I think your budding plants are in for a world of trouble, Ursula. Sooner or later, y'all are going to get "true" winter weather. We too have set high temperature records, day after day. We will be back into more seasonable temperatures by the weekend, lows in the 20's.

Wow, just looked at the radar map and that's a nasty chunk of rain, then cold and snowy stuff coming towards you, Ken. Doesn't look like much of it will make it to us, but we are scheduled to cool off next weekend at least.

Ursula, such a lovely show from inside the greenhouse - I love the flower form on the Den. So graceful.

I think your early budding shrubs will lose those buds, but probably not die. I am seriously considering taking a bucket of ice outside and 'watering' my blueberry bushes with it. They have not yet lost their leaves! Now these are southern highbush blueberries, adapted to warm, short winters but I'm still pretty sure they need a dormant period. Sure hope we get one!

As soon as the nasty stuff clears out (hopefully) tomorrow AM, I am heading to Charlotte and won't be back home until Jan. 1. My plants will be on their own.

85 degrees here with a hot sun beating down and the hum of air conditioners in the air. Looks like a good day to stay in and watch football.

Jim

Ursula, your Dendrobium tetragonum is one of the coolest flowers I've ever seen! Love that one!
I have a new member on my Orchid growing team...


This is " LADY " I got her at the county shelter , She seems to appreciate the colorful corner area of the bench!

Ursula. your blooming plants are awesome! As a apartment dweller without any gardening space or sun, I find that they are breathtaking. A feast for the eyes.

Ivy

When are you moving to God's Country (The South), Ivy?

Nice looking pooch you have there, Lindsey. Even better that you saved her life.

Jim

Aw, your new companion is lovely, Lindsey. She sure has good taste in her surroundings, too. That's an awfully pretty corner.

You're warmer than we are, Ursula. We're barely making 60 during the day. The night temps. didn't get as low as predicted though. The orchid shack warms up to around 70 during the day, and the heater keeps it above 50 at night. So far, so good.

Such a beautiful dog to keep you company, Lindsey!

The Den. tetragonum was a bit more open today!

I love the tetragonum, Ursula. It looks like a Bulbo without the stink.

Jim

Sufficiently weird, right?

Not nearly as weird as a stinky Bulbo . . . It looks great and doesn't stink, what's not to like?

Good evening Ken, maybe moving in about 3-4 years from now. Unsure because I have things to straighten out here in NYC.

#1- Retire December 30th, 2015.

Ivy

Two Days!

Yes, two days to go, packing my plants and bringing them home on day three. No work to do because my ID, passwords and key will be taken from me when I walk in the office. At least I get paid for the last day.
Hoya, cactus, orchid and adenium plant will hopefully adjust to the new environment.
Will be watching and learning more about plants.

Ivy

Congrats!

Pouring rain here this morning. 72F and supposed to drop to 40F tonight.

Yes, that's a big, nasty weather system going over you there, Melissa. Hope Ken got away on his trip ahead of the snow, and that it's gone when he gets back. It's pretty windy here, no doubt generated by that weather going by to the north of us. Bright sunshine and warm, though. No complaints here - it's perfect 'orchid weather'.

I have new bloomers today - my Vanda Jairak Heartthrob opened a new spike. I had to stand on the top of the 3-step ladder to get a picture of the plant which has flowers facing every direction and was twirling in the breeze so excuse the crooked pictures. I turned a little bit to step down, and about a foot from my face was one of our jazzy red-spiked spiders (I forget the name) so I got a good picture of him, too. This one is about as big as they get, give or take 1/2in. across.


We also had a little thunderstorm go by two nights ago, and TaDa! Right on cue, the little Den crumenatum "Thunderstorm Orchid" has a full set of pretty little blooms on long thin stems. I hadn't noticed before, but they are slightly fragrant, too.



A pitiful first bloom on my new one from Krull-Smith Blc. Cherry Suisse X Pot (Miya's Passion x Carolina Splendo) that has only 3 petals, and obviously got munched somewhere along the line by a snail. Also a last nice bloom on Lc. Little Lulu with her sister fading elegantly to ivory in the background.