That one would win a ribbon in my book.

I'm joining the crowd on 'Paradise'. An outstanding bloom!

Jim, is your pool fresh or salt water?

Fresh, at least until a tidal wave hits.

The Tampa folks are in full panic mode. Sam's Club is a mob scene. You can't get near the place. Publix is out bread, water and most everything that needs neither refrigeration nor cooking. Gas stations are without fuel. I tried three stations on the way home from the gym and all were without gas. My wife is at Pet Smart buying dog food. Even I laid in a couple extra bottles of Bordeaux. We all prepare in our own way.

Monday evening, my wife's brother found their mother on the floor of her home in Bradenton, unable to get up. Looks like she had been there a couple of days. She was taken to Manatee Memorial Hospital where we went to visit her on Tuesday. She is very weak and unsure of what happened. A couple months ago I bought her a Medical Alert button which we found nicely placed on a bedside table. There is just so much one can do.

Jim

Awww, that's sad, Jim. I hope your MIL comes through ok.

If you get a tidal wave on your place, you'll need more than a couple of bottles of Bordeaux.

I hope your wife's mother recovers and that it was nothing catastrophic (just had to use that term, since I have now heard it mentioned at least 100 times over the last two days).

Oh boy Jim, Patty must be beside herself with worry. You'll have to get that panic button on a lanyard or something she can put on her wrist or around her neck.
I did all my emergency prep. yesterday ..it took 2 and a half hours to get cash, gas and water. I think seeing all the devastation in Texas drove the point home that these storms can be ferocious .
In other news , I learned a new photo trick. We've all had trouble getting accurate reds or purples...someone on the Florida Orchid Growers page ( a Facebook group) suggested holding a white plant tag near the flower but in a place that could be cropped out..once the camera recognizes true white , it does a better job with the other colors. Here's Rlc. Susan Fender 'Cinnamon Stick' with 2 new flowers yesterday.




without a white reference


and with

Wow! Quite a difference. I'll have to try that...if I ever get a red one to bloom, and remember the trick.

Thanks for the tip, Lindsey.

Jim

Sorry Fred, I am not coming to Venice to hear you speak.
I am staying hunkered down.
No not really I just can't be sure of getting gas anywhere down here. Lines are incredible, many stations are out.
I won't have to fill a tank if I don't drive.
When I pray for the Lord to keep Irma out of Florida, I'll also mention your mother Jim, may she recover quickly. Ever since I prayed hard three nights ago, Irma has moved a little east each morning.

Oh, Jim I am sure that is very hard on Patty. I am afraid I will be the same when I reach that stage, I'll probably forget to put the darn thing on. I keep asking for my kids forgiveness now.

If those bottle of Bordeaux are empty they can be re-corked and used as floats just in case that tidal wave comes around.

Lindsey, that is a great tip. I can't wait to try it.

Wow everyone! My prayers are with you all. Jim, hope your MIL will be okay.

If I could bring you a tank of gas or a case of water (or wine), I'd be there. Probably not what you are thinking about right now but are all the orchids indoors?

I gave my deaf Uncle a Medical Alert (that called numbers and played a recorded message) that he wore around his neck. He wouldn't take it off, even to shower. He fell about 100 yds from his house and broke his hip. He told me he pushed the button a lot but no one came. They are not as foolproof as we would like to think.

I finally have something blooming:
Dendrobium Enobi "Purple Splash" just starting to bloom - first of 3 spikes

Bulbophyllum Meen Mercury Sandel (Yellow Clone) x B. echinolabium - first of 2 spikes


My anticipation is that a wilted cutting that Curtis Gean gave me last fall is going to bloom!

Jim, I hope your MIL is ok!!

Lindsey, this is a good tip, but then subject is gorgeous no matter what the camera focusses on!

I sure hope by the time we get to see Irma, she is all fizzled out!

Interesting blooms, Daisy! Did this echinolabium cross inherit the lovely scent from his dad?

That Purple Splash is gorgeous, Daisy.

The OC is built to Miami hurricane specs and all of my orchids are inside except a few Cyms and other ground orchids. I'm more concerned about the brittle jacaranda and some of the palms. I'm still thinking it will be far enough to the east to spare us. My schedule is getting lighter as events are being cancelled every time the phone rings. I think we are as prepared as we can be except I need gas for the truck.

Thanks all for your thoughts and prayers for my MIL.

Jim

Lovely Den and Bulbo there, Daisy. At least your uncle wore his Medical Alert, which, let's face it, gives the family a little bit of peace of mind (until it doesn't work). My mother outright refused one. Luckily when she had her fall and broke her hip, the caregiver was there. The 'laying on the floor for days' scenario played in my head way too often in the years she spent alone in the huge old family home with stairs and slippery floors. You have my heartfelt sympathy, Jim.

Lindsey, brilliant tip on the camera. That may explain why the only time I get a decent color on my dusky purple Den pictures is when I aim the camera up at the sky. It must be 'seeing' the clouds. (mine adds red to the blues, as well as blue to the reds)

For those who missed my brief appearance on ABC Action News, here is the link:
http://www.abcactionnews.com/n...

It seems like a short clip considering they were out here filming for an hour. I'm thinking many of my best moments wound up on the cutting room floor.

Jim

Not long ago a neighbor who is a widow and lives alone found a friend who had fallen so she decided to get a medic alert for herself. I am not sure which one she bought. She listed her daughter as the emergency contact but never bothered to mention this to the daughter. She was out playing golf one day when one of our security people approached to see if she was OK. Seems the battery went dead, she never checked it and the medic alert company called the daughter who was hysterically trying to figure out why some stranger was calling and asking about her mother. Daughter had the security find her and it all ended OK but apparently you do have to check the batteries occasionally.

Sorry to here about your MIL, Jim. But I enjoyed that little video.
All you guys out there on the East coast.. Be Safe!!!