Ken, my condo is a pain to even get on the MLS, I am working on the Corinth house this week and driving back and forth from Memphis. All these condo rules, like you can't rent it out are keeping me in Memphis. But packing is nearly done, and if I can get this roof fixed before Xmas, I might just abandon my condo and move instead of trying to get one more renter for the last 6 months. Makes no sense? When I get a vac I want to go to Apopka for therapy, I really deserve a trip to Fla!

Roberta, our flight enclosure is located outdoors so they are subject to all the weather conditions. We do have a heat lamp to help in the winter. The best time to see the butterflies is generally the worst for people - the hot, hot summer. Many of the Swallowtails won't even show up in regular numbers until May or even June. We do negotiate some trades with some friendly butterfly farms so we always have something to look at, but there are definitely fewer species from November to April.

Bert, I am headed to Miami Dec. 29. I will return New Year's Day. Hopefully I will find the time (and transportation, since I won't have my automobile) to visit some nurseries and/or a conservatory while I am down there.

You have a real dilemma with the condo. Good luck dealing with that. Are you going to build that glorious greenhouse when you settle into Corinth?

Melanie, that Cattleya (the first picture with the long name, I must go back and write it down) is beautiful. Such a delicate looking flower! I'm so I pressed.


Ursula, I double checked the label on the Binosa hybrid:



And I have a witness, although he was more interested in trying to eat the compost than anything else.

Here are a few blooms from the greenhouse today.

Kefersteinia mystacina


Onc coloratum


Blc. Petite Stars

Please remember, Melissa, I love it! Just the kind of flower I like!

Melanie, very pretty blooms this morning!

Lore, thanks for checking the label and it does not seem to be registered with the RHS.

Melissa, all three are gorgeous, the Kefersteinia is really neat!

I'm pretty sure the Kefersteinia is giving me the eye.

My Bc Little Mermaid 'Janet' opens the first of a few spikes this week!


And, I am not sure if I like this bloom, Cattleya loddigesii x walkeriana, surely a remake of C. Heathii.


V. Peddler's Velvet Gold


Onc Sharry Baby is still scenting the greenhouse


Ctna Why Not blooming along


My Barkeria melanocaulon has two spikes this year and they will keep on blooming until Spring. Had to shut the fan off to take some pictures, but the very long spikes still wiggled a bit.

Nice, nice, nice Ursula.

Thanks, Ken!!
In the meanwhile I was told that this is not Little Mermaid.....

Ursula, if it isn't Little Mermaid...? It is beautiful, the veined lip is lovely. I just bought a Little Mermaid early this year and liked the flowers in your pictures so much that I'm going to go and check for signs of a sheath again! (we live in hope). I do like the Barkeria, too, I have never seen one before and it is quite striking. B The Sharry Baby looks pretty but I can't bear the scent, it makes me feel slightly ill. And someone (one of the ebay sellers) sent me one as a "bonus" plant!

thanks Lore!
I learned that possibly my Little Mermaid might be a hybrid perhaps with L purpurata....

Ursula, I was just about to comment on 'Janet', namely that mine was not near so beautiful and maybe mine was mislabeled! How do I put that one on my wish list now that's it a noid? A swap maybe, sometime next spring of course if you ever find you have to divide it? Do you think you can trac where you got it?
Talking about purpuratas, bloom time for the group I thought to be summer. I do have the var carnea that is also blooming now. Even though the plant has lost substance, it's trying to bloom.

Roberta, yes your purpurata is a bit confused, but heh I take out of turn-blooms anytime too.
I bought 'Janet' from Tewksbury Orchids/Heart's Ease a couple of years ago at the Deep Cut Orchid Show. Now I just checked their website, no email address is listed. But - they will surely attend the same show again this February, I will show them these pictures, perhaps they can pinpoint the correct name.
In the meanwhile, when more spikes are open, I will try to get a picture of the whole plant. It is fairly compact, but escaping its basket and likes to grow long roots.

What is a noid?

Do you think it could be Janet crossed with purpurata? Whatever it is, it's a beauty!

I thought that I got my Janet from Odoms, but when I looked just now, I saw that they have Little Mermaid x labiata, so either I'm mistaken or they changed their inventory. The one they show on their site is pretty but not as nice as yours. Please keep us posted on the hunt for its identity, this is intriguing!

Does anyone know where Aeranthes grandiflora and Ascocentrum Mona Church grows naturally? Further, does anyone know the growing habits and perhaps best growing conditions for these two plants?

NOID simply means that the identity (correct name) of the orchid is unknown.

Ursula, lovely show, especially the Vanda. In reference to Bct. Little Mermaid (C. walkeriana x Bsn. Maikai) which is also called Bc. Little Marmaid, I have the official 'Janet' photo here from OrchidWiz:


Then, here is my Bct. Little Mermaid 'Janet'


OK, here are some additional boomers from this morning's walk around the OC:
Tolumnia Genting Volcano:


A look at C. deckeri (aka. Gur. skinneri) with all 19 flowers open. By the way, as to species being harder to grow than hybrids, my experience is yes and no depending on the type of orchid and the conditions of your grow area. As for the Cattleya alliance, I don't find any difference between the two. As for Dendrobiums, several species have proved difficult for me while the hybrids are easy. Some species of Oncidiums are also difficult but not all of them. I think it will really depend upon your growing conditions so you will have to experiment to see what works for you. Here is the deckeri, and it is magnificent:


Here is Bsn. Maikai (B. nodosa x Gur. bowringiana). Formally known as Bc. Maikai.


This is Mormolyca [Mlca.] rufescens (formally called a Maxillaria). As is typical with these, the flowers grow way down under the foliage and can be hard to spot.


This little Pleurothallis [Pths.] hamosa doesn't want to stop blooming. I see it is now called Acianthera [Acia.] hamosa.


Formally known as a Blc. this one is now Chz. Haleahi Sunbow (Bsn. Maikai x Rby. Golden Tang).


I know I have more things to address but this is a very busy time of year. I'll be back soon.

Jim

Oh, No ID! I was thinking it was som technical breeding term! (Hides head in shame).