Well, this year, I am having some surprise bloomers. I've had a Coelogyne massangeana for the last five years, which I bought when Summerfield Orchids closed. It hadn't bloomed for the owners before, but it was a blooming-sized plant. I kept it under lights in the basement and summered it outside for years, and suddenly, after forgetting to water it for two and a half weeks, I went down into the basement and saw it had a long, abundantly-budded flower spike. I was so excited that I thanked the plant out loud! The goofy thing sprouted and bloomed in under three weeks, without my even knowing until the day before they began to open. Other than my big excitement with that plant, here are my other bloomers: Lc. Trick or Treat 'Water' Dor. Happy Valentine Phal. Sogo Grape 'Fireball' Lc. Luminosa Phal. PRO5 Altria Lc. Fire Dance 'Patricia' Phal. Tiffany Cole (I have six of these from a compot, and they're all different, and in bloom together!) Max. tenuifolia I have a few others in spike, but I'm not counting my chickens, so to speak, knowing what came come of that. I'm really hoping I can get my Den. spectabile to bloom since I've had it for going on three years, now.

Phals are my favorite. I grow them because of the variety, yes folks, there is tremendous variety in the species. You can have different shape blooms, different textured blooms, different foliage, different bloom times. What's not to like with so much variety. You can grow them inside under lights, outside in warm weather. You can grow them mounted, you can grow them in sphag., you can grow them in bark, you can grow them in s/h. They love humidity but you can grow them with less than ideal humidity. Crowded for space? You can get them to bloom happily in a 2" pot. Did someone bring you a mushy, rotted root phal to resusitate - not a problem you can get them to bloom in a year. To me, this sounds like the ideal orchid to be grown by the masses. Do you like to grow seedlings from flask or compots? Unlike most species, many of them will bloom in two years and at my age, I don't want to wait much longer than this to see what surprises are in store. Now that I have confessed my humiliation of being a phal lover, please don't tell the rest of my 'chids because I love them too. I just don't love the species that have a "phal" shaped bloom because you can't out shine a brilliantly colored, l-o-n-g blooming phal. Brooke

Bob you are such a pouch pusher!!! Oh what am I talking about I don't need any encouragement to slip further into the "slipper side". I'm just really jealous of all that yummy stuff that you have blooming. Now I will confess how much of an idiot that I am!!!! I have all these paphs and only put one outside this year. I guess my thinking process was "Well it's just aliitle too hot for them so I"ll wait until it cools a bit." Well they never ended up going anywhere. The one I have outside (Armeni White x prim) is sending up a new fan, so that's a good thing.I'm just going to chalk it up as a good resting period. Oh by the way, the paph that got the HCC is STILL blooming.It started blooming in March.It is great throwing everything outside in the summer, bad side is bringing it back in. Oh well I think I'll be heading out to the Home store for a case of light bulbs soon.gb

I finally had time to make a list of my bloomers. Yes it's a lot and no I don't feel guilty having this many to enjoy :>) Phals - cornu-cervi (2), equestris, Taida Sunshine, amboinensis (3) H.P.Norton, bellina (2) gigantea x tetraspis (3) Rothschildiana, Yaphon Lobspis, tetraspis (2) violacea (2) Alice Millard, lindenii, celebensis, deliciosa, lueddemanniana, Joy Micholitzii Lueddie, aphrodite, micholitzii Dens - Mingle's Sapphire, tobaense, macrophyllum, alexanderae, Roy Tokunada Bulbo - septimtriol, arfakianum, grandiflorum, lilacinum Lycaste - Corrimal, Sulphurea, guatemalensis, x niennnesiae, macrophylla ssp macrophylla, dowiana, occulta Phrags - Cardinale, Bowl of Cherries, Wossen, Lucy Robbins, fischerii Psychopsis - Butterfly, krammeriana, papillio alba, Mendenhall Masdies - Angel Frost, Bobcat, ayabacana, Red Wing, Marguerite, amplexa, Morning Glory, Tortoise, Geneva Spots, Anochecer, Heathii, imposter x floribunda, Peaches & Cream, Mauii Gold, Mary Stahl, Measuresiana, Angel Heart, pteroglossa, geminiflora, ludibunda, Hampsshire Prolific (3), infracta, Charisma Odds and Ends - Epi. cochleata, Max. splendens, richi and sophronitis, Scapho peruviana and decorum, Renanthera Singaporeans, Liparis condylobulban, Dendrochillum bicallosum and cobbiana, Drac. lotax, Helpilia Becky Unruh Catts - rubescens, walkeriana cerulea, percivalaniana, labiata, Bow Bells, schroderae, loddigessii, Gold Throat (2) and Goldenzelle 'Lemon Chiffon' Here is the Goldenzelle Bullsie sent this to me a couple of years as a seedling when she was thinning the herd. She also sent me another one, George King Serendipity (I think that's the name) and it is also in bud. Thanks Bullsie, it's a nice one. Sorry about any typos and slightly incorrect names :>) Brooke