Ted, thanks for that link. Hope they do more thorough testing this time. I really enjoyed the articles on marijuana on our environment too.

Ok! Got some pics before the sun and on my first cup of coffee this morning. First bloom ever on Brassavola cuculatta. I've waited 3 yrs for this one
and mama Gerberara ' snow ballet'

Beautiful, both of them. The Gerberara is a Charmer!!

Carol, your cuculatta is outstanding!

Always good to see mother Gerberara.

Jim

Here is the picture I posted before taken on this past Thursday



This was taken this evening



And neither look like Jim's or Carol's. I think Carol is correct when she says that even a small difference in environment effects the blooms

I'm sure you're right, Ted.

Mine, also a division of Carol's, open a much more lavender shade, and I have not seen as much yellow on any of mine. They fade to white just like yours, though.

Here's mine blooming back in April. It has new growth now but no spikes in evidence yet. I'll be interested to see what the flowers are like when they develop outdoors in 90deg. heat here.

Carol, once your B. cucullata starts blooming each year you will get a few more flowers!

Regarding the Gerberara - I looked up the name, since I always see here the Snow Ballet written as 'Clonal name'.
Maybe you should call it Gerberara Snow Ballet 'Carol'?
http://forum.theorchidsource.c...

Here is my cute little Laelia bradei blooming this week. I have it now sitting on my kitchen window sill, it fits easily!

Name it after Carol!

Great idea, Ursula &Ted. Ursula, the Laelia brandei is a sweet thing!

Heavy rain again today. Wind has changed so we are getting the rain in the morning now. It has rained every single day since I got home, at least a bit. It also rained every day the week before. At least they are fairly short showers with intervals of sun in between so some drying out happens each day. But I was hoping to get to fertilize today. Glad I didn't jump on it early, as it all would have washed away!
No wonder my orchids are still rotting! This nice pb of Iwanagara Apple Blossom flopped over yesterday so I cut it. The pb is still firm despite the black color, and the leaves are perfect, but the stem below the pb had rotted. Arg.

Mama Gerberara is stunning! This is the first time I've seen the name Gerberara

Elaine, you can send some of that rain up here. I can't remember the last time it rained, and I'm tired of watering! They keep teasing us with "scattered thunderstorms" that never materialize.

Finally have a bloom for August (just in time!), Milt. Mario Van Peebles is opening up.

Sorry Ursula...I knew that, I'm just sloppy with names. There seems to be some confusion re; Gerberara Snow Ballet http://us.yhs4.search.yahoo.co... .I bought it at a show around 2005 with the tag so to me it will remain Grb.Snow Ballet.

Ted, If you type Gerberara Snow Ballet into Yahoo search, the first entry on the list is photos of this plant.

Laelia bradei!

No problem, Carol. It is a famous plant!!
Here is the RHS entry
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/horticu...
except the silly Kew guys are calling it - wait for it..... Collierara. Really???

You know, you practically can never do a search using the genus name nowadays, it only works if you type in the Epithet name only. I think it is getting increasingly ridiculous. Not really user friendly?

Glad you like the Laelia, Kathy! I almost missed the blooms, I was trying to relocate a baby Cardinal, which had somehow squeezed into the cage, but had no idea how to get back out! As the parents were calling loudly!! As I looked up, there were the blooms right under the cage ceiling.

pretty Miltoniopsis, Susan!

Well I suppose I can start adding (Collierara) after Snow Ballet, but I'm not changing the tag! I'm beginning to think those guys just like messing with us!
I really like that Laelia too!

on the messing with us!
Thanks Carol.

Wonders never cease, look who decides to open!!!!!

I'm on board with Laelia bradei. Tiny and cute.

Very nice Miltonia, Susan. I have no luck growing them.

Ursula, congrats on the Habenaria medusa!

If Carol says it's a Gerberara, that's good enough for me.

Elaine, no rain here for three days. I'm only sinking up to my ankles in the garden.

Jim

Bad news guys.....http://forum.crazyorchidlady.com/content/name-changes

Oh yes!!
The one I really look at with disdain is the Neofinetia renamed to Vanda. No no no!
So there!