The only problem I have with ladders is the weight of that "Little Giant". I think the damn thing weighs as much as me, but it is safer than my 7' aluminum freeway find. Living in a mobile home park makes it a constant pruning issue with trees. Unlike some, I try to contain my garden messes to my lot. When I can't do it anymore, I'll find a nice Apt. with a sunny balcony/patio.

sugarcane said:I looked at 'Mikes Weather Page' and saw the track of this storm... is this really bizarre or is it just my uninformed state?
This Bc. Kosh Wallis 'Paradise ' was divided last year and has come back with 6 or 7 spikes.. I wish it had opened last week.

Actually, getting pacific hurricanes is not that uncommon this time of year. We've already ha a few. Most die off in northern Mexico and some get into Arizona. For the coast, it usually means high surf and rip tide advisories. Rosa just decided to shift a little west and the weathermen all became chicken little. Like I said earlier, the only real worry is in the burn areas. Doesn't take much to start a mudslide.

Weathermen are just being prudent. If they minimize a storm and it intensifies and kills hundreds, they get vilified!
If it turns out to be much less then they forecasted, they still get vilified!
Damned if you do and damned if you dont. Imagine what that feels like?

I much prefer to be worried over "nothing" then to have "nothing" run my butt over!!

Stan got a ribbon!

Congratulations Patty!
Those flowers are so fleeting it's like winning the lottery to have them open during a judging event.
I'm with you Bill, on the weather. I look at a false alarm as a good and realistic practice drill.
Ted, I hope you guys got something useful out of the rainmaker.
I've got a few new flowers this morning.



Ctt. Big Time blooming for the first time.


Rby. With the 3rd spike
And C harpophylla X C tigrina also blooming for the first time,with 2 nice spikes.

Perfect timing, Patty! Congratulations!

Lindsey, such beautiful blooms this morning!

My Dendrochilum magnum is opening and the greenhouse smells so good! Imagine fresh hay on a sunny meadow! So far this is the only Dendrochilum I ever grew that blooms in the Fall.

Thanks Lindsey! I waited 4 years for Stan to be in bloom for a meeting!
I love the freckles on the Rby, and the contrasting lip on the cat is just beautiful! You have most of your rum punch colors covered for sure!

That is so cool, Ursula! It's so unique, and fragrant too! I love it!

Lindsey, I have a hybrid name for you if you would like it. Cattleya harpophylla X Cattleya tigrina has been registered as C. Fredis Refunjol. It was registered by Ecuagenera in 2016.

Wow Bill! Thanks so much for that!
This is a plant I bought out of bloom a few years ago . This is the second blooming, not an improvement over the first bloom .



The breeders Son , Phillip Hamilton told me that I got a 'DUD'.

I can't imagine getting a Stanhopea to bloom on the day of a show.

Lindsey, I like the C. Fredis Refunjol.

Ursula, very nice Dendrochilum magnum. I think I killed mine last year.

Jim

EVERY orchid is beautiful!!

I agree, Bill. I love the color and shape of that little "dud" of yours, Lindsey.

My B. nodosa 'Big Jim' has redeemed himself nicely with some good big blooms this time. The scent out there at night is just wonderful. It was quite overwhelming when the Brugs were blooming at the same time, however.

That is a nice and large nodosa!! Very cool. With all of those "Ladies of the Night" blooming, it must smell heavenly!!

You have to love fragrant flowers...especially at night when the temperature is more
tolerable to be outside to enjoy them.
I have a few new blooms today...all of a sudden , the buds are popping open.



Blc. American Freedom 'Crystelle' with 2 nice spikes 4 buds total....this is one huge and fragrant flower.


Chz. Hsinying Pink Doll 'Hsinying' just opening




Dmd. stenopetala




I'm not sure I'm totally in love with this little one. The person that purchases plants for
our raffle table saw it and thought I would like it ..I guess it's the thought that counts!

It was just a "great purple day!!" At your house.

They are sure pretty. I actually do like the Dmd stenopetala.

I would love to send it to you!
Send me your address! I don't have room for things I'm not totally in love with. What's that Japanese de-cluttering technique where you pick up one of your items and meditate briefly on whether or not this item brings you joy ... I'm not feeling the joy on this one.

Lindsey, thanks, but I will decline. Moving back inside, shoe-horning plants into their spots comes to mind.

This cute little Liparis rhombea puts on mini-show!


I moved my Phrag Sorcerers Fire into a nice sunny spot in a corner of the greenhouse, all blooms of course face forward, away from me!


And Ceratostylis retisquama blooms here and there

Help, help, help.

I have a NOID that I lost the label on. I thought I had photos of every single orchid that has ever been in bloom for me, but I don't have this one. Perhaps it's a first time bloomer. I don't know. This orchid bloomed in July with a single flower and I thought the flower was defective. It has now bloomed again and the flowers are identical with that first bloomer. The two petals appear to be "fused" to the lip/column, so the flowers only present with the three sepals. This is a standard size plant and bifoliate. The ceramic pot is 10" in diameter.

Can anyone venture a guess as to what I have here?