It is 70F and sunny, so I am back in a T. I just got two huge boxes of orchids in and have unpacked the first box. For the first time ever, I have purchased a bunch of not only blooming size orchids but also a bunch of them are in bud/bloom. Now, I have to figure out where to put them all.

I ordered mostly genera that I have never grown before. But I also got some Blc. ones, all in bud. The new genera are Clowesia (in bloom), Neostylis (haven't unpacked but some are supposed to be in bloom), Fredclarkeara (BS but not in bud/bloom), and Nobile Dendrobium (haven't unpacked). I have two varieties of the Fdk. and both are FCC/AOS winners.

All unpacked and put away. All of the Neostylis Lou Sneary 'Bluebird' are in bloom and all the Den. Spring Bird 'Kurashiki' are in bud and bloom. I gave away my two old, large Vanda and will now stick with these Neostylis orchids (renamed by the RHS, Vandachostylis [I think]) since they are very compact growers. The only reason I have my standard Den. is because its divisions bloomed beautifully alba this summer and I want to see whether they will be alba again. Those Den. Spring Bird 'Kurashiki' (a Noble Den.) are also compact growers. They came to me in 2 1/4" pots but as soon as they quit blooming, they need to be up-potted. The plants are too large for these pots and are top-heavy.

Den. Spring Bird 'Kurashiki' - some of these plants have close to 100 buds!

Clowesia Rebecca Northen 'Grapefruit Pink'


Vandachostylis (Neostylis) Lou Sneary 'Bluebird'

Ken, those are really nice plants! I love the Clowesia!

The Clowesia have a fragrance I have not experienced before in an orchid. Before I told my wife, Kathy, the name of the orchid, I asked her what the fragrance was. She immediately said: "Citrus". I asked: "What kind of citrus?" She said: "Sort of like grapefruit". I asked: "What sort of grapefruit?" I just knew that would stump her. She said: Pink Grapefruit". She has a good nose. I guess she might have said pink grapefruit because of the flowers' coloration though. Being an artist, she has an eye for color as well.