http://royalorchidclub.com/index.php?cPath=42 These came from the Royal Orchid club 1/2 year ago. They are well established on cork with new leaves and roots forming. You might be able to see them on their 'Small Plant' list. KGWA Christie (The only one that has not made a new leaf, it has not lost any and is making new roots, should be fine) Ascda Bankhuntian Gold x Ren Khalson x Astm miniatum Vanda Padara Delight MKRA Top Red I don't believe live without them is possible. Nick

Maryann - I understand what your mother was feeling, but please tell her it is a very natural feeling. For many years every time I first went to a new country to do the butterflies I had a little nervousness about the new species of dangerous critters I might encounter while there. But once I ran into my first on a trip and it all ended well, they were pretty much forgotten the rest of the trip. I soon got over being nervous when going someplace new. A little story on myself... I well remember my first trip to another country specifically to do butterflies many, many years ago. I was nervous after hearing all the stories about the numerous species of poisonous snakes, spiders, scorpions, tree frogs and plants in Costa Rica. Having a friend who was also lep smitten that was born and lived there would help a lot though. First day out I went hiking in a rainforest alone as Olaf couldn't get away from his finca until the next day. I was tip-toeing around looking for a specific bug in very thick cover that I just knew the countries entire population of Terciopelo (Fer-de-lance) probably lived in, and that they were all just waiting there for me to get close enough. I had plodded along for hours not finding the bug I was after, and luckily also no "Ticos". Then I finally caught a glimpse of what I was looking for flying along the ground in a small glade, Cithaerias menander. I know of no common name other than to lump it in with the Clearwings. They are on the small size of medium and don't fly fast, but the are very difficult to see in the dark dappled light of a rain forest due to their all clear wings except for a splash of red on the hind wings and flying close to the ground darting around plants. They seem to appear and disappear with every wing beat and are very easily lost sight of. I stalked at first trying to intercept this jewel, and then ended up running full out when that failed and I spooked it to finally net my first example of this bug. I had run in leaps and bounds for a long way and had completely forgotten about the Ticos. After realizing that I never worried about them again. I had plenty of encounters with them later on that trip (and other nasty things), but with the insight of Olaf I learned and kept out of trouble. BTW, a later trip down there with Olaf to do some specific backlighting was always referred to after it by us as The Night of the Jaguar (and later always saw a blank stare in Olaf's eyes when we talk about it). But that's another story. LOL L.

Pelican, are you in Louisiana? I am assuming from the name and zone perhaps you are? I am in La. and all of mine are budding up something fierce right now. I had a huge softball sized bloom on Bronze Star and a Peace put out several large blooms (but I hardly ever get any pink for some reason!), but most of my others are still forming lots and lots of buds. I counted 17 buds on a Paradise I still have in a pot.

Debra, those are Red Vinca,, they are annuals, and a few purple verbena is mixed in it too but cant see them hardly any more. Mantis,I wouldn't dream of sending this heat your way, but, I wish some cooler tempsw ould come this way.temp was 96 here today but felt like 100. weather man said,and I don't doubt it for a second Nancy,z6 secret friend has been here I think 4 years and hasn't multiplied at all here, plan to repot it in a differen t potting mix about sept, and see if it will do better next season.When I moved,I dug itup and pottd it with the soil it was in, so maybe it will do batter next year, I had poor soil where it was at, and the soil he r e is worse.cant make a hole in this soil with a hatchet, as I tried that,