Go for it, Elaine. Everyone has to learn for themself.

Blc Keowee 'Newberry' opened last night. I've had it for years as it is a big plant and a very reliable bloomer.


Another look at Laelia tenebrosa. The close up shows what looks to me like a double lip on the flower. The other two flowers are normal. Weird.


Jim

Good job, Ursula! My old spikes had buds too, but they dried up. My plant is about the same size as yours, and stays outside all year. After a second look, I have four blooming, one maybe, and two dried up spikes bobbing in the breeze.

Those are both nice ones, Jim! I hope I live long enough to see my L. tenebrosa bloom. I just moved it up from it's 3 1/2" pot.

Yes, that is indeed a double lip. Looks like a big curl!! I did a double take on that one. The Blc Keowee 'Newberry' is very nice!

Elaine, good looking Paphs. And I can only say: "ha" on the not so pretty plants when not in bloom. We had a great thread about that some years ago on Daves Garden and if you look carefully, some of us post every so often some really good looking plant growth.

The Nageliella sure is a fun plant!!

Those two are amazing colors, Jim.

Bree, I haven't had any problems growing Paphs . .. yet. That picture was just after I bought those two, so they had not suffered from my ministrations or the Florida climate at all. But they were in plastic pots, inside the clay pots (why, why??) so I just slipped them out of the plastic and put them back in the clay pots alone, with some gravel in the bottoms. So they are sitting up better now. The flowers lasted beautifully, and the plants are still happy, safely sitting next to a glass patio door where I hope that they will stay a bit cooler and drier than the rest. It's pretty hot for them here in the summer, too.

LoL Ursula, note that I said "some" are not so great looking. You guys have all been coddling your lovely plants for years. Of course a lot of them are beautiful.

Such a quiet day. I'm going to try to tip-toe in and post a pic of newly opening Ctsm Crown Fox Voodoo without waking anyone up. This is not your every day orchid and it is difficult to get good pictures of it as the blooms point straight down. This is the second year I have bloomed it and it produced two spikes each time. It is a fairly large plant as you can see when I moved it atop the grill.

Jim

Zzz, mmph, huh?? ok, awake now. That is a pretty color on those guys, Jim. Are they all the way open? They look like little hanging tulips. Sure has some substantial pb's in there feeding it, huh. Great growing as always!

Elaine

ps. I'm hoping for Den. Judith Nakayama to open tomorrow, and I have spikes on my Howeara Lava Burst 'Puanani' looking ready to pop, too.

Jim, any reason that you don't stake the spikes on the catasetum? I did when I grew them and they really showed off that way.

Neat Catasetum!
What can I say, it was not so quiet here!
I played with the girls yesterday and the now 2 year old little Jake took pretty much my whole attention today, except for his nap. That little fellow makes me RUN after him!

Elaine, regarding the "beautiful orchid plants when not in bloom" - I was thinking of orchids with interesting growth like Dendrobium anceps or Angraecum distichum. Or the pretty growth of the Neofinetia falcatas and Dendrobium moniliforme - that's a whole chapter by itself



Ok back to current stuff -
Cirrhopetalum sikkimense was blooming in the cage on Monday, I should have taken it inside for a picture....either too much light or too dark. I wanted to repeat the picture inside, but the blooms had already dropped.
The whole umbel measures less than an inch, very cute!

Vanda Martha Ragan still in bloom

Tolumnia Ducky

Ascda Fuchs Joy

and Jumellea comorensis

Those are all gorgeous, Ursula. I've been hunting for a Neo. Falcata for months now (trying for one locally) but I think I'm going to refine my search now to see if I can get 'Gojo Fukurin'. Lovely! Any leads on where I might get one? I even have a Phal with variegated leaves (although it seems to be reverting . . .)


Partly what prompted my comment was the local grower I've been talking about, who is trying to liquidate his Dad's large inventory. His greenhouse is full of over 2000 plants still, and most of them are small, and look pretty scrappy. They're healthy, just not impressive. It's a shame. He says many people come in, and will only buy a plant if it is in bloom. Me, if I have time I go around and write down names, come home and research them then go back and get 6 little 'chids for $22. Reminds me, I must go tomorrow!

A repeat of Enc. alata x Early Bird, I know. It's almost done but still so pretty and fragrant. Great value - this was one that came from that local guy and I gave one to Jim, too.

Elaine, here is one of the major Neofinetia falcata importer/seller
http://www.newworldorchids.com...

Wow, they sure have a huge selection! Sure know how to charge, too. Strange that there are no pictures, that's half the fun of shopping online.

I feel guilty paying $35 for an orchid. It's my darned Scottish heritage.

Those are all out of my league. $165 for 'Gojyo Fukurin' is even too much for me to ask the kids for it as a gift. I think I'll satisfy myself with viewing your lovely ones in pictures for now.

I picked up most of mine at shows, one here one there. Every so often I find a more reasonable one.

I started the new thread for the month of June, see you there!
The thread "Our Orchid blooms in June 2012" in Orchids forum