Nice pickin's you two. Hope to make the show here tomorrow as on Sunday I will be at the Pomona Fairgrounds watching the Winternationals start the NHRA season. For the group I go with, this will be our 15th consecutive year of seeing the Winternationals in February and the National Finals in November.

Carol, are you still experimenting with those Phals. you got sometime back? With and without Sphag if I remember

Most of those Phals are gone. The ones I still have look terrible. Too Hot and too bright for them in the shack.

I left the house for Apopka about 8:00 AM yesterday and only made one stop for a latte before pulling into First Orchids. While there, I traded $80.00 for 5 Vandas and 4 blooming Phals. My little Phal corner looked pretty sick after the prolonged cool weather we had in January and I wanted to spruce it up a bit. None of the Phals have a name but that is fine by me. The Vandas (Ascocendas are all Vandas now days) are of good size and seem healthy. The tag names are as follows:

Ascda. Jukkich Gold, which should have a nice yellow flower.
Ascda. Brighton's Best, another yellow with a red spot on the lip.
Vanda Gordon Dillon 'Blue 4N', it should be purple with some yellow overtones.
Ascda Macknade, Yellow with freckles.
Ascda. Jairak Vigor, I couldn't find a picture as it is a 2013 register. The parents are purple and yellow.



And here are the Phals:


I then drove over to Krull/Smith where I met up with Jim Krull. I ask if he had a Den. Anosmum and sure enough, he had but one. I love that orchid and after 10 years, mine up and died. I finally pitched it last month. Here is the new one which I think will bloom on the naked cane in the spring and a picture of the flowers from my old one a couple of years ago.


While digging around in the Krull/Smith greenhouse I found Smbc. (now Lnt.) Dulatiaca 'Lava Flow' AM/AOS in spike. It is a great Schombo cross that I have had on my want list. I also noticed Blc. (now Rlc.) Chinese Beauty 'Orchid Queen' AM/AOS just coming into bloom. It has a flower that will catch your eye as you gaze over a huge table full of plants.


Jim said he would have a booth at the USF spring Plant Show in Tampa in April.

I then drove on up to see Charles Chapman. The first thing he did was ask me where my entourage was. I think this is the first time I have been there alone. As usual, I found lots of stuff I liked but hardly anything he would sell. The only thing I managed to talk him out of was a species Schomburgkia called humboldtii. It is a nice plant and he gave it to me for $15. He was in a talking mood so we chatted for a while.


I was home at 3:30 and the cold front came through at 4 with high winds and heavy rain. It rained most of the night and was cold and overcast. By cold, I mean in the mid 50s but that strong north wind is brutal. About noon today the sun came out a little but the wind continues. All in all, a nice day and 13 new babies in the OC.

Jim

Ohhh what a gorgeous loot, Jim! One can certainly say only good things about your choices and the prices can't be beat! The Den anosmum in bloom should add a nice scent to your OC!

Great loot Jim! Congrats!

You are just so lucky to be able to jump in your car, travel a few miles, and see all those wonderful orchids. I am envious. Hopefully, our extreme cold (not 50's!) is done. We finally have sun today, after over a week of clouds, rain, snow, and sleet. It is still cold, only getting up in the mid-40's, but I will take it. I can actually walk out to my greenhouses with one layer of clothes on.

Well, Ken it's about a 2 hour drive to Apopka for both Jim and me. But well worth it! We do have orchid growers closer but they sure know how to charge for their plants!

Beautiful choices, Jim. Looks like you had a great time. I'm coming with you for sure next time. Maybe two (or more) of us can persuade Charlie Chapman to part with some of his treasures.

Apart from the ribbons I brought home yesterday, I also came home with three new babies. The first one is Zygo. Advance Australia AM/AOS.It was hard to get that purple color just right.


The second one is Neostylis Lou Sneary ' Blue Bird. I don't think I have ever grown one of these before.


And finally, Brsdm. Dancing Alien, a gift from a fellow Master Gardener.


Jim

Oh, man! I so want an orchid named Dancing Alien! Can't wait to see the flower on that one, Jim. The zygo is fabulous.

Dancing Alien sounds intriguing! The Lou Sneary is a good looking plant! I think you will like it!

I came home from the orchid show today with three new babies. The only one in bloom is the Den speciousum and it has a wonderful fragrance.


The second one is a bare root Smbc. Clark Pitt but with lots of size. It has 6 18 inch canes. It was hybridized by Phelps Farm and I bought it from Paul Phelps himself.


The third one looks like a giant Psychopsis but is called Odontoglossum Rawdon Jester. Here is a pic of what the flower will look like.


That's it folks. I hardly heated up the buying shoes.

Jim

I love your choices! The first two will surely grow into huge and wonderful specimen ( of the truck variety ) under your care and the Odontoglossum is just gorgeous!

Good morning all, beautiful day! I think winter is over for Memphis, have to be careful this morning. The sidewalks still had ice, temps to get in 50's today.
I took pictures of the'plugs' of coel Jannine Banks I got from ebay in post this morning. Surely lovely, ready for planting, don't need to baby these.


Now, if I can find my glasses? They will go into bonsai pots like my other firm leaf varieties. The soft leaf ones go into bulb pans and I hang those because the spikes are usually longer and take more sun. My SAD my be going in remission today. It's been a long and difficult winter for all. Get some SUN!

I agree, they look good, Bert.

Jim

Nice looking plants, Bert. If you need help, I think I know where your glasses are.

Foggy this morning and really chilly - not freezing, just wet-cold. The sun popped out late morning and we are now cloudless. I should be able to get outside for the next several days and can get the rest of my plumeria potted, not the cuttings though. I have been busy mounting various orchids and will now start on some bromeliads and staghorns. I have to get prepared for the upcoming "Everything Garden Expo" in Starkville. It is the only garden exhibit that I show my plants/mounts and I only do so because our Arts Council kind of forces me to participate. No one else shows orchids or other exotic tropicals, so they like my "difference". Move-in day is March 20, so I don't have all that much time.

Sounds busy, Ken! I am afraid it will take a while for me to have access to the garden, we need quite a few warm days to melt all that ice and snow.

Bert, those are good looking Coels!

Great looking plants, that came through really well for this time of year!

They look good wearing your glasses, too.

Cool, overcast and windy here with highs in the upper 60s. Good day to do laundry.

Jim

Just back from the orchid auction and although I only bought three, I think they were good ones. None are in bloom but I'll give you a picture link on the first one.

First is Galeottia (Glta.) grandiflora: http://www.orchidspecies.com/m...
I'm excited about this one.

Second is Schombonia (Smbna) Firefly. Syn. is Myt. Firefly.

My Dendrobium spectabile does so well for me, I bought another one, with a twist. It is suppose to be yellow. The tag reads Dendrobium spectabile frm flavus 'Exotic Gold X sib.' I can't find anything like that on the web nor on Orchidwiz. Anyone have a clue?

Jim

I found a picture of the Dendrobium spectabile frm flavus but I had to copy and paste so I don't know how it is going to turn out. Here goes.



Jim