Orchids in New York

Just returned from New York.  Great city, lovely places to dine, shop, etc.  I am happy to report that Phalaenopsis (pop corn orchids) are very prevalent.  Actually surprised that I do not see more varieties as I think people in New York would buy them fast.  Most of the colors you see are a beautiful white.
I decided to buy my friend one for the wonderful hospitality given to me.  I found a Phalanenopsis and paid, more that I pay in North Carolina or L.A., but what do you expect this is New York, everything is more expensive.  In fairness, this was beautiful.  I took it home to her with a lot of love and instructions for the care.  Watch out for the bugs, do not water it more than once a week.  Make sure the roots are not in the water.
The next day, her house-keeper came and was delighted to see the orchid.  I was really happy.  I came back the end of the day, and found the orchid broken in half, with most of the blooms on the broken stem, leaving one bloom on the main plant.  I was heart broken.  But what to do, this is life.  So we made the best of it, put the broken stem in a vase. I am hoping  that the beautiful orchid will give her blooms again.
I was just sorry, I did not take a before or after picture, but who knew.
More pictures to come.

Orchids in L.A.

Visiting my family in L.A. is always great.  I pushed orchids on all of them.  This has come back to bite me as I look and see the lovely orchids blooming without any extra care or work.
My sister Ethel has some beautiful Cymbidums that always seem to be in bloom and in vases in their house.
In questioning her as to what makes them so happy, the response was "ask the gardner".  The gardner told me, "he does not know just waters it once a week.
The moral to this story is when you live in perfect semi-tropical climate, you do have to do anything just enjoy the blooms.  Talk about being envious of that I AM.  I must tell you I do not have an envious bone in my body.  But this made envy raise its ugly head.
I am off on business to New York, will let you know what I find.

Lessons of Life

My entire family lives in L.A. so every opportunity I get I go.  One Christmas Season, we were visitng and was invited to my niece's frineds parent's house in pish pinsh, posh posh, Brentwood.  That area is beautiful, not far from Malibu or any of the other pish, posh areas of L.A. like Bel-Air, Beverly Hills, etc.
These lovely U.C.L.A. professors have this house up on a hill in Brentwood so I suggested, what could be better than to buy them a blooming Cym bidium, it was a lovely light green with toches of yellow.  I was so proud of my pick.
We were invited to tea, what do you expect from Professors, how totally sophicticated.  We gave them the Cymbidum which they graciously accepted.  After tea, they took us on a tour of their big, beautiful back yard, and to my embarrassment, the entire house was surrounded by Cymbidiums in every color you can imagine.
What did I expect, did I think I was the only one into orchids.  Lesson of life, find out what people like or want before buying them what they already have.