I left the house for Apopka about 8:00 AM yesterday and only made one stop for a latte before pulling into First Orchids. While there, I traded $80.00 for 5 Vandas and 4 blooming Phals. My little Phal corner looked pretty sick after the prolonged cool weather we had in January and I wanted to spruce it up a bit. None of the Phals have a name but that is fine by me. The Vandas (Ascocendas are all Vandas now days) are of good size and seem healthy. The tag names are as follows:
Ascda. Jukkich Gold, which should have a nice yellow flower.
Ascda. Brighton's Best, another yellow with a red spot on the lip.
Vanda Gordon Dillon 'Blue 4N', it should be purple with some yellow overtones.
Ascda Macknade, Yellow with freckles.
Ascda. Jairak Vigor, I couldn't find a picture as it is a 2013 register. The parents are purple and yellow.
And here are the Phals:
I then drove over to Krull/Smith where I met up with Jim Krull. I ask if he had a Den. Anosmum and sure enough, he had but one. I love that orchid and after 10 years, mine up and died. I finally pitched it last month. Here is the new one which I think will bloom on the naked cane in the spring and a picture of the flowers from my old one a couple of years ago.
While digging around in the Krull/Smith greenhouse I found Smbc. (now Lnt.) Dulatiaca 'Lava Flow' AM/AOS in spike. It is a great Schombo cross that I have had on my want list. I also noticed Blc. (now Rlc.) Chinese Beauty 'Orchid Queen' AM/AOS just coming into bloom. It has a flower that will catch your eye as you gaze over a huge table full of plants.
Jim said he would have a booth at the USF spring Plant Show in Tampa in April.
I then drove on up to see Charles Chapman. The first thing he did was ask me where my entourage was. I think this is the first time I have been there alone. As usual, I found lots of stuff I liked but hardly anything he would sell. The only thing I managed to talk him out of was a species Schomburgkia called humboldtii. It is a nice plant and he gave it to me for $15. He was in a talking mood so we chatted for a while.
I was home at 3:30 and the cold front came through at 4 with high winds and heavy rain. It rained most of the night and was cold and overcast. By cold, I mean in the mid 50s but that strong north wind is brutal. About noon today the sun came out a little but the wind continues. All in all, a nice day and 13 new babies in the OC.
Jim
