Glad you got your orchids, Elaine! I agree that was a very pretty color combo on them. My store had about 6-8 plants but it's amazing how fast some things sell.

FYI, everyone, I was just checking Facebook and the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary says the Ghost Orchid mysteriously put out a bloom yesterday! You have to have binoculars to see it so they set up a scope on the boardwalk for visitors to look through since no one was prepared for it to bloom in January. Now, to keep the critters from eating it!

Neat!!!

We are expecting a foot of snow, it is already snowing and starting to look wild outside. I will be very happy when this is over!

Ah, life in the NE! I would be looking at "Homes for Sale in Florida" ads...

We had some rain last night and I drove through some mist on the way to the gym this morning. The sun is shinning now and it looks like we are in store for a delightful day. Ursula and Kathy, stay safe and keep warm. This storm sounds like a bad one.

I'm cleaning and packing orchids for our club meeting tomorrow morning. I have 8 ready for the bloom table and 4 of them are huge. I'll also be the guest speaker so I have to take my laptop, projector and handouts. It seems like I'm always getting myself into these messes.

Jim

I am technology-challenged, Jim. I don't take any of that stuff, and wouldn't know how to use what has become the favorite lecture tool, "Power-Point". I just take my plants, my supplies, and my handouts. I have two lectures scheduled for February and March, all at local Garden Clubs. I am not much of a speaker (way too shy) but our garden clubs/Master Gardeners don't have a lot of choices when it comes to finding someone with (some) knowledge about growing and propagating tropical plants.

As long as no one knows more then you do Ken, your lectures will be a hit. Even then, the shared knowledge would be most efficacious! Teach and learn! That is the way the best class /teacher situations are and what inspires new ingenuities.

Wow, I can't imagine giving a talk without PowerPoint now. It just makes life so much easier.

The problem with this venue is that a handful, like Bill Thoms, know more than I. Since the presentation is free, perhaps they will be kind. We are talking delicate egos here so I am walking a fine line.

I'm still thinking about Ursula and Kathy. I hope they are well supplied and the electricity holds.

Jim

I don't have that problem here, Jim. I am the "expert".

Believe me, Elaine, Show and Tell has been around for centuries, and for me at least, I learn by doing, not by video/fancy "slide" presentations.

I'm with Elaine. I can show much more with PowerPoint like close up pictures of insects, pictures of orchids that are not in bloom at the moment or that I don't have and great pictures of disease on foliage. I have made presentations without it at outdoor venues or on television but it limits what I can show.

Jim

My presentations are typically in someone's home and that venue is simply not configured for screens, projectors, etc. I am a KISS advocate. What can I say?

Nothing so interesting as Power Point presentations around here, but I always thought pictures really help a presentation! A picture is worth a thousand words?
Since I was already stuck here today, I spent my time washing out all the trays in the greenhouse, clean up some Orchids, scrub the floor, give the fish another water change. Five hours later- done!! And the greenhouse looks so nice.
Off into the kitchen to cook!! Did I mention it is snowing?

I was always inspired to cook when we lived in places with winter storms. Even here when we have a cold front with rain, I tend to put the big soup pot on the stove and make soup or stew.

The cleaning up part? Not so much in my repertoire. But it's going to be windy and cold tonight so I am once again schlepping orchids into the house and zipping up the little shelf units. Everything got a good spritz of rain early this morning so the garden is in good shape to weather a cold night.

Hi all. We are supposed to get 2' of snow. All schools are closed tomorrow and all non emergency vehicles are banned tonight & tomorrow on our roads. Luckily we have a generator that keeps the heat, lights, fridge and freezer, well water pump going. I just hope we have enough propane and oil if there is a long haul.
Meanwhile, . . . .my personal big news: http://www.crazyorchidlady.com...

Congratulations, Kathy. Job well done!

I hope the weather forecast for the NE does not come true, at least not as bad as they predict. Weather folks are not exactly known for their accuracy. But at least you are used to cold and snow and your folks know what and how to prepare and deal with bad weather.

Congrats, Kathy!! Well done!! That is a beautiful plant!!
Hang in there, as Ken says, hopefully it won't be as bad as predicted!

Hope you are both right!

Looking at all those blue ribbons should help relieve the storm stress a little. Great job!

Wonderful news, Kathy, congratulations! I might also add well deserved!

The truck is crammed full of orchids. I am taking nine this time. I know I said eight before but I needed another to fill a box. It is cool and windy outside so the OC windows are closed. Nothing really severe on temps (mid to upper 40s).

Jim