Hey all! Long time no visit. My new job has been taking me all over TN. I had forgotten how diverse our landscape is. I am enjoying the travel very much.

AOS student judging is going well. I have finished and presented my 2nd paper on Parvisepalum Paphiopedilum species and primary hybrids. That was a tough one.

Only 4 more papers/presentations before they vote on moving me to probationary judge.

The new greenhouse is doing well. We had a small scare with the heater as it seems the thermistor sensor is going out. It is working now and I have alerts set up on my iPhone. We have backup heaters just in case. Our HVAC contractor is working us into the schedule and they will probably have to replace that. We are getting a generator for christmas as a backup in case we lose power in the future.

I have a few photos to share. The Vandas are getting used to the GH and loving the extra humidity. I definitely say that heating/cooling a higher ceiling area is MUCH easier and more consistent.

On a disappointing note, The jury is still out on this vendor Ahtanum Orchids.

History: I placed a large order with them in January 2016 after doing a Google search for a particular orchid.

You know how it is when you are looking for that one elusive plant for your collection.

Not only did they have the one I was searching for, but they also had two forms of V. denisoniana (the orange and the green).

I couldn't really any reviews so I took the chance and emailed them about the size of the plants. The response seemed pretty good. Plants were large.

I placed the order and they charged me tax even though I am in TN and they are in WA. I contacted them about the error and they said they charge it anyway and will send me a heat pak in lieu of tax. Well, that was kind of a downer but not enough to discourage me from getting the order.

Order arrived and the plants were big (NO HEAT PAK - in January). I was excited that they were not damaged from the cold. I isolated them (as I always do now) and good thing because they had mealies. I immediately drenched.

So no biggie...I got rid of the guests and they started growing.

Fast forward to a little over a month ago...I see a spike on my V. denisoniana (green form) and I am over the moon excited! I carefully train it with styrofoam inserts so that it grows straight and away from the leaves. I'm counting buds and making sure the humidity is perfect. It had 12-14 buds working.

About 10 days ago, I start to suspect not V. denisoniana. The buds started turning purple! NOOoooooo! It can't be, I thought. Please when it opens, be green.

Oh no, not green. Not even Vanda. It opens and I have an Aerides x Vanda. I should have suspected sooner when I saw purple root tips instead of green, but I wasn't thinking.

So I email Ahtanum and tell them the situation and ask them how we should remedy as now their website says out of stock.

No reply. I call and leave a message just in case. Mind you, this was a total $333 order and this plant alone was $40 + tax that I shouldn't have had to pay + shipping.

No reply. I am seriously bummed about this and now more than a little irritated. So I called my credit card company (paid through PayPal, but with my Capital One card). They are pretty good with disputes.

I explain the whole situation and ask them how we can dispute only that portion of the purchase (I'm giving Ahtanum the benefit of the doubt that the other orchids are correctly labeled). Capital One is sending me a special dispute form.

In the meantime, I am still trying to contact Paul at Ahtanum to see if he will make it right.

Attached is a photo. I'm pretty sure it is (Aerides lawrenceae x Vandachostylis Sasicha), which is a popular cross. I'm checking for the grape scent which will pretty much determine that.

Sorry for the long post, had a lot to update!

Dendrobium Exotic Ruby 'Purple Passion' AM/AOS: a division of the awarded plant gifted to me by the grower, Wes Addison about 6 years ago. It took me that long to try to kill it and then finally grow it to bloom.


Gomesa colorata: took it to judging and it needs more flowers. It has the size and form. I love it!


Pda Johanna Ljunggren x V. Rinka: an unregistered cross that I took to judging. Too young. I need to bring it back as a larger plant with more blooms.


Pda Esther Araneta: I love this plant and want another. It is a cutting that I hope to grow big.


Unknown (Aerides lawrenceae x Vandachostylis Sasicha) Perreiraara LeBeau Blue - from Ahtanum Orchids. Was supposed to be V. denisoniana (green form).

Yes Jim, you got that red vanda from Goodwin when they came to our meeting. I bought one at the same time but mine was without a tag.
Welcome back Melissa!
Oh man, what a drag about your less than fabulous experience with that grower.. hopefully you'll get it settled satisfactorily.. and soon!
I've got a new flower today on a very cute window sill sized plant.


Blc. Shinfong Little Boy

Nice to see you, Melissa! I am glad you are doing well and your Orchids are growing and blooming nicely. I love that cute Gomesa!!
Hope you resolve those annoying vendor issues! Disappointing for sure.

