Hi For a new orchid grower probably the best advice is to consider your grow area .How much room and what methood you want to use.?? Pot culture or garden plants?? What are your average temps, humidity,air circulation and select from species that fit into these conditions rather than the other way around. I'd suggest checking out Andy's orchids website. They have a wonderful feature that takes your data and eliminates all those that don't fit into your conditions. There are sooooo many kinds I think it's easier to eliminate those that won't grow. In 10 Cal you should be able to grow most anything with several different methods. One thing, it is impossible to grow just one orchid lol. If they do well you will be adding more so start with those that give the greatest chance of success. gary

Gee, thanks, Lumpy! ;-) I'll be sure to keep all my cold weather gear handy! Honestly, I wouldn't have minded a decent snow cover this winter, which would have helped insulate the gardens, and we have tons of roses, but I would not be happy about a blizzard this late in the season! Although... it would sure beat the heck out of tornadoes, and we live awfully close to tornado alley, as we call it, where everything is flat... and occasionally, you can hear that freight train rumble off in the distance during a bad storm, indicating that one is touching down or swirling nearby. We've been really lucky so far, knock on wood. Mike, you have no idea how often I dream of living in the Caribbean, where the weather is warmer and more humid, and I can hear the surf hitting the beach... I know it would be a lot better for my body, considering, but the husband would never go for it... he hates hot weather and loves winter, and would never want to move that far away from the kids. So, the most I can ever hope for is a vacation someday! I wouldn't really want to move far from the kids, either, though... the grandkids are just way too great, and as grandparents, it's now payback time! ;-) But seriously... Mike, those are some awesome plants! I'm so glad you shared them! They really brightened my morning! I was thinking of taking my few orchids out to the greenhouse this spring, once weather allows, and see if I can get them into better shape. They're doing ok, but it's just so dry up here, and I haven't had time yet to isolate them into a little plastic cover to help with humidity. I've been busy putting a business plan together, and getting inventory done, and a lot of other stuff, so my plants get a bit neglected. The one thing I am religious about is taking my vitamins and doing the protein thing every morning. I'm starting to feel a little better already! Gosh, how great would that be to have so many thriving orchids of different kinds growing around you that you actually thought of them as weeds! Oh, would I be in heaven! :-) Your skills show up every time you post a picture, Mike... you're doing fine... better than fine! You're doing great! Your plants always look so healthy, and so happy! Don't over guess yourself... you'll drive yourself nuts. You've got the fundamentals down, you know the science, the physics, and it just comes down to learning what each type of plant you have requires, culturally speaking. If you're unsure a plant needs watering, wait a day. I don't have the luxury of chasing the sun... I have 3 windows indoors... east, south, and north. The east window is loaded with plants. I keep some in the south window, but it's in a stairwell and partially blocked by large sycamore trees. I also keep a few plants in the north window, and believe it or not, they do ok. They're mostly Amaryllids, and one Ponytail Palm. I have to bring in anything that can't tolerate freezing, because we cannot afford to heat the greenhouse. It's too exposed in location. It would cost a small fortune. So... anything that does come in for winter gets jammed in with everything else, or propped up on shelves as close to the windows as I can get. I do have supplemental lighting, just a couple of shop type fixtures with one cool and one warm bulb in each, but they don't really do that much. Even so, any help is better than none. I must say, though... yes, I was highly surprised! I'm just drooling over those white flowers, Dens, I'm guessing... and the "coconut" orchid is definitely one I'm trying this spring. I'm saving up to make a stop at Oak Hill Gardens next time we go north to visit the kids... I need some bark, and of course I'll have to walk around the greenhouses... and in the process, I'm certain that a few small starter plants will beg me to take them home, and how can you say "no" to such cute little things, I ask ya? :-) I was told at one point that a Bl or Bc (can't remember which) "Yellowbird" would do rather well in my home conditions, so I've got that one in mind, too. When I see something I think matches to the environment I have, I write it down. The list is growing! Again, Mike, thank you for sharing those pictures... I bow to your growing skills... you're really doing an excellent job. Honestly, everything is just beautiful! Well... I need some rest... it's been a very long day for me. Lumpy, nice to make your acquaintance, and please... try to keep that blizzard on lock down for now! ;-) As for everyone else, have a lovely evening, and Happy Growing! And, as always, my best to you and Mom, Mike! :-)

I love them, too. For a long time, people here have been devoted to breed new cattleya hybrids,but some things have changed in recent years. We begin to grow cattleya species and among them, walkeriana is the first choice of many people.

Thanks! I make exceptions to my species preference for ones like this. The story was really interesting and the flower is just really lovely. It's even far better than the few online photos that I could find when I first tried to research it. It's, also, developed an unusual scent, but I can't quite figure out what it is. Since I kept missing photos, I snagged these early ones and the blooms have actually improved. The flowers have grown in size and have that sparkly sugar coated look in the sun. We've been so cloudy/foggy that it wasn't obvious until just recently. I've been trying to include some full plant photos 'cause I know that many people like 'em. I like to have some idea of the actual plant as well! ;~) Sometimes plants aren't aways photogenic but, I guess, it can give you hope. If someone can get that ugly thing to bloom...! Well, mine should be easy! ;~)