welcome to my world!

Chris,

Happy Veteran's Day... It's nice to have a day to Thank you Hero's that ensure our freedoms and
safety, (Yous have done such a wonderful job, we American's tend to take it for granted). And
Thank you for the freedom efforts that were and are fought for others. It is sad to think of the
folks in this world that have to scramble for a seed in the hopes of future food for them or their
families, while I sit sipping coffee and reading gardening posts...
I feel certain they would love to trade places....

And your Phalaenopsis look awesome too... I recently got a chance to go to an Orchid show.
Spent way to much $$$$, and now think I have just a bit of almost all of the orchid varieties.
Anyway, just an FYI, they had fragrant Phalaenopsis there, some well over $100.00 I could not
believe the prices they were going for....

Your Phalaenopsis growing talents may pay off....

I agree, Chris is getting really good at growing Phals. I like your tribute to veterans and especially to Chris - our resident veteran and orchid pal. Happy Veteran's Day!

Donna, I can assure you that your orchid addiction is only getting started. There are thousands of varieties of orchid so an almost infinite possibility for filling your house with weird and wonderful flowers. Prices at shows are always the highest you will pay because the growers bring all their best plants to the shows, and they are usually in bloom. I go to shows armed with a camera, and leave my wallet at home nowadays.

Once you are more confident, you can look online and for local growers that sell plants not in flower for much less than show prices. They usually have a picture of what the flower will look like so you're not buying somethingn completely unknown. Our local Lowe's and Home Depot have what we call "bag babies" that are a bargain price and should usually bloom within a year or so. It's much more satisfying to grow a plant to blooming yourself. (don't get me wrong, it's very nice to buy orchids in bloom too).

Shy_gardner said: Chris,

Happy Veteran's Day... It's nice to have a day to Thank you Hero's that ensure our freedoms and
safety, (Yous have done such a wonderful job, we American's tend to take it for granted). And
Thank you for the freedom efforts that were and are fought for others. It is sad to think of the
folks in this world that have to scramble for a seed in the hopes of future food for them or their
families, while I sit sipping coffee and reading gardening posts...
I feel certain they would love to trade places....

And your Phalaenopsis look awesome too... I recently got a chance to go to an Orchid show.
Spent way to much $$$$, and now think I have just a bit of almost all of the orchid varieties.
Anyway, just an FYI, they had fragrant Phalaenopsis there, some well over $100.00 I could not
believe the prices they were going for....

Your Phalaenopsis growing talents may pay off....

Thank you for the kind words Donna. That's a lot of money for a Phal just because it's fragrant. One of my two keikis are putting out roots finally and I mixed up some root powder with water this morning and put some on the other one. I got my 4" clear pots in and once the minis are finished blooming I'll repot them into those. I'm going to have to rearrange my table with the humidity trays on so I can get more tubs on it.

Thanks to you to Elaine, and you're absolutely correct. It's exciting to see that first flower spike start to peep out from under the leaves. Mine should be spiking pretty soon. The temps in the greenhouse have been between the upper 50s lows and mid 70 for highs.

Chris,
Your persistent growing efforts have really paid off, your orchids are growing and really producing.
And yes folks were steady buying up orchids including the fragrant Phalaenopsis, prices didn't seem to effect them.

Elaine,
I only purchased two Oncidiums that were in spike, the others were young under the shelf pull ups
that were a third of the price of the in spike and bloomers, so then I could buy more different varieties
you see... YES... It is addictive

They only have the Phalaenopsis bag babies around here. I wish they did have some of the
others here. What am I saying!!!! My window shelves are already full...

Ah... Heck...We all have to have something that drives us, what better than it to be a living blooming something...

Yup, as addictions go, it's one of the cheaper and healthier ones you can have.

I'm just back from having a free burger at Red Robin and a discount on a movie ticket. That beats being spit on which is what happened when I arrived back from Vietnam in 1970. Cheers and best wishes to all my fellow veterans.

Jim

hawkarica said:I'm just back from having a free burger at Red Robin and a discount on a movie ticket. That beats being spit on which is what happened when I arrived back from Vietnam in 1970. Cheers and best wishes to all my fellow veterans.

Jim

Welcome home Jim, same year I came back.

Thanks for serving Jim & Chris. It is nice to see how our military personal are respected these days. The families of the young Marines who come to town for the graduations at Parris Island rarely have to pay for a meal in a local restaurant. Invariably someone will pick up the tab as a thank you for their service.

thank you Gentlemen , for your service and sacrifice!

You're very welcome Alice and Lindsey

I'm not much of a burger fan but being free made it especially tasty.

Jim

I hear ya Elaine.... I sure could have a much worse addiction, and orchids are just awesome...

Jim and Chris, You guys that served in Vietnam, sacrificed far more than yous should have right from the start. The Media sure didn't help matters any at the time. We sure appreciate your sacrifices...

Texas Roadhouse was offering free steak dinners for Veterans today too.

I couldn't figure out why the Publix was mobbed early in the day and I learned they were giving veterans 10% off your entire order today. Our neighborhood lined the streets with thousands of flags, these are the same streets that are piled high with hurricane debris. The FEMA trucks finally arrived this week and they were very respectful and kept their "claws" a distance from any flags.

Now, if only our government would treat them as well....

Just back from the NHRA Finals. Nice racing
Jim and Chris, my return was July 1970. Was Air Mobile. I remember reception. Still hurts, but forgiven.

I got back in June of '70. Couple of links about who I was with - http://www.asalives.org/ASAONL... https://www.nsa.gov/about/cryp...