thanks.

I am smiling at the "grand" spaces, Ken. I managed to stuff my 22 x 12 greenhouse to the gills and I am loving it. But I better don't gain weight to move around in there.
But the real credit goes to Klaus, he built me those wonderful shelves, with rods and pipes which are very suitable to hang up Orchids. The whole set up is truly versatile.

Ursula, I have often wondered where to get your shelving set up! Very adjustable, perfect for me because I like order in a GH but that's really impossible with orchids. Ah, now thanks to
Klaus, I get it. Rods and pipes!

I think the OC is about 25 X 45 but there is a 15,000 gallon pool in the middle of it; And yes, I have fallen in more than once. Worse, my neighbor was taking care of my orchids while we were out of town and he fell in with his new IPhone.

Jim

Roberta, the shelves themselves are Closet shelves from Home Depot. lightweight!

Nothing like taking a dip when watering one's Orchids, Jim!!
I love the large dimensions of your OC!

Yes but don't forget there is a dining table with 6 chairs and bistro table with 2 stools and a pool equipment storage bin etc. in there. I have about 300 orchids and room for a few more shade loving hangers. I'm thinking Stanhopeas and Gongoras.

Jim

Stanhopea/ Gongora!!! Fun Orchids for sure!

Mm hmmm, I see a whole shady corner full of little flying pterodactyls in your future, Jim. Such fun!

I cannot use metal plant stands or rods in the OC as the pool chlorine will turn them into rust dust in short order. Everything has to be aluminum or plastic.

Jim

Yep, the chlorine does in anything steel rather quickly.

The light rain of this morning has turned into a steady downpour. It looks like we are in for a gloomy day. Just to brighten things up, my Rby. Golden Tang (Rlc. Waikiki Gold x Bc. Richard Mueller) is putting on a show. Lots of buds on it as well.


Jim

Jim, that is happy plant! Nice blooms!

Lovely, Jim. I don't remember your Golden Tang flowers having that pink blush. Cooler weather, or does it fade out to yellow? I guess a lot of the Richard Mueller crosses seem to do that.

Ken, here's another possible definition of a "specimen plant" - one that would win a prize at a show.

So would you consider my Golden Tang a specimen plant?

Jim

Good morning, plants to the porch for a good outdoor soaking and bask in the 60 % humidity today. I only have a few boxes of assorted genera plus still all my catts waiting for Goodwinds Nursery to have some bench space for them. Everything else is at my sister, Cathy's GH. So I have not put the condo in MLS just yet, maybe it's for the best, the Holiday Season is about to begin and fewer people are hunting for housing. But here is a first time bloom on two BV crosses to enjoy.

Little Mermaid and Star Ruby 'Xanadu'

That's what brought it to mind when I saw your picture, Jim, but have you won a ribbon with it yet? It looks like you've got at least one more spike ready to pop on there. When you think it's ready to win at your orchid club meeting, then it will be a true 'specimen' I would think.

Lovely colors on that 'Xanadu' Bert. I do love that flower shape.

I like that explanation of "specimen plant" better.

I love the 'Xanadu', Roberta!

Yes, the Xanadu is outstanding.

I'm not so sure on a ribbon defining a specimen orchid however. Ribbon wining can be a matter of luck as much as any thing else. What did the competition bring in on the judging day? Is you orchid peaking on judging day or is starting to fade? My big yellow Vanda didn't win a ribbon because I was pressed into judging duties and couldn't vote for my own plant. Ursula has shown us several unquestionable specimen orchids and she never even takes them in for judging. I think it is one of those things that you just know it when you see it.

Jim

It's surely 'in the eye of the beholder' and your Golden Tang is absolutely a delightful specimen plant if ever there was one.

How about "A nice, full mature plant that blooms generously on multiple spikes" or even just "any plant that you'd want to show when it's blooming" ?

As I said earlier, I'd consider my big noid Catt to be a specimen plant, and I doubt I'll ever show any of my orchids. But you never know.

On this train of thought, is it my imagination or do orchids get more robust and healthy the bigger they get? They seem to develop better disease resistance and also grow more new pb's each year on bigger plants. Or maybe it's that the plants that grow into big specimens are just robust in the first place . . . uh oh, it's the chicken and the egg isn't it! Must be getting late.