An additional "present' made herself known today After a 2-year rest, something peeking out of the Paphiopedilum - Lady Slipper orchid After seeing the tiny little hairs, for sure, not just a leaf going to come out this time around!!

Oh, am I jealous! I think the Paphs are my favorites. Very cool!!!

I will surely take photos as the flower continues to bloom, so you will see them Sheryl! Keeping fingers crossed, hopefully it will not go bud blast or something

Are they pretty difficult plants?

I got a few pics of some at a Botanical Garden last spring, but they were all NOIDS.... I'm guessing they inter-breed fairly easily.

I got this one in Jan 2009 and it bloomed twice, January and then in December that same year. I loved her leaves, coz knowing that after the flowers bloom, only leaves are left and at least it has some design of its own. It did not bloom for 2 years, just made leaves all that time, and I was told it will only bloom on new plants it makes. This one is non-sequential, so only one bloom each flower spike..

That's a very lovely photo you have there!!! I saw other ones in an orchid show and they really are so gorgeous!

I got another paph early this year, which was a sequential bloomer, bloomed 3 times on the same spike, unfortunately it went to orchid heaven after summer haaay!

So to answer your question, if they are difficult plants..hmmm I guess it depends...but that is the case with all the orchids most of the time, right?