Hello Mother Raphaela - so exciting to read your post! I know you will get even more joy as you peruse all the amazing photos of semps on this website!!! Its quite dangerous!
I imagine you like the Mother superior on "Flying Nun" (hope that isn't insulting?? I don't mean it that way, but I keep execting sister Bertrell to pop into this conversation!
)
On a serious note, I am sorry to hear about your chronic pain and illness, I also have some chronic pain (mild but ongoing) and I do know what you mean that these plants can take me out of my physical/mental space for a while - even for just a moment!
Thank you for being so open about what is happening with you and I am so glad you are getting into these plants! I can imagine you hybridizing some amazing new plants - wouldn't that be exciting!
@Jungleshadows about 2 weeks ago I saw that "Midas" was all bloomed out - looked to be dying, so I pulled it up and it went into the "bloomers corner" where I am hoping to get some seedlings next spring!! Anyway, this evening I went out and the plant and offsets - which had all bloomed - look very viable and so I replanted it, I'll keep an eye on it to see what happens...maybe some of these little ones can miraculously live after blooming!
Peace all!