Thanks all, enjoying catching up on all the forums. How long?? Can I just say a lllllooonnnggg time? Probably since the mid 70's. I had an orchid business for about 10 years (the 80's) in the Bay Area called Botanic Specialties. I worked in science/plant-based jobs (bioloical testing, herbicide development) most of my career. After the Tech bust here in Silicon Valley, I worked at White Oak Orchids for a couple years as a grower. Scott Dallas, the owner of WO, is a friend and an exceptional grower. They have excellent plants, and a nice website. Now I work in Safety... so no running with clippers!

I keep adding pictures to the FlickR set as new stuff blooms, so check back from time to time. I'll be adding Hexisea bidentata and Mltnps Woodlands 'Ebony' this weekend. Waiting for Onc leucochilum (2 clones), Odcdm Tiger Butter, and several Odonts to open.

Neal

Neal, keep those west coast growers comming! Always good to find new growers...and posters!

Neal,
I think we have solved the uploading issue so you can get your pics embedded here. Check you c-mail.
Can't wait to see them right here.

Welcome Neil Those certainly are some beautiful blooms you have presented. Odonts are some of my favorites.

Wow, you are an impressive group and I have enjoyed reading your introductions. I am a very new newby. I bought my first orchid about a year ago. I have enjoyed looking at all the photos you post and can see how it can become an obsession.

Like Kathy, I am a speech-language pathologist. I also have a degree in psychology and work with children. I have two kids, one an 18 year old senior in High School and a daughter who is a Junior in college. I guess orchids (and dogs) are my new children. I grew up in Maine and have lived in Virginia, and New Hampshire before settling here in Deerfield, Massachusetts, with my husband. He is slowly getting used to my orchid obsession, and I think he secretly likes them almost as much as I do. I have a Vizsla and an Italian Greyhound (dogs), who take up a lot of my energy, and who have occasionally knocked over my orchids. We will not even discuss the cat and his attack on my plants. I have a small garden that is mostly shaded, and am certainly a novice there as well.

Jo you are so prime for contact with meeeeeee!!!! Wait till you visit my gardens. I have ladyslipper hybrids (Cypripedium orchids) and primroses and trilliums and lots of miniature hostas in my shade garden for you to see. And then there's the rest of the 3 acres in the sun. Some pics for a preview: http://cubits.org/orchids/thre...

Hello Everyone,

Orchid enthusiest since 2008. My first was a home improvement store purchase. Little did I know what I had gotten myself into. This Phal. floresced into 150 specimens, and hours volunteering at the A.O.S. Biding my time as a Leica Surgical Microscope Field Tech and soaking up knowledge on how to keep orchids alive. That first Phal. ignited an interest that would have me commuting to Delray Bch. for 5 months on the weekends and pass by's, to and from clients in the northern counties. .............Yeah, I was deep into it.

Cut to: 2011

After trail and error, hurricanes and extended cold snaps, I'm down to 45. Cat's, Vandacious, Aerides, Brassilova's, Enc.'s, Onc.'s, Den.'s. and Epi.'s. Now I get all my mine from local growers. I even rolled the dice and attached more to tree's. My fav.'s are Cat.'s and anything that has a pleasent fragrance.



After simply just documenting florescence, I decided to photograph them as artisitclly as possible. Now selling streched canvas, weather resistant canvas and traditional prints of my work.

http://www.linkedin.com/profil...
http://be.net/AlbertDavidPhoto
This is a great chat forum, happy to have found it. Are there any NASCAR/Orchid fans out there ?

hi welcome. Sounds like youve been bitten by the orchid bug too. hehe! wow nice car decals. Gotta love a toyota camery too.

Gotta love the car!!
Reminds me of our first car, a red 1967 Mustang, convertible, bucket seats, from 0 - 60 mph in 5 seconds. I was certainly not a "flower girl" as implied in those years, but while DH was in the army, I had decorated the car with huge daisy decals. I liked it, but I totally understood that these eventually had to go....
Albert, it is nice to meet you! In addition to the orchids you grow, your photography expertise will certainly be a great asset to this forum.

Thanks for the intro! Great photos (what are all those bathing suit clad girls posing for?) and love the orchid cars!! I think we should all drive these! Your orchid set up looks good-is it south light? Had my first Leica (film camera) in 1970 till it was stolen. Still miss it's quiet click.
I think you are a wonderful addition to the chat forum, too, Albert! How did you find us??

Hello Albert!
C'mon in and join the fun!

Thank you Bree, Ursula, kathy and lindsey,
Kathy, gotta love Leica sorry to hear of the theft. Are you sitting down ? Check this link: http://en.leica-camera.com/pho... It's very interactive.

Unfortunatly I have a western exposure, I deal with it by using double to tripple screen, watering at the appropriate times and plenty of air flow. 3 skylights work well to ease the pain.



I'm working on a vehical wrap and graphic window tints for the home, I'll keep you posted.

Those orchids look mighty happy!!!!
Do you need all those screens because it's so bright? Those in New England are craving light! Tell us more about window tints and how and why you use them.

In Mid. Summer the sun glares in with 90 + Deg. Temp.'s and 100 % Humidity. About 1400 Hrs. the sun starts to creep in to my growing area. That sides gets heavy sun from about 1400 Hrs to Approx. 1730 Hrs EST.
When it comes to working with light to assure your orchids are in the correct amount, I often measure with my light meter, reading footcandles.
I will double or triple the generic window screens to cut the amount of light. The over lapping grids, waving in the breeze create moving darker areas that play across the leaves.
The window tint can be used as well. on windows with southern or western exposure's. On those sides of the house a palm or leafy plant would do good to help shield from constant direct light.
My newest endeavour has to do with graphic window tints with either a personal photograph as the design or pre-printed. These will be used on full length, sliding glass doors and other house windows. Yes they will have a tint to them with various shades grey. Project still in it's infancy..

Another solution to harsh southern and western exposures would be the use of window tints or N.D. sheets. N.D. ( ND = Neutral Density) sheets come from the world of film making and come in wide and long enough roll sizes to completely cover very large windows. They can be self applied like regular consumer tints. ND is a photographic term and come in increments of full F-stops. IE: .3 = 1 stop, .6 = 2 stops, .9 = 3 stops, 1.2 = 4 stops, etc..They are optical clear so maybe the use of diffusion material of something to break up the direct light. Diffusion can be purchased along with the ND from the same vendor. Know that diffusion also decreases the amount of light, so factor that in when calculating light readings.
Here's a link: http://www.filmtools.com/31-le.... I don't endorse this Co. it's just a link to give you and idea of what I'm explaining.

I see. The only time this would be needed here is in late spring when leaves can burn near my big south windows. June first all the plants go outside to mostly live in north light along my red barn. The rest of the time I am wishing I had more light!!

Hi All! I guess I'm the newest orchid person to join here, I was a lurker for quite a while before I got involved. I live in suburbia and work as a Florist but even though I work with plants and flowers all day at work the plants and gardens at home are in a different mental "box" as it were helping me to relax and unwind. My reason for getting into orchids is the challenge, a green thumb seems to run in my family so I'm seeking a thrill that’s a bit more difficult. This time last year I had about 2 orchids now I have 7, still not many at all but the collection is growing slowly as I keep coming up with ways to fit in more plants. All the pictures here are very inspiring and I am looking forward to learning from all of you!

Oh Ya, your hooked!

The road to obsession is a short one. :blinking:

Jim

So glad you have joined us Steven!