I sometimes have to enjoy (my) orchids' bloom vicariously, and thanks to many of my great customers, like Bob, I am able to do so.

Thankfully the "fragrance" stays close to the bloom and the plant sits in a west-facing window. I had heard if the ambient temperature is low the smell is faint to nonexistent which seems to be the case with this little guy. It certainly helps us appreciate the vanilla, chocolate, coconut, and other more desirable aromas! The bloom itself is fascinating. Perhaps it teaches us that we all have wonderful traits and maybe one that can be improved.

It's a real beauty, Bob. I love the color and form but am just as happy to see pictures of your flower. No stinky flowers in my garden!

I have another new spike opening on Bl. Star Ruby 'Xanadu' which has been a real energizer bloomer for me this fall.

I need to climb up on the ladder and check on my Xanadu plants. All of them bloomed in the spring and early summer. Perhaps they'll reward me with another flush of flowers.

Thank you to Elaine and Ursula for their wonderful pep talk!
Bc. Maikai now has 4 spikes and blooms that opened this morning

The C. Caribbean Skies is developing a deeper "blue" in just 24 hrs. The other bud is not quite fully open. The fragrance is now noticeable.


If I increase the light just a smidgen in my shadow box, these are the colors.

Very pretty , Ken!

For a Cattelya Alliance plant, these flowers are far and away the closest to "blue" that I have had bloom. I think I have two of these and if so, I don't know whether this is the momma plant or her division.

Just lovely, Ken. I have a couple that are similar color, and mine faded the petals out to white but the lips stayed deep lavender.

Oh, I love the Caribbean Sky! I agree, very pretty!!

Nice Bc Maikai too, Lindsey!

I love the Maikai as well. I had a good "trading-partner" for the Maikai, but I guess I have lost that connection.

With Ursula!

I'm in the midst of home renovation , so do not have access to my desktop computer ...the past few photos have been from my phone and I AM SO MISSING MY NIKON...it was stunning to me to see the difference in the Maikai bloom from first thing this morning to the one that opened after it a few hours later.

Around here more of the Fall flowering Cattleyas are coming into bloom -
this is my Cattleya Bob Betts 'White Lightning'. The blooms are gorgeous and large and they are nicely scented!

I've but one orchid, bought by my wife in a big box store w/ their suggested way of watering being the ice cube method.
Per advice here that method isn't used...plant was moved to basement under fluorescents, It seems to have responded well to sporadic watering down there as evidenced by a 2nd round of blooms (1st bloomed back in March).

Jmorth - good growing.

Ursula, I White Lightning, what floof all over.

That's a really pretty Phal, Jay. White Lightning is just a stunner, too. I am a fool for white flowers, so elegant.

I have a nice little surprise bloom this morning, I think it is one of the various B. nodosa crosses from Apopka that I mounted and it has sulked for at least a year. Finally giving us some flowers!


Lindsey, I think those purple Brassavola flowers do fade remarkably in the dry weather - here's the last two on my B. Punakea that are almost completely white now. The fading isn't so noticeable in more humid weather, it seems.

Jmorth, I am glad you didn't follow the ice cube gimmick! Pretty Phal!

Elaine, sounds like this Apopka Orchid has found its voice!

Ken, C. Caribbean Skies is gorgeous.
Lindsey Bc. Maikai is a great color.
Cattleya Bob Betts 'White Lightning' is about the floofiest thing I’ve ever seen, Ursula
Jmorth g,reat color and love the pattern

Here are some blooms from today
Dendrobium Little Green Apples, in bloom when I got it this past June and back for an encore

Psychopsis Mariposa Green River, this is the second time this year I have had two blooms come up back to back. Maybe it's a quiz. Which one is facing the sun.

Cochlioda vulcanica with all blooms open

Sophrolaeliocattleya Sutter Creek ‘Gold Country’just a bright and cheery flower

Bc. Sunny Delight x Bl. Richard Muller, this just opened yesterday, when I bought it in Sept it was not in bu. Got it from Sunset Orchids. The pix at the show and on the website show a fully yellow bloom. This one isn't, but I love the subtle colors. The tag reads as above and the web site calls it Bl. Richard Muller x Bl. Sunny Delight

And shows this from the website

Interesting

Maybe it will change color like my Yellow Birds do, Ted. They start out with rosy petals and an ivory lip, and end up deep golden yellow. Keep us posted.
These two are the same plant, a week or so apart.