Thank you Elaine for the suggestion and link to contact Rafael Romero from Plantio...He got back
to me this morning..fortunately, all the chaos in Venezuela has not affected their internet! He said this
is Lc. Hausermann's Sultan 'Summer Spectacular'...and said it was an old classic.
and in other news...I went to the grocery store today and got this..even though it was not on the list!



Mtssa. Royal Robe with 2 beautiful spikes just beginning to open..a bargain at $14.95

Nice score, Lindsey. A beauty like that would always be on my grocery list.

Glad to hear Rafael got back to you and you know who your nice new bloomer is.

I think you lucked out on both Orchids!!

Aha, you found the Hawaiian Orchids.

I'll have to go back through my journal and see if I've killed any of this group yet! The lady had just finished unpacking the box and there were at least 10 different named varieties.

Wow, even better! It had not been sitting in the air conditioned store for too long! Hmm, I might have to invent an excuse for a trip to the grocery store soon.

I have a couple like that from Trader Joe's and they like a little less light and more water than your Cattleyas.

thanks for the culture tip...I have just the spot on the bench for it...and if you need an excuse to go to Publix ..they have some pretty good buy one get one deals!

Lindsey, your Hausermann's Sultan is now just a Cattleya and it was registered in 1980. I really like it as well as your new Miltassia. Good finds.

Jim

thanks Jim, wow..1980...we are almost the same age

Speaking of age, I'm just back from my birthday dinner where I enjoyed one of the finest fillet mignons I can remember. I washed it down with a California Cabernet that was quite frankly not up to the task but did the job anyway. I shall sleep well tonight.

Jim

Oh, Happy Birthday, Jim!!🎂

you can't go wrong with filet mignon...next time try the Malbec..happy birthday!

M M Malbec can be spectacular. Happy Birthday, Jim! Are you 36 again, Like Lindsey and me?

Happy Birthday youngster.

Happy Birthday, Jim. Youngster for sure!

Happy Birthday, Jim!!!

Thank you everyone. I like to say 39 years and some months. Tons of months. The gang from the gym took me out for coffee and home baked treats this morning. Between that and the steak last night it's all I can do to breath.

Jim

It is so hard, when you enter a Publix you have to walk right past the floral section where these orchids are staring you right in the face. Well, what's a person to do?

This is Bllra. Patricia Mc Cully 'Pacific Matriarch' From what I have read she likes it cooler and that works out fine as I have a perfect air conditioned spot for her in the master bathroom. She has 2 more healthy looking spikes.

Also came home with a Alcra.Pacific Nova 'okika' in spike. A large and healthy looking plant, I'll post pictures after it opens. Would this one need to be grown inside also?

Floral manager told me these Mauna Kea orchids are grown only for Publix and, as she has mentioned before, there will be no more shipments for a while. She thought the next shipment will come after the weather cools, maybe October. She also told me they had some awesome catts in this shipment. All gone by the time I got to the store.

That's a great looking plant, Alice and the flower reminds me of a Persian carpet. Very pretty!

Really beautiful, Alice! Nice score!

I'm so frustrated with our Publix. Seems like lately they've had no orchids at all. Talked to the Floral dept. the other day, and asked about shipments of orchids. She told me that they normally only get them in around holidays.

Guess maybe I should check out some of the other ones that aren't to awfully far away.