Susan, I grow this Coelogyne warm and fairly bright and flood daily. This one is truly an easy grower and bloomer around here..

I'm packed and pacing nerviously while waiting for our ride to the airport. The pacing took me to the OC where I discovered Lc Irene's Song ( Marie's Song X Irene Finny) is in the process of opening. This is as good as I will get to see her this year so thought I would share. See you around July 21st.

Jim

Pretty stuff to the last minute!!
Take care, Jim

Bon Voyage Jim!
Ken, Copper Queen is an amazing plant with beautiful flowers...my favorite!
Ursula, as usual , a spectacular show at your place...nice!

Thanks, Lindsey. Does it look familiar?

Some more flowers have opened on the Copper Queen. Eight more to come.

That's just a fabulous blend of colors, and the markings in the lip are so pretty. Looks like they are gaining a bit more yellow?

I've got a few buds waiting to pop here, but it has been raining in the afternoons, so much cooler, and that has slowed all the bloomers down a bit. (thankfully!)

Have a great trip, Jim!

I can just see Jim missing his flight because he's out with the orchids!

Something like that!

Hey, they're his children . . . it's hard to let go! I doubt Patty would let him miss his flight, though.

Not much new here, except the mauve Spathoglottis have opened two big spikes. Some thing going on with ants on the growing tip in the close-up!


My 'energizer orchid' Enc. Green Hornet still with 5 spikes in bloom. I keep thinking it's going to go into a decline and not bloom for years after this huge effort.

They are both beautiful!

Blooming here today are a couple of Ascocendas, the yellow one is Ratchaburi Beauty and the Raspberry colored one is Fuchs Joy.

Beautiful, Ursula!
I have a few things in bud, so maybe soon I can contribute something. Mid- summer just isn't the best time for Orchid blooms around here.

Thanks, Carol!
I have a bunch of buds/spikes, but they are taking their sweet time.

How are you dealing with the non-stop rain this year in the cage, Ursula? Or maybe this weather is only in New England. My orchids are finally outside (3 days and lots of scale this year) and mostly under tarps so far.

Kathy, yes, we have a lot of rain, but it is also quite hot and sunny between showers, so things have been drying up in-between. But - this year I also add every couple of weeks some Physan to the fertilizer/Mg mix. So far so good. ( wouldn't mind doing that today, if it doesn't rain....)
Only once this year did I install the shade cloth over the cage because of the danger of large hail. That never happened and and I don't think it is necessary around here. The Orchids are happily out in the open, no problem so far.

Gorgeous Ascda's Ursula. I love the fine dots on the yellow one.

After Jim's comments on his Vandas, I'm thinking it's just about impossible to over-water a Vanda as long as they have good ventilation, is this right? I've been spritzing mine at least twice a day lately, if it doesn't rain.

Also if it does rain (which equals a douse by a fire hose here, usually) I've been covering most of my Catts and others after the first good douse, but leaving the Vandas out.

I am in 'waiting' mode as well, with a big Catt taking its time, and another Brassavola getting ready to pop. We need to support the thread while our mainstay Jim is away or he'll be disappointed in us.

Speaking of Jim, I'm currently floating somewhere in the North Sea looking for Denmark. My three days with friends in England were glorious. Temps mostly in the 60s with clouds and light rain. I was glad I brought along a jacket. We got an insider's tour of Oxford one day and a tour of Cliveden (The Astor Estate and garden) on another day. This is the first day aboard the ship. We have to pay through the nose for WiFi so my messages will be brief. Keep up thr good posts.

Jim

speak of the devil! I knew he would miss his ragtag gang of orchid buddies. Just when I thought I had a few days before another bloom would show .. . .

Brassavola 'Yellow Bird' opening her second bloom this spring. (this is the one that has a tag!) This is the first of a series - like a soap opera, the flower changes color each day as it matures.