. Have a wonderful holiday and keep safe.

Jim

Don't envy you the travel today, or the freezing temps, although weather liars say it won't be too cold! Dust off the coat, warm hat, mittens and boots, huh? I can identify, we are supposed to go to Salt Lake for Xmas this year <groan> where it surely will be cold!

Safe travels, Jim! Happy turkey, everyone!

We've been in the twenties at night all week. I just clipped two yews and wore a fleece jacket and winter hat but my hands were really cold even with garden gloves at 4:30.

Of course we think you are all wimps! We can go down to -20 due to windchill for a few weeks some winters. After that, 30 degrees feels so balmy, we wear unzipped light jackets and the teenagers wear shorts!

Happy Thanksgiving to you All!

Ken, that's a beautiful Blc! I love the fancy lip!

Elaine, my Ang sesquipedale grows in somewhat lower light conditions for me, simply I run out of the super premium bright spot to place a large plant. Mine is growing spikes now. It usually blooms around Christmas and a bit later for me. But, you are growing in a different climate zone.....so that could account for different spiking times.

That IS cold already, Kathy!! We have daily night frosts, but it is in general pretty nice at daytime.

It's been in the high forties lately during the day with lots of sun. Just hafta run the defroster every day before my drive to work. No scraping yet!


Happy Thanksgiving all. This is my favorite holiday.
And my anniversary! It's my twentieth year with my guy.

Happy Anniversary to you both, Kathy. I will miss you this Friday!
Gobble, gobble.

Happy Thanksgiving, all! (from So. Cal. where we're low 50s at night and low 70s during the day)

Miss you too. It had become traditional for D and I to visit Ursula and Klaus every year on Friday after Txgiving on our way home from NYC. But we're not going this year.

Around here quite a few of my Cattleyas are busting out. Now normally I would get a nice show with most spikes coming into bloom at the same time. Not this year. Just about each spike blooms on its own while "younger spikes" play catch-up. Cattleya Bob Betts 'White Lightning' has 4 new growth, the second one is blooming now.


Same thing with my two plants of Blc Goldenzelle 'Lemon Chiffon'. Perhaps I will have a long flowering season with those two then. My first plants started to produce new growth very late in the season in addition to the properly timed growth.


Cattleya Loddiglossa 'Honey Ball' SM/JOGA came from Suwada last Summer. I love the nice large blooms.

there beautiful Ursula

Now you really made me wish I was coming! I'd love to see those in person! Especially love that Honey Ball!

Thanks! I love Cattleya season!

Beautiful Ursula!..ALL of them!

Mtssa. Kauai's Choice 'Tropical Fragrance' AM/AOS
This is the most difficult flower to photograph and it's
a giant..almost 6 inches from head to toe!

Lovely, Lindsay, and does it have a tropical fragrance?

Gorgeous catts, too Ursula. White Lightning has the most beautiful flower shape with that floofy trumpet lip.