Amazing tour! I have a couple of questions for you...
1. Is that a tall pink Adenium I see on the deck? If so how long did it take to get that tall?

2. I know you have a rain barrel, but do you get enough rain in summer to keep it filled, and if not, how on earth do you water all those monsters?

Carol,
yes, it is an Adenium, but I suspect it is an Adenium somalense hybrid, perhaps x with obesum. The trunk shape is dead on for somalense. After growing it for about 10 years I used to top it off at about 6 feet, but it is now a bit taller. It bloomed very nicely in late Winter.

and the blooms -

About the rain barrel in the back yard - this one is now just an extra reservoir collecting the water from the whole house roof - except the greenhouse - soon to be re-routed into a small pond ( that is another long story....)
We have rain gutters on the greenhouse and this rain water is routed into the garage into two large containers, total capacity ca. 330 Gallons.
1. indoor season
I have the options of moving the water through a pipe in the garage ceiling/greenhouse floor upstairs with the help of a vacuum pump into another container sitting in the room leading into the greenhouse. The temperature of the water will be the same as in the greenhouse. I use a compressor to pressurize this container to about 25 psi and water the greenhouse with a hose and sprayer attached to that.
2. Summer
Or, I flip a valve in-between the 2 containers in the garage, pressurizing just one of them. The water is re-routed through a faucet in the garage wall leading into the back yard. I attached a long hose and a sprayer to that.
Works like a charm!!

Oh, Ursula!
Each and every plant is very lucky to be in your care!
What a beautiful paradise you are providing for them. The Vanda roots just knock me out!
How long have you been growing orchids?
Your pictures are amazing!!I
I have been occupied all day with COMPUTER PROBLEMS. A bug took my system down and I was on the phone with Geek Squad all day reinstalling the operating system.
Finally, we are "operational", but now I am in need of a week at a Spa in the Alps!!! LOL.

Sorry to hear about your computer problems!

Janice,
computer problems are the pits and you deserve the Spa!

Thanks.
I got hooked on Orchids in the early nineties, and I am enjoying them!

Ursula, those Adenium blooms are beautiful!

Thanks for the explanation on the water system. Wish I could do something like that, but alas, my 300 gal of rain water is already down 50 gal with little chance of replenishment between now and Oct.

Mine are 99% outside now.

Shade cloth set up. We call it bricolage (in French) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B... which means making due with unexpected materials. I get these plastic ropes from the bales of straw I use for garden paths, then bought the screening that goes between the two halves of stapled rope so I can tie it up.

Looking good, Kathy!

Lot of interesting ideas here! My no orchid collection has zoomed to about 50 in less than 3 mouths and needs to stop about there. I have a small dining area about 7'X 11'attached to my even smaller kitchen. I am using a wire rack type stand that I bought to grow seeds last winter and it's working well for the orchids. It is in front of a south-west facing sliding glass door. The stand is 4'X4' and has enough space under it that I'll be able to put my amaryllis there after they bloom this winter. Or I could move some of the taller orchids under there. I added some very sheer white curtains that can be pulled down if the sun is too bright. I like the rack type of stand because my 3 cats don't seem tempted to climb on it.

Neat-o!

I have been trying to select orchids that can take bright to med. light and don't need cool conditions. The phalaenopsis I'm putting the furthest from the window. Have a pump type mister that I use daily and will add a fogger under the stand this winter when the house is dryer. To water, I have been carring them 2 by 2 to the bathroom and flushing then in the tub, then fertilizing about once a week. I have been misting with rain water or distilled water, but watering with tap water.

I am a little concerned about the cold this winter and am wondering about putting some of the bubble wrap stuff greenhouses use over the windows. Hate to cut out too much light. If I need to, I do have a light stand and fixture that could hang over the stand for extra lighting. One small window in the kitchen is going to get some shelves, so that will be a little more room.
Right now, the mounted orchids are hanging on racks that set on the other stand, but they could be hung up higher in front of the window if I get desperate for space.

I have a friend that uses a thick clear plastic cover over his shelves to block out breezes with a small fan inside.

Forgot to say, there is a ceiling fan in in this room, so should be good air movement.

Susan, what will be your low temperature ( at night) during the Winter?

Between 55 and 60. Depends on where I set it when I leave for work at night.

I don't think you need extra insulation. Assuming that you bring up the temperature a bit during the day, you should be fine.

Good. It will be more like 70-72 during the day and evening. My amaryllis and coleus have done OK in front of that window without any extra insulation. I am thinking I will stop using it as a door during the winter because it does let in a blast of cold air when I let the dog out. He can just learn to go out the side door.

Sounds perfect!