Basically, I walked into the room and told the crowd I was a Master Gardener they had an hour to ask me any gardening questions they wanted. We talked about everything from hibiscus to fertilizer, from soil pH to mealy bugs. You have to be light on your feet and sharp with your responses to pull it off. I didn't lose anyone's attention and the average age must have been 80.

Jim

Good job, Jim!

Sounds fun, Jim both for you and the ladies! Nobody asked you about watering orchids with ice cubes??

No, but I would have been ready with the answer.

Jim

for you, Jim and the ladies!!

That's more of what my programs are, though I try to stay on what I know best, tropical plants. I call is mine a "flex" lecture and before I start, I always tell the attendees to ask me questions at any time about anything plant related. I like that format better than the slickly done, AV programs that I usually attend. Like you, I think it makes the hour pass more readily and more interestingly.

Rain, beautiful rain, just started and we can certainly use it. I have been in a 6 hour turf grass diagnostic class and am tired but it's off to choir practice shortly. What I need is something else to do.

Jim

I planted today a couple of Black Currant and Elderberry bushes, I am trying to time the planting with some rain which is here expected tonight. We are looking forwards to Black Currant Pancakes in hopefully not so distant future and a more reliable harvest to make my famous Elderberry syrup!
I have also started to move some of my tougher succulents out on the deck and most of the Epiphyllums are waking up in front of the garage. The Amorphophallus konjac has a big fat start!
In the meanwhile - the Phrag Peruflora's Spirit keeps on blooming, the blooms last a long time, with another bud waiting in the wings. This is again another new bloom.

and the Blc Liese Pigors x Lc Drumbeat 'Heritage' opens another nicely scented spike.

You can keep showing us that Phrag.!

Upon opening that Blc. picture, I'm tempted to put my face up to the computer screen and take a big whiff....

I had to move some Orchids around today, the Cattleya skinneri albescens v. oculata 'Debbie' is starting to open spikes, so they have to come to the front of the greenhouse.


And this Neofinetia falcata Shunkyuden decided to bloom early in the season. This one blooms with extra flower part, kinda crazy looking, but that makes this Neo special.

Now that one I really want a whiff of! I have two little Neo's now, and neither of them seems inclined to bloom yet.

Debbie is just a gorgeous elegant thing!

You know, 'Debbie' and my also starting to bloom Appleblossom sort of signal the end of the indoor blooming season for me.
Amazing that this weird Neo should be scented too, but it is.

That is a nice skinneri cross, Ursula. Fragrance? Now that you brought it up, your Neofinetia falcate does look a little different. Interesting though.

From the OC, Psychopsis Mendenhall, alba form, is blooming after taking a winter break.


The Fdk. Midnight Lace arrived today in the mail in good shape from SVO. I'm pleased. The last picture here is of my Fdk. After Midnight. Black orchids be a comin'.


My Schomburgkia (Laelia) undulata spikes stopped growing right at 60 inches each and are forming their buds. Nice flowers will be here soon.


Jim

Wow, those puppies are gonna pop any second, Jim. Can't wait to see them open.

OMG OMG Black orchids????!!!

Jim, that is one wild looking Schom! Pretty awesome!! And I am certainly looking forwards to those black blooms!
The C. skinneri (species) doesn't really have a scent that I took notice. Have to take another sniff tomorrow.

I am posting the image of denrobium sulcatum.
Prabhi Setty