Hey, that cold front on top of you is going to get all the way down here by Tuesday night, they say! Argghh, I am NOT ready to be covering and schlepping plants into the house yet.

Surely on the back side of this cold front you'll have a window of a few days above freezing? The map looks encouraging for mailing tomorrow.

You are surely joking about shipping tomorrow, Elaine. The low in the AM is predicted to be 19 F with a wind-chill of 10 F! I really don't think my orchids would appreciate being exposed to teen temperatures. The following morning will be a lot better though, with a predicted 20 F.

Gleni said:Another one for identification. It started blooming yesterday. It should be a Dendrobium? The fronds are about 3 feet long.

Dendrobium gibsonii. I have 3 of these that I am hoping will bloom next year. These are often confused with Den. fimbriatum v oculatum and the way to tell them apart is the cupping on the lip in the gibsonii and the sour scent of the fimbriatum. gibsonii has no scent.

Ah, yes. Ken I figured we are supposed to be clear and warming up again by Wednesday, so I thought you'd be a day ahead of us.

But you are further up into this 'tongue' of cold air whereas we are just getting the tip of it, so to speak. So I guess it's lasting longer where you are.

It does look like I will be able to get a lot of the orchids shipped out next Monday. I am crossing my fingers. I have one major order going out to VA, and I am not sure about that location though.

A big front just came through here with thunder and heavy rain. The rain only lasted about 15 minutes but it still looks gloomy. The cold air should follow close behind but nothing too serious. I'm ready to close the OC windows so as to conserve what heat I have. I figure Elaine has about 15 minutes
before she gets the rain.

Jim

We got snow. It is supposed to be frigid tonight.

Yep, bring in the children and pets (and orchids for sure!),

We've had rain showers off and on for the last couple of hours, but it is looking like night time now, so your front is just about to get here, Jim. Darnit, I was just about to go out and scrub off the boat cover, guess I need to stay in my comfy chair at the computer now . . .

The rain sure is welcome in November when we hardly ever get any, but could do without the cold air behind it.

Many, many thanks Melissa.

Gleni said:Many, many thanks Melissa.

Gleni,

After looking at it more, it could also be Den moschatum. If it is really cupped (like a slipper), it is probably moschatum (which gets REALLY HUGE). Mine is almost 5' tall.

moschatum has a musky scent.

Melissa, I will go and measure a frond. The mosquitos are outrageous just on sunset and are waiting for me.

Melissa, they are easily 5 feet in length. I cannot tell on the scent. I am still getting the sense back after stopping smoking last year.

Glen, when you say "frond" (which staghorn ferns have), do you mean "cane" (Dendrobium) or for a Cattleya, "pseudo-bulb"?

Yes, Ken. Cane. I am not too familiar with orchid anatomy, Lol.

Hey, no problem. Orchids certainly have a nomenclature like no other.

Some stuff in bloom today -
I am enjoying the Blc Victoria 'Blue Bird' very much, especially since both spikes are now open.

Coelogyne Golden Bug starts blooming. This one will bloom for many weeks.

This little variegated Mediocalcar decoratum has a few cute little "candy canes".

and C. Brabantiae 'El Toro' x 'Spots' surprised me with a couple of blooms.

Very nice, Ursula. I love the Coelogyne, just beautiful! Also outstanding is the El Toro cross. Great color.

I found a couple of new bloomers out in the OC today. First is Bepi. Sylvia White (B. nodosa x Epi. ciliare).


And also Ctt. Chocolate Drop (C. guttata x Gur. aurantiaca):


Jim

Both of those are fabulous, Jim. Your Chocolate Drop is a darker color than mine was, I wonder if cooler temperatures made the red color more intense. Mine bloomed in September, I think. Still hot then.

I agree, they are both really nice!
I always love the lacquered look of C. Chocolate Drop and the scent is surely a nice bonus.