Lacewing larvae eat sucking insects like aphids, whiteflies, thrips and mites. They are great beneficials, and I'm pretty confident they wouldn't eat a caterpillar. Even a tiny one.

This is an orchid-related photo. (although I did want to show off my nice angel's trumpets) The two big Brugmansias are shading most of my orchids inside the pool cage. Since they are terrible spider mite magnets, I'm really hoping the lacewings will help me control the spider mite problems. I certainly never have any spider mites on my orchids anyway. They like the brugs better!

Beautiful Brugs, it must be nice to go swimming in a surrounding like that!

Taking some time off from baking and "stuff" to share some pictures here -
The Blc Goldenzelle 'Lemon Chiffon' are now fully open. The golden blooms are beautifully scented, a nice bonus!


Coelogyne Golden Bug blooms along


The Lc Miss Wonderful or whatever this Lc Irene Finney hybrid actually is, had another bud hidden, so we are now looking at 8 nice blooms.


Cute little Pleurothallis mathildae


Dendrobium smilliae opens more buds


And a happy little camper

Those Goldenzelles are just amazing! So gorgeous!

And they are much enjoyed, Melanie! thanks.

That Spathoglottis is always a pleasure to look at. And also the Brugs. The Blc Goldenzelle 'Lemon Chiffon' is outstanding and I really like that Pleurothallis mathildae. We actually had rain here this past week. About a half inch Thursday/Fri

Melanie. That soft yellow is just about my favorite color, and the flowers are so beautiful.

Thanks All!!

Going down tonight to 18 degr F, downright frigid!

Interesting about the lacewing larvae. I'll be on the alert for those.

Great show, Ursula! The Goldenzelles are really nice. I had one open for me yesterday.


This NOID Catt. also opened yesterday.


Finally, another look at Stlma. Kelly 'Lea'.


Jim

Gotta love the Goldenzelle, it is the season!
Pretty ' Lea'.
Interesting bloom on the noid Catt, I am looking at the third picture?

Blc Goldenzelle 'Lemon Chiffon' is to die for!

In the meanwhile -
Cattleya Bob Betts 'White Lightning' opened the first of two spikes.


and Ceratostylis rubra is again in bloom this week

I'll bet Cattleya Bob Betts has a nice fragrance and I love the color on Ceratostylis rubra. There is something about those oranges.

Speaking of oranges, the Citrus Greening disease is slowly wiping out citrus in Florida. In another 5 years, there may not be an orange to be had down here. Many of the growers are turning to peaches I wonder what Georgia thinks of that?

Out in the OC there is some activity. Blc. Annie Belle opened one flower today and another big bud should be ready tomorrow.


Psychopsis Mendenhall 'Hildos' has produced two new giant blooms.


Epicattleya (Epc.) Lime Sherbert X Bc. Little Stars has a new spike opening.


My Rhynchovola David Sander just put on a new bloom.


Blc. Chia Lin 'New City' X Pot. Susan Fender 'Cinnamon Stick', AMAOS (aka. Pot. Linda Mathisen) has a nice bloom not quite fully open yet. You may remember I bought this one with Elaine down in Venice at the nursery closing sale just because I liked the parentage.


Jim

It's parentage sure shines through too. Lovely color and shape there.

Lovely blooms today, Jim! The Annie Belle is very showy and the David Sander is so easy to bloom in your environment, it just loves you!

Yes, Bob Betts has a lovely scent during daytime, it smells very nice walking into the greenhouse with some Cattleyas in bloom.

I really hope they can halt the demise of the Orange, it is surely the livelihood of many Floridians.

Jim, sorry about your trees! I had a trap in my lemon tree for a couple of months, but it has been removed, and I have no idea what the results were.
To those that are interested here is a link to a So. Cal. site- http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04...

Love 'White Lightening' and the Ceratostylis, Ursula. Jim your Psychopsis is magnificent - now I am wondering how many more years I'll wait for mine to put up a spike.

Finally one of my pregnant orchids has popped a couple of flowers. This is a new bloomer for me, Onc. Copper Scarab 'Brass Brethren'. Many more blooms to come but he will be in the house tonight so all those buds don't blast! Little noid blue Den still hanging fine, but will have to come in tonight, too.

Yes, I hear it is going to drop down to 40 degrees tonight which will be a shock to the system. I already have the OC windows closed. The Cyms should be fine under the oak tree so I think I am all set. Best of luck, Elaine.

Jim

I just finished bringing all the vandas inside to the garage. I seem to have less of them than I did last year or maybe I'm just getting used to them. They are a little squished, but I made sure to bring in all the ones in bloom or bud first so I could carefully position them. And while I was doing that, I found a couple had opened their buds, and one was completely hiding its (almost open) flowers from me! I bundled all the cattleyas up and Dad helped me cover them with blankets. I have trouble reaching the last row in the shade house but Dad has a longer reach than me so everyone is covered up and will stay toasty warm tonight.

Now for the pictures! This V. Thonglor x V. Banghuntian Gold. The second one used to be an Ascda. but I'm trying to get with the times. I bought this one from my club's booth at the USF plant sale back when I didn't have a yellow vanda and wanted one. I think it's really pretty; I can't wait until all the flowers open.



Here's another look at Neostylis 'Lou Sneary' Bluebird. As you can see, there are a few more flowers open.



This is V. Tesselata 'RF Orchids' x V. Mem. Lyle Swanson. I need a better picture, but you get the idea. I took a close-up but it came out blurry. Looked fine on the camera. I still think I'm looking for excuses to buy a new camera. This one has a very sweet smell to it.



I checked the tag and made a mental note this time. This is Bc Daffodil and it did open up and stick its neck out a little more. Really cute little orchid that I'm glad I bought based on the name alone.



And here's another look at Blc. Chian-Tzy Emperor 'CT Golden Sun'. The flowers didn't open fully because they're right next to each other but I kind of like the big, pink floof anyway.



While I was taking down the vandas I remembered to give 'Kulwaldee Fragrance #22' a whiff. If you've ever had a grape Jolly Rancher, that's what it smells like. It's kind of cool actually! Expect some pictures of more vandas soon as I have three in bud!

Beautiful show, Melanie. Your Vandas are doing better than mine so I'll have to have a talk with them. Your Neostylis 'Lou Sneary' Bluebird is really pretty! I love the color. I also love the Bc Daffodil. The flower has a great shape to it. My favorite of the Vandas is the Tesselata cross. Nice spots!

Jim