The best thing about the OC is that the orchids don't have to set out in all of this rain. All of our lakes are really full. Too much more and I'll be back to farming rice.

Jim

I'm just in from the rice paddy...and it looks like it will be a prosperous year if the standing water is any indication! My trailer trash tarp is holding and (mostly) working...thank goodness what ever wind there has been , has been deflected by the surrounding trees and my neighbors houses. I did see several sheaths with embryonic buds visible inside...lots of new growth and roots galore so it's not all doom and gloom out there!

Lindsey, what say we go halves on a water buffalo?

Jim

Be careful what you ask for.

Did someone say Water Buffalo?

I think I used to date her.

Jim

Jim.

I wish you guys would share some of that rain with me. Although we finally had a few showers it was not enough to wet anything.

I know right Alice...we need the rain here also...Georgia.

We are supposed to go into daily downpour mode starting Wednesday, we shall see.

This former Potinara, now a Bc Hoku Gem 'Sunspots' has a few spikes in the works in the cage.

She does look vaguely familiar, doesn't she? But I have not been on a "date" in almost 45 years, so perhaps I have her mixed up with someone else.

You guys are too funny!

Everybody seems to be getting the rain...We are still high and dry! Well, not really high! But dry!

Hoping for moisture tomorrow!

Jim, if I could afford ( even half) a water buffalo.. I could build a permanent shelter for my plants.. But thank you for the lovely offer!
Ursula.. Your Hoku Gem is a cutie !

C. Susan Fender 'Cinnamon Stick' popped two flowers open this morning - the colors are slightly washed out and a little redder than in reality. Darn camera!



Forgot to add the nice spike of flowers on the big NOID - thought they'd be similar to Cinnamon Stick, but much more orange and the lips are different.

Still beautiful! Probably too early to tell the true colors or perhaps it is the horrible heat we have been having. It sure makes me feel washed out.

Amazed to say, it's been cool here the last few days! High yesterday was only 83 which is almost unheard-of in August. Today it's still quite nice out there.

I just caught a quick blast of sun through clouds that washed the colors out, I think. It's dark and stormy out there now, maybe I'll try again if I can stay dry.

Beautiful, Elaine. I have a fairly good camera with a zoom and macro-lens, but my camera simply won't show some of the rich reds. The colors are washed-out. I have tried everything I can think of to accurately get those colors, but nothing I do corrects the problem.

The reds ARE the most difficult to capture with the camera...that's when I really appreciate how amazing our brains and eyes are that we can see those differences! I've had varying degrees of success ( depending on the plant) by either shooting on an overcast day or on a sunny day or a sunny day but in light shade...the neighbors must think I'm nuts moving the plant around as I contort myself to get a good picture!
Elaine, those 2 plants are right up my alley...and I've got 2 words for that.....RUM PUNCH!!!

Today seems almost more like a "Hot Rum" day, Lindsey. Same color palette, though.

I tried again while the thunder storm was raging around me, and all that happened was that the flash went off. Didn't help with adding blue to the mix. I'd describe the colors on Cinnamon Stick as more "rosy purple" shades than the red you see in the photos. It has a lot of diamond dusting as well, which shows best in the flash pictures.

Oh Elaine, those are both gorgeous! Could come with 'age' of the bloom, but I almost expected a little more 'bronze on the 'Cinnamon Stick'. It is a beauty none the less! Looking forward to it maturing! After seeing what my 'Ching Hua' did, I can't wait to see this.

Lindsey, I love the way you think! RUM PUNCH!!! Yummy!!!

edit:
Ooooh, LOVE that diamond dusting!!!!