Slight correction in the potting method. I had opportunity to talk to him again and he stressed that the layer of potting spoil/sand should be no more than 1". My initial post implies 2 1/2" which is incorrect. The depth of the clay pot is irrelevant, larger rock goes in the bottom, leaving enough room for 1" of the soil mixture plus 1/2" of the small rock on top. He prefers shallow pots but the usual clay pot would simply get more of the larger rocks elevating the rest to the surface. He also observed that these plants resent to be disturbed and do not mind over potting. His favorite way of doing a small plant is in a shallow 6" pot which tapers to a smaller diameter near the bottom. The plant is grossly over potted but can remain undisturbed for 5 years plus. I saw him place a 2" rock on the surface for decoration which made the whole thing look like a desert preparation. He tried the plants mounted and in straight rock and admits that like most orchids they will grow there if treated properly, he just feels that they are doing much better in his soil/sand mix which approximates how they grow in nature. They grow in cracks of base rock filled have sandy/rock/soil debris. They can take full sun if acclimatised slowly, he grows them in 30% shade cloth and leaves will be shorter the more light they get. More light results in shorter leaves and more flowers, according to him. I'm preparing a 'desert' area for them where I'll also put my Elophias. I know petersii grows well like that but am less sure of Eloph guineense syn quartiniana. Anyone grow the later one? Dend specisoum also do well with tons of light. I have some 30% Aluminet left over and will use it for that area. Nick

I like these postings, gives me a chance to see what should be blooming in my collection or what I can add to it for blooms now. I have the smallest number of plants blooming in Aug., many nobile den. in my collection. I'm suprised that Brasavola nudosa is booming now, I have a huge plant, 40"+ across plant that blooms profusely in once a year Dec/Jan. Is this a second bloom for yours or just a different cycle? All of my Brassias except Edvah Loo have bloomed this summer , when should it bloom? I have a large plant that has never bloomed. It is now outside in a flower or fry sun spot. In bloom: DEN. BRACTEOSUM (white) two flower clusters, 11, 13 flowers MTSSA KALEAPAA 5 spikes,1flower open, 4.8" tall (big!) BL. RICHARD MEULLER 2 spikes, 5 flowers, 1st bloom for me COL.WILDCAT'CARMELA'1spike 40"tall, 43 flowers, 2.3" each BRS. SUNRISE GOLD "ALOHA GOLD"2 spikes, 13 flowers, 14" each DEN.ALEXANDER XANDREA MILLER has been in bloom all of 07, 35 flowers now PHAL. PICOTEE bought in bloom 1/07, still blooming. In spike: ONC. TSIKU MARGURITE (twinkle type) 8 spikes ODCDM. TIGER NIGHT 'GOLDEN GATE' 1 yard tall spike, 19+ buds ONC. ROSE TWINKLE 2 spikes. Just finished last bloom1mo.ago PHAL.NOID

Well, the taxonomic changes are rigvht to be made, as science is not and should not be static. The problem with this whole thing is that RHS is getting too gung ho about this stuff and just automatically accepting anything that makes it to print. Personally, I do not agree with the Sophronitis thing, and I'm looking into other systems of reorganization within the laeliinae. For now, I am referring to the cattleya-like laelias as Hadrolaelia, but from what I hear of the work Brazilian taxonomists are doing, I may end up changing tags to Brasilaelia. Honestly, if you have a plant morphology bent, like I do, it makes absolutely perfect sense that Laelia be restricted to the Mexican species, which are actually more closely related to Encyclia and Schomburgkia than they actually are to Cattleya. The problem with lumping everything into Sophronitis is that it makes absolutely no sense. The Brazilian Cattleya-like Lealias make a nice clean taxonomic group. The "true" Hadrolaelias (L. alaorii, pumila, sincorana, etc) also make a nice, clean little group and connect VERY well morphologically (and genetically, according to some studies I've been reading) to the upland Sophronitis, which are being shown to have rather a distant relationship with S. cernua and pterocarpa. The rock laelias have LONG been considered a distinct group in Brazil, and it makes sense that they be broken off into Hoffmannseggella, as a group. CHiron and Castro separate L. harpophylla and it's close relatives into a small genus, as well. So, what we have here are a couple of systems that are getting a lot of regard in Brazil. For my money, I bet the cattleya-like group with be broken into Brasilaelia. The upland Sophs and the L. sincorana and pumila bunch will likey be lumped into Hadrolaelia. The rupiculous Laelias will become Hoffmannseggella and Dungsia (Harpophylla, kautskyana, & brevicaulis). L. lundii will be given monotypic status in the genus Microlaelia. SO, the true Laelias, the Mexican Laelias, will retain the original name. It makes sense, considering the type for the genus is L. speciosa, which we can all agree is very very different from L. purpurata. From what I hear, this is the system that has the most support in Brazil. I'm eager for January, as there is supposed to be a new paper presented to calm the waters of the laeliinae. You know, the reason that the South American Laelias were put into Sophronitis is because it is also a genus typified by 8 pollinia. That is just as arbitrary today as a justification for lumping as it has been as a justification for keeping the species of Subgen. Crispae out of Cattleya. Personally, I am a splitter, and I just don't understand why people are afraid of small genera. COnsidering the explosive rate at which orchids are currently evolving, it makes sense that some groups should be small, as they are just now separating off from ancestral populations enough for speciation to begin within a new genus. If a species doesn't fit well in any current genera, split the damn thing. CLearly, lumping into Sophronitis based on pollinia alone has done no more than create chaos, and the only people that seem to be accepting this mess are the people that happen to be in charge of RHS. Van Der Berg is the ONLY guy in Brazil, apparently, that puts even an iota of faith in this Sophronitis thing. (and RHS apparently doesn't have much faith, either, as they are listing Hadrolaelia, Dungsia, and Hoffmannseggella in the registry, too) But that's all just my opinion as an armchair taxonomist. -Cj

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