Nice pattern of speckles.

pretty!

Last weekend we checked on the Platanthera lacera at our Pennsy place and found some in spike. This weekend they were partially blooming!
Needles in Haystacks! Location - Fleetville, Lackawanna County, PA

You always find the best surprises in the woods. Is that at your pIace? I didn't realize it was so far north. We used to go skiing near there at Elk Mountain.

Alice, this particular meadow is right next to the entrance of our place, ca 10 yards and belongs to the neighbor. We actually really have only two neighbors, their houses are ca. half a mile and a mile away. The other sides of the property have now been purchased by a conservancy group, which means we will not have any houses or developments nearby in the future! We were and still are able to comb the neighborhood for wildflowers to heart's content!
Yes, when our children were young, we also went skiing at Elk Mountain, that was and surely still is a great place to ski!

I should add, we have the same Orchid at the edge of our woods on the other side, but these here are a touch easier to visit. Next time we will check out the other stands.

Lindsey, I really like that one!
Great photos, Ursula! Wish we had wild flower meadows around here. Most of our wild land is burning this summer.

That is just too bad, Carol. We love to take walks and look for fun plants!

It was a long journey but I am back home. I was buckled in and ready for takeoff at the Fort Wayne airport when they announced the airport in Charlotte had closed due to the weather. They made us deplane and unloaded the luggage. We stood in a long line while they looked for alternatives. I was finally sent to Philadelphia to connect with a flight to Tampa. The result was a Tampa arrival at 1:40 am on Saturday and it was right at 3:00 am when I shut off the bedroom light. All that on only two bags of pretzels. I thought there was no chance my suitcase would make it but it did. Hats off to the luggage handlers.

It took Trigo 20 minutes to complete his greeting routine. I just have to love that dog.

I found the following blooms waiting for me in the OC:
Rhynchovola [Rcv.] Fairy Queen (Rcv. Jimminey Cricket x Rl. glauca)



Oncostele [Ons.] Eye Candy 'Pinkie' (Ons. Catatante x Onc. Barossa Delight)



Rhynchonia [Rnc.] Pacific Paranoia 'Other Side of Cool' (Rst. bictoniensis x Milt. Honolulu)


Vanda [V.] Ayusakorn (V. Ponpimol x V. Wirat)


Jim

Trigo and a nice show of orchids (Fairy Queen gets my vote) what more could one want. Sorry you had such a long voyage, I hope the reunion was fun.

Fairy Queen for sure! But it comes in second to Trigo.

Wow, what a great show, I love them all, but Trigo is surely the best! I can imagine his happy dance! And yes, the Fairy Queen is great!!
That must have been a tough return home, Jim.

Lovely flowers to welcome you home, anyway. They're all gorgeous in their own way, but you know, I'm really leaning towards "Other side of Cool" giving that purple Vanda a run for it's money.

Update on my blooming Vanda Jairak Heartthrob now almost all open. I'm sure it used to be more ivory with red spots, but it has a lot of red blush on the flowers these days. Maybe the hot weather is doing this?

And I got lucky with the lighting on this shot of my C. gaskelliana coerulea 2 just putting on it's blue wash.

Yes, you captured the color nicely, Elaine.

Jim

Oh, I agree!

This C. Canhamiana coerulea 'Azure Skies' opened in the cage and I took it inside to snap some pictures and enjoy the blooms.

Simply gorgeous, simply gorgeous! That is one of the most famous of all the blue Cattleyas.

Lovely!

Love the deep colors on that!

Silva Orchids had last year a gigantic plant in bloom, I was smitten with this one! Had to buy one!