Love the color on the Fuchs Ruby, Melissa.

I'm a complete novice on Vandas, too Gigi except I am learning a lot from my new Vanda book. How about a picture of the ridged leaves that are still on the plant? Leaves lower down may be different than those up top? That may indicate a cultural problem.

As far as that damage to the leaves, it surely could have been a squirrel or a rat. If they're hungry there's no telling what they'll eat and they have very sharp teeth.

Ursula said:Except - I just looked at the parents, they are both strap-leaved Vandas as far as I can tell. And the Vanda Gypsy's Rocket is also strap-leaved. Strange! Either this is mis -identified or there is something weird going on.

Ursula, it is on both plants on all leaves. I wonder if it was a mutation or if there was a long period of underwatering. But the new growths are coming out that way too...it is so weird.

Heads up: Carter and Holmes has Red Heart 'Neptune' sdly on sale for about 18.00. They are probaly very small because just 3 months ago when I tried to get it they were still 'not planted up'. Other than them maybe Silvas has them. I'll ck again with them before I order.
Ursula, do you remember where you got yours?

I got mine at Silva. I never saw them running out on that plant.

Miss a day and I am way behind' Rousing start to the new month and lots of variety too.

Now a look at some blooms in the OC:
Alcra. Flying High (1987) (Alcra. Jet Setter x Onc. McNabianum). It used to be called a Degarmoara until Alice moved to town. Now it is an Aliceara. I call it an Oncidium hybrid.


Brassavola [B.] nodosa 'Big Jim' has three large blooms open.


This is C. bicolor 'Lines' AM/AOS X L. undulata . This is called a Schombocattleya by everyone except the boffins.


Jim

Jim, beautiful blooms! The C bicolor x Schom is awesome. I love the lacquered blooms!

I found the Dutch Slippers in bloom again this Summer.
Bulbo frostii


I tried to get some pictures of the Den bigibbum v. compactum, blooming very nicely right now, but always looking a bit wild.
The first picture is from this morning, the second one was taken this afternoon. The color appears a bit too bluish in afternoon light.


And - update on the Encyclia brassavolae

Such lovelies, Ursula. The bulbo's 'shoes' are adorable. My Den bigibbum has lots of new growth coming along.

Here's the first two flowers on my Habenaria rhodocheila. I think it's going to be wonderful when it opens all the flowers.



A nice little surprise today, found a first-time bloom I was not expecting: Blc. Everything Nice 'Showtime'. Although I'm not a big fan of green flowers, this one has enough yellow to be tolerated, and such a nice frilly, cream lip.


The 'maybe Yellow Bird' moving into the yellow phase. It posed for me . . . what can you do? Miltassia Luke Skywalker working on the second spike.

Elaine, how wonderful. You got so many buds on your Habenaria, it looks great. You will have a nice show!!
I love the 'Showtime'

Nothing like the smell of old slippers drifting softly in the air.

Jim

Funny!!

We cross posted. Everything Nice is a beauty, Elaine. If you decide you don't like the color, I can give it a nice home. Very nice Luke Skywalker.

Ursula, the E. brassavolea is really doing well for you. Nice plant.

Jim

they are all beautiful to me!

It must be nice to have orchids blooms like you guys do!

Thanks, all. I really look upon every bloom as a bonus, since I grow my orchids "at risk" outdoors in Florida.

Jim, don't you already have Everything Nice - the orchid that is.

The Spiranthes cernua are blooming in NE Pennsylvania! We had some very dry months, so as a result we have normal size Spiranthes spikes in bloom close to water, ( our pond, in wet ditches and such) and otherwise in all of those locations we check every year, lots of spikes were found, cute, but small due to lack of water.

Elaine, I've looked and looked and I don't think I have Everything Nice (the orchid that is). By the way, it is now a Rhynchobrassoleya [Rby.]. I'm just sayin'....

Beautiful Spiranthes, Ursula. I always enjoy it when you share them with us.

Jim

, there is something about white flowers that makes it beautiful to me.

Speaking of white my no ID white den has lots of buds, and one has bloomed. This den's spike came from an old stalk that bloomed already. These dens are for sure happier on the oak tree than when I had them in pots.

Pretty flowers, Gigi, and they will last for months.

Jim

Jim.

love the Spiranthes! Sadly, that lack of water has had the same effect on the gardens here, and as I'm sure you've all heard, the whole west is having terrible forest fires.