Went to the Orchid Society mtg last nite & realized how much I was missing seeing pics of all the lovelies. Feel much better now. Except for the ever faithful Sharry baby, no one is blooming here.

I'm with you Jean. I went out to check my two in bud today and I got nothing so far. I thought the one might be ready to bloom because one of the buds had turned yellow (and the flower is supposed to be yellow). But today the bud was wrinkled and black. It was one of the orchids that got sunburned by my Dad. Luckily, it has lots of buds on it and all the others looked green and happy. Just playin' the waiting game now...

Orchids can really try our patience, don't they?

Here is a Vanda Sansai Blue in the meanwhile -

But they're worth it in the end! Love that gorgeous vanda!

It's good to have you here Jean. We are looking forward to the pictures of your blooms.

Vanda Sansai Blue is a classic, Ursula, and your plant is no exception. Nicely done. :thumbsup:

There is a little action out in the OC. The Psychopsis butterfly, alba form, has opened a new flower.


And so has the Psychopsis mariposa 'Green Valley'.


Lc George Baldwin X C. Trithena (aka. Big George) is covered in blooms again. It is about to burst the 8 inch clay pot it is in. I might have to divide it. Anyone?


My Blc. Hawalian Leopard 'Mai Ling' is blooming again. I like the color and the spots. Another Richard Mueller offspring.


Bc. Binosa 'Key Lime' has produced a single flower. Fairly large flower but it looks delicate.


Here are some better pictures of the L. tenebrosa X Blc Chinese Bronce 'Marco Polo'.


My ribbon winning Ctna Maui Maid X Mcp Brysiana is still blooming after more than two months.


Jim

Hello Jean!

Jim, the alba Psychopsis is really growing on me, I like the color. I always thought in this case I might prefer the regular form, but this one is very nice. I always love Big George, the blue is gorgeous!
Bc Binosa already!? Mine is months away from blooming. And your Ctna Maui Maid X is great!

I have been watching and tapping my foot for weeks now on the Habenaria medusa producing buds and opening slowly, very slowly!
There are still a couple of buds to go but don't think the picture will improve that much. Besides, I like to show what the buds look like too - just before popping.
I hope you don't mind if I share some observation regarding the these Habenaria corms and their "activation" to grow.
Here is my story:
Last year I bought a small pot with the plant already in growth (at the SEPOS from Parkside) and I still had a dormant corm of Habenaria medusa from J&L laying around which didn't say peep. On a whim I placed last Summer this dormant corm into the same pot as the growing Parkside plant. Low and behold this one started to grow too and actually budded. If you were to look at my pictures from last year, the J&L flowers lagged a bit behind, but they did bloom!! There is a smaller spike.
I do wonder, was this soil simply more suitable than other mediums we stick these corm into. Does the soil need a certain ingredient for the corm to wake up? Sort of in the way Orchid seedlings need their special fungus. There is surely more going on here than we think. Just thinking of our stands of terrestrial Orchids at our place in Pennsy - some years we see dozens of a certain Orchid, not much in other years. Weather is probably only part of the story?
Now if I were to buy another medusa ( or any other corm of a terrestrial Orchid) I would try to get one in active growth!!

Anyway here is now my little pot/spikes of Habenaria medusa

Here is last year's pot for comparison, note the smaller spike....

Interesting thoughts and wonderful pictures, Ursula.

Jim

Thanks so much, Jim!

Food for thought! That plant is really spectacular, Ursula!
I still haven't figured out what my freebie is. Could be Sobralia, or Arundina graminifolia, but it was in too much sun, so I'll have to wait till one of the buds open. Are there any others that have that bamboo type growth?

Thanks, Carol!!
Elleanthus has similar growth.

Jim, your array of lovely blooms blows me away! I especially like the colors on 'Maui Maid'. Who would think orange and pink together would look that wonderful?

Ursula, your Habenarias are simply exquisite. Jim, after hearing Ursula's story, maybe you should stick your corm from Andy into the pot of the one you got in bloom? It has the right mystery ingredient.

If nobody else has taken you up on your offer of a division of Big George, I would love to try a start. That's a fabulous orchid with amazing color. Will gladly reimburse you postage if you can't invent an excuse to come down this way. Or, DH may be flying out of Tampa some time in the next month, he has 4 trips on the slate before Thanksgiving so maybe I could drive up and fetch it. . . Apopka trip??

Carol, have you posted a picture of your freebie yet? Let's have a look at what you got.

My Psychopsis has been blooming almost constantly for 3 mo. It has 3 stalks & they just keep going. Seems they are 1 orchid that likes the AC & low humidity on the sun porch.

Habenaria medusa is a cutie. Reminds me of milkweed seeds whent he pods pop open..

I have been trying to think of what they remind me of for a long time. Thanx, Jean. I remember them from when I was when I was growing up in Chicago.

Was thinking the same thing when I shot this photo this morning. This is a weed I think is called 'shaving brush'.

The little Habenaria are much prettier, of course.

OK, Elaine, you are down for a piece of Big George when I slice him up. By the way, nice weed.

Jean, how about some Psychopsis pics?

Jim

Yes, my Psychopsis is done blooming after doing nicely for several years and I don't see any new growth either ! So I am very happy to enjoy Blooms on yours!!

I love Milkweed!! We have tons of them in Pennsy and I always look forward to them "in seed" comes Fall!. Here they were with their capsules a few weeks ago

Do your Milkweeds draw Monarchs?

"Nice weed", I'm getting desperate for something else to bloom here - nothing new on the horizon, although my B. nodosa did open a second spike. I may have to hit Trader Joe's again soon!

Or, . . hhmm . .. have not inspected the death rack at Lowe's recently! All those orphan Phals I rescued last fall bloomed wonderfully for me this spring. They've been struggling through the summer, though.

Ted, both milkweed and porter weed draw monarchs here.

Jim