Lindsey, such a pretty bloom!

Now I know why the clonal name 'Witchcraft' for the Monn. Millenium Magic! ( I posted the plant upstream) It is a bit tough to see with all that shine dark surface, but if you look closely, there is the column shaped like the crooked nose of a witch!!

Not sure about the scent on this one, it is very faint and I am detecting a touch of Caraway!
And Coelia bella starts up with its timely top note of Marzipan!
Small fat spikes are making their appearance all over the basket

and

I have nothing to show, but let me tell you, all those orchids growing wild down here in Puerta Vallarta are making me ill.

Slc. has now opened up her second flower with two to go. The flowers are going to be bunched together. Those petals are getting a little lighter and the flowers are getting fragrant.


12-11-16

12-15-16

So pretty, Ken. We feel SO sorry for you, Anna. Take lots of pictures!

Now that my window of opportunity to ship plants to any of the northern half of the country is getting smaller and smaller by the week, I will have more time for photography. Of course, that doesn't mean I will have anything interesting to photograph. Maybe I will produce a video, now that I have a smart-phone. I have to learn how to use this new phone.

beautiful , Ken!

Thanks, Lindsey. She has bloomed every year in December or January. Nora does brighten up the solarium, when only my terrestrial orchids and plumeria are in bloom right now. Oh, I have a couple of tillandsia coloring up and one is in bloom.

I do have another one of my really rare plants in bloom. It has been in sheath for at least four months! I had just about given up on her blooming. She has two stems with buds and the first flower is unfurling. I will take photos tomorrow of some "color" in the solarium, or just interesting things. The rare plants is C. Maxima var. semi-alba. She is the lowlands species.

Just love than Monnierara Millenium Magic 'Witchcraft'. I shall start a search.

Thanks so much, Ted!
Someone else was recently looking for that Orchid, see here
The thread "Good idea or not" in Orchids forum

Right now, as my plant is blooming, I see the leaves slowly getting a bit yellowish. Once it is done blooming I will quit watering until the next new growth in the Spring shows good roots. Last Winter I directed a very light spray once in a while over the plant. It seemed fine.

Ken, pretty Cattleya!

Thanks, Ursula.

I have had success with one Ctsm and have been e-mailing back and forth with Fred of SVO, trying to get a good handle on his plants culture and how they would fit in my area. So after seeing your plant earlier I pulled the trigger. Have found the Witchcraft in a number of sites, but most too cold to ship right now. Bought these from SVO. Should arrive soon.

Slc. NEW HYBRID (Slc. Spirit of Seventy-Six 'Cherry Wine' HCC/AOS x Lc. Spring Fires 'Lenette #3' )
The expectation here is for starry, dark red flowers held above the foliage, and a compact plant habit. Spirit of Seventy-Six (L. milleri x Brandywine) is a smaller plant with intense fiery-red flowers, and Spring Fires (Fires of Spring x Fire Island) has deep red flowers on strong stems. Dark red stars...

SVO 6468
Clo. NEW HYBRID (Clo. Black Jade 'JEM' HCC/AOS x Ctsm. Frilly Doris 'SVOII' AM/AOS)
Here is a real different hybrid for me. I have been watching this style of breeding out of South Florida and decided to do a test cross along similar lines. Black Jade (Cl. russelliana x Ctsm. expansum) flowers with long (two feet!) pendulous inflorescences carrying 30 to 35 avocado green flowers with a big black spot in the throat. The flower form is poor, with pinched petals and narrow lips common to Cl. russelliana hybrids. Frilly Doris (Doris's Choice x Dona Marie) is a well know breeding plant and makes a good starting point, as it gives predictable results, imparting good flower form, a fimbriate lip, and well arranged flowers. These will be floriferous plant producing long cascading stems with 25-30 flowers. Flower color will be green, with many having spots and a big dark spot of black on the lip. Form will be improved, with broader petals, and the lip will larger and flattened. I am looking forward to seeing how these turn out!

