I hope so too!! Congrats Laurel!

Jim, your posts are really wonderful, but that Dendrobium takes the cake! Holy smokes! Well done!

I love the Phaius!

Some stuff starting up here -
The Vuyl Aloha Sparks 'Edna's Flame' AM/AOS I picked up at Silva Orchids in January is finally ready to open - here is a preview


Epidendrum secundum v.album opens a bunch of spikes against the ceiling ( blue sly today after yesterday's wintery mess)


and this noid reed-stem Epidendrum finally says something. A bunch of keikies are budding on this one.


Bulbo lasiochilum puts on a nice show. ( edited id)


And Epidendrum parkinsonianum surprised me with a couple of blooms


A tiny spike on Aerangis citrina


More spikes on Den. rigidum


And Oerstedella centradenia flowers for a long time

Wow, those are all wonderful, Ursula. Especially like the shot of the Bulbo against the snowy scene outside

Thanks Elaine.
I have been using Fish tank water on those smaller species which are hanging right over them. I just pour it over the racks, let it run back into the tanks and then change the water/ do the gravel cleanup. It seems the Orchids like it, see the Aerangis citrata, which actually tries to come back from the almost "not too happy state".
The Paradise Fish have no problem with that treatment!

Plus the orchids get a little fish fert, too! What an excellent plan.

I do have a pond with goldfish . .. hmm. it's in full blazing sunshine though. Maybe Vandas would take that treatment plus morning sun??

I walk my garden and often "see" just the right spot for a plant. Have not yet seen the spot that would suit a Vanda but perhaps hanging over the pond is
their place.

Just lovely, Ursula. The Epi parkinsonianum goes on the wish list. The form is just great. I also love the bulbo with the snow background.

Nice and warm here today and I just came in from misting in the OC where I discovered L. tenebrosa X Blc Chinese Bronce 'Marco Polo' in full bloom.

Jim

Jim, that one is always a winner, I like the green/red combo!

Epi parkinsonianum would be a good fit for you, I am sure you will also love the interesting, not quite terete growth. Btw the blooms smell wonderful too.

That really is a stunning color combo, and the flowers are a pretty shape, too.

It was raining a lot today, perfect for cleaning fish tanks and taking some pictures.
The Paradise Fish are always hungry in their two 40 gallon tanks.


The fire is dancing as the many spikes open this month. There are still a bunch to go.
Lc Fire Dance 'Patricia', main focus on the smaller plant of mine.


More of the fire theme- Vuyl Aloha Sparks 'Edna's Flame' starts looking pretty


And Stenosarcos Vanguard "Fireball' adds to the fires in the greenhouse with two bright red spikes on pretty foliage.


Aside from the reds there is Platystele stenostachya which hasn't quit blooming now for several years! It always blooms, year around! The cute little blooms are in the mm range.

I just cleaned up the front borders and discovered happily that the Bletillas are sticking their noses up! I pulled the weedy grass around them and covered them again loosely with some leaves, since we are still seeing temps in the twenties F.
Spring is in the air...

Wow! a greenhouse on fire! Beautuful!
My Lc. Firedance X B. nodusa is in bud also, but it will be awhile before it opens..

Your greenhouse must look like it is decorated for Christmas with all of those beautiful red blooms. Gotta love the Platystele stenostachya and give it a thumbs up for blooming effort. Several years of blooming without taking a break must be a record.

Out in the OC, C. Tiffin Bell X Blc. Edward McDonald has put out a single bloom. Do any of you know if this has been named yet? It is a first time bloomer for me.


Also blooming is Den. farmeri but I am concerned about it. It usually puts out tons of blooms on spikes that hang down the sides of the basket but this year I just got this one little spike sticking up in the air. I have to battle fungus on this plant quite often. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.


Last year I met Elaine in Sarasota to go on down to Venice for a big grower going out of business sale. It turned out to be more of a rip-off than a sale and I only bought one plant. We wound up visiting Selby Gardens, which was a delight. Anyway, I bought L. purpurata X R. digbiana for no other reason than the lineage. I mean how can you go wrong with parents like that? It is just beginning to open and I am already impressed. More on this one later.


Jim

Thanks.

Jim, the RHS does not list your Cattleya x as far as I can see.
I like the Dendrobium farmeri, hopefully it survives. Selby Gardens? I would like to visit them myself one of these dates.

You have friends down here you know. And bring along Kathy.

Jim

Thank you Jim!

Btw google Bl Morning Glory, I am sure you you will like it......

How could someone not like Bl. Morning Glory? I think the digbiana in this cross will give me that unshaven look. At least I hope so.

Jim

I'm back after a week of sailing events, tired but refreshed. Ursula, that Lc. Firedance 'Patricia' is stunning! My favorites are the bright hot reds and the yellows of course.

I have one new Phaius open finally, I think it is Phaius Microburst 'Octoberfest' although the tag says 'Wild Thing'. We decided last year when it bloomed that it is definitely not 'Wild thing'. The flowers are nearly twice the size of the Phaius tankervilleae. As it ages the petals fade to ivory, and the lip darkens to deep burgundy.

That's a beauty, Elaine!