Oh my gosh Jim, I hope you heal up quickly! I'm not really afraid of heights but I am afraid of ladders. Fortunately, I don't really ever have to use them and I avoid them at all cost.

Congrats on all the ribbons! But no more celebrating by falling off things!

Thanks Jim, and Congrats! And ouch!...hope you're not too sore in the morning. Some Arnica ointment might do you some good.

No kidding! Geez, Jim when you fall off the ladder, you're supposed to land in the pool. That's The Rule at our house. Seriously, ladders are really dangerous. Two different friends of ours have had very serious long-term leg injuries from falling off ladders.

I don't have to use a ladder to hang up my 'chids, thankfully. My pool water is COLD in the winter!! I use an old boat hook for any that I can't hang by hand. Here it is - the little spur on the back side of the hook is really handy for lifting orchids off the hanging wires. It's aluminum, extends from 40in. to 6ft. I don't hang any heavy orchids up high.

Congrats on your basket full of ribbons. The only broken bone I have ever had (lower leg) was when a ladder slipped out from under me. I was inside the house, in the entry-way, and the floor was tile. I was 18 ft up and knew I should have a non-slip surface over that tile, but just didn't take the time to put it down. Lesson learned. I am more careful now but still am on a ladder all the time, particularly when hanging all my plants under the oak trees.

Welcome Neil! Sounds like you are off to good start!

Jim, a big congrats on your ribbons!! Falling down like that is however not a good thing. Take care of yourself and I wish you speedy healing! I do second the Arnica cream ( health food stores carry that )!

Klaus was spending Sunday afternoon propping up the screen-house ceiling and he knows how to stabilize the whole thing! I am really happy! Looks like he is way ahead here.

Neil, welcome to the orchids forum! Cymbidiums are very forgiving of all but heat...depending on type.
Ursula, looking much better in the cage.
Ted, help me out here! I don't have a drop of Indian blood in me, but I'm going to do the rain dance. NOAA looks good.

A welcome from here as well, Neil. We had one week of chill (for California) and set all the cyms to bloom. All mine live under a Magnolia tree with a huge double Hibiscus to the west and open to early morning light.
Jim, I have found it's not the getting old that is the problem. It's the admitting it part and realizing you can't do ( fill in the blank ) anymore. I am soooo guilty. Hope the bruises heal fast.

Carol, I have been doing the rain dance with no results. But, we are totally booked at the shopwith outside installs this week and I am going to wash the car tomorrow. That should bring rain!!!

Congrats, Jim! Guess it was worth all the trouble carting the Cym there!

Thanks for the warm welcomes! Here's the Cym that I can take no credit for, other than recognizing $28.95 was an amazing deal.


And the Phal..

Heh, no complaints here from me! Pretty!

Just lovely, Neal and I forgot to say

If you have Trader Joe's in your area, you should peruse their orchids when you get the chance. Their Cyms were $13.95 the last time I got one (last spring) and I also scored two huge ones at Costco for $21.95.

I shouldn't even be buying them, of course. My climate is marginal at best for Cyms and only one of mine is showing a spike this spring (so far). Still hoping, as we have one more 'cold' day coming up tomorrow.

The backlighting on your Phal is excellent, such lovely colors! I rescued a couple from Lowe's death rack that will be that color if they manage to bloom again for me.

Thanks, Elaine! We do have a Trader Joe's and Costco (in Lexington, 20 minutes away)- the Jasmine peeking behind the Phal came from Trader Joe's. Last time I was there, I hadn't decided to get into Orchids, so I'm sure I'll be perusing their selections!

My local Trader Joe's Orchids are really nice, so tempting!! I did pick up an Epi secundum from them a few years ago, it grows and flowers well for me.

Some stuff in bloom today - Dendrobium nobile alba variety or perhaps var virginalis


Old plant Lc Rojo starts opening the first of 8 spikes this year!


and the miniature Maxillaria minuta has cute little blooms


And Baptistonia echinata in sunshine

Lovely, Ursula. I'm smitten by Lc. Rojo and eight spikes, Yikes!! A wonderful reward for growing that plant so beautifully and keeping it healthy so long.

That Lc. Rojo is certainly earning its name! Beautiful!

Thanks!

Nice show, Ursula. The Lc. Rojo is an attention getter.

Jim

And that Den is nice.
Note to self, add miniature Maxillaria minuta to wish list

I love that little Max too, wonder how long Ursula's been growing that one to get it such a pretty little ball shape? Ursula?