SVO 6539
Ctsm. José Abalo (Ctsm. sanguineum 'SVO' x Ctsm. Orchidglade 'JTM' )
I have admired my plant of José Abalo 'SVO' for many years. With its 2 foot flower spikes, each carrying 20 dark burgundy flowers with black lips, it is spectacular. The sanguineum holds its flowers on a straight, upright inflorescence, and the flowers are spotted with a very dark lip. Orchidglade 'JTM' (pileatum x expansum) has exceptionally large and dark burgundy flowers. This is a great opportunity to acquire a proven hybrid that is rarely available for sale. Here is what Jose Abalo 'SVO' looks like Pic 1 and here is a picture of 'Clair' Pic 2
3” pots $18

SVO 6542
Ctsm. NEW HYBRID (Ctsm. Frilly Doris 'SVO II' AM/AOS x Ctsm. José Abalo 'SVO')
Frilly Doris (Doris's Choice x Dona Marie) gives predictable results in its progeny by imparting good flower form, a fimbriate lip, and well arranged flowers. It is also a vigorous grower, blooming 3-4 times a season. José Abalo (sanguineum x Orchidglade) has a 2 foot long stem carrying 20 dark burgundy flowers with black lips - really an outstanding plant. This cross is all about color and frilly lips! We will see 15-20 large, dark burgundy, spotted flowers on strong sturdy stems from this cross. The lips will be a very dark color and have fimbriate edges. These are larger growing plant that will really impress.
3” pots $18

SVO 6730
Clo. NEW HYBRID (Ctsm. Frilly Doris 'SVO II' AM/AOS x Clo. Upper Echelon 'SVO Sun Blast')
Frilly Doris (Doris's Choice x Dona Marie) imparts good flower form, a fimbriate lip, well arranged flowers, vigorous growth, and the ability to bloom 3-4 times a season. The Clo. Upper Echelon (Clo. Jumbo Lace x Ctsm. Orchidglade) is an advanced Clowesetum hybrid with superior qualities: bright yellow flowers with bold burgundy spots, 15-17 large flowers per inflorescence and 2-3 inflorescences per bulb. Pretty impressive! I'm expecting yellow flowers with bold spotting, fimbriate lips, and good flower count, with longevity of 3-4 weeks. This hybrid is another first in breeding: {[(Clowesia x Catasetum) x Catasetum] x Catasetum}. I wonder if the Catasetum triggers will return. If they do, will they work to trigger the pollen? I suppose we'll find out soon enough...
3” pots $18

SVO 6725
Ctmds. NEW HYBRID (Ctmds. Dragons Tail 'Dark Tale' x Ctsm. Orchidglade 'Davie Ranches' AM/AOS)
This is a Catamodes (Catasetum x Mormodes). Dragons Tail (Ctsm. denticulatum x Morm. ignea) has amazing-looking flowers, almost scale-like, with deep colors and flat lips. Just take a look at the picture. Orchidglade (pileatum x expansum) has large yellow flowers with red spotting and a huge lip. It grows particularly well and is a reliable bloomer. This is the first [(Mormodes x Catasetum) x Catasetum] cross I am aware of, making this a first in breeding. The Mormodes with its special ability to add color to hybrids will assure that this is an extraordinary hybrid. Flowers will have a yellow base color overlaid with dense coalescing dark burgundy-brown spots, and the lips will be flat and similar in coloration. Flowers will have good substance and last 3 weeks or more. This is a very exciting hybrid with very interesting floral characteristics

Ted, Please keep me posted on how those do for you. The Orchid Digest that Ursula sent me is all about Ctsm, and full of SVO photos. I drool when I look at it, but am leery about trying them. I'm not thrilled by the black ones, but there are a lot of others that I lust after.
PS. Hope you are enjoying the rain.

Ted, I love your new purchases!!

Right now a have a Catasetum pileatum ready to open a spike very soon, so I am getting a bit more confident about delving into this group of Orchids.

Regarding the Orchid Digest mentioned by Carol, I highly recommend it too. It is the Oct.Nov.Dec Issue 2016 dedicated to the Catasetinae, with a very beautiful and informative article by Fred Clarke and more.

...and what is better than a spike on my noid Cattleya? 2 spikes!

A couple of new blooms here..and lots of new buds discovered on my brief walk around the bench.


Rth. Michael Rainey
This was given to me by Janice ( Sand and Sea) when we were over at ATP...did she give up on orchids?...I haven't seen her since she gave this to me.
and the 4th spike on Blc. Rustic Spots just opened as well.



I love the small size of this plant and it's certainly a very generous bloomer!

Looking good, Lindsey!

How sunny and bright Michael Rainey looks. It's only a wintery 50 here today and not very sunny at all.

For us, a lot of rain. 1.84" in the last 24. Mostly during the night. Saves me watering tonite. Everthing dry by you Carol?