What another Thanksgiving.

It seems it comes around faster that ever.  Such a lovely holiday and so much to be grateful for.
I only had one orchid in bloom so had to go out and buy a few new ones.  Can not let my company
not have orchids in their rooms. 
You will not believe, but found great orchids at COSCO fo $10.00 each.  Not bad.  Of course, now
some of our orchids have spiked and should be blooming shortly.  Unfortunately, I may not be here for the new blooms as I am on my way back to God's Country ... L.A.
My husband Jim's cooking was not to be believed.  Not sure if we took pictures of the table, but
will look and show in the next blog.  (Which may be some time as I will be gone for a couple of weeks.
Enjoy your holidays and to all the orchid aficionados. enjoy your orchids after all it is Bloom time.

Amazing Grace Orchid

This is the Amazing Grace Orchid (my name) that I promised.  26 blooms and counting - enjoy

Amazing Grace

Why am I lazy to blog - I guess I am discouraged as not to many people are reading this.  But then, I am doing it for myself.
I think it is interesting, but the world is full of interesting things.
I was in L.A. for the Jewish Holidays and just before leaving, one of the orchids were in bloom -
I thought wow! this is going to be beautiful as there were 26 blooms on it. 
Jim has taken a picture and I will post it in the next blog.  Of course, by the time I returned to
N.C. the blooms were dying - but there were 26.  This could have been entered in a contest - who knows, I might have won a prize.

Tis the Season

I know I have been very lazy as I have not blogged in such a long time.
I was sort of discouraged as I found no one was reading the blog.  What does it matter, it is for me
anyway.  One has to love ones self.
The season is upon us - low and behold orchids in bloom.  I have one that is absolutely -----------------
beautiful.  It has so many blooms that I must take a picture and post it.
However, leaving for L.A. Saturday, but will take a picture and post it later.
I am trying to discover different species which will take some doing.  Maybe when there is more time, we can travel to orchid farms - who knows.

Pansy Orchid

This Pansy orchid has been blooming since Mother's day.  In the morning when we pass by, the perfume is wonderful.  It is now fading but I guess beauty fades, hopefully it will start blooming again in the fall.  The beautiful pot that it is in, is made by my neighbor who is quite a potter.
I can get all the pots I need from him.  So if anyone is interested, let me know.

Long Last Butterfly orchid

I have been searching for this Butterfly orchid for ages and low and behold found at the Winston-Salem farmer's market who would have thought.
Just want to share the picture with no text later.

Deliquent blogger

It has been so long since my last blog, I am sure my readers are unhappy with me.  (hopefully I still have a few).
My vanilla orchids has finally lost its bloom.  I miss the lovely perfume but have to be patient until
it blooms again.  Patience is not one of my virtues

It has been a while

I know it has been a long time since my last blog but we have been on the road.
It is exciting to see how many of the cities in the U.S. are now creating arrangements with orchids.
We were in Houston, I was extremely impressed with the city, to find in their great Galleria mall, fantastic creations with orchids. 
As one might know, there are hundreds of species of orchids and I wonder why all you see in the big
cities are the lovely phalaenopis in a variety of colors; now they are even dying orchids, which I think
is horrible, why would you do something like that to something that is so beautiful? in any case, I was told that the public do not appreciate orchids that do not last long.
I can only tell you that they are missing out on beauty.

Back home again

I have been on the road for a couple of weeks now.  Tough trip, my associate had a terrible time in Toronto, his passport, visas, with all his money stolen.  I guess visitors feel they are safe in a Western Country and do not expect this to happen.  Quite a nightmare.
I came home to find many orchids blooming, I guess I missed the best of them.
Visiting L.A. in the Spring is something.  Everywhere you go you see all kinds of flowers in bloom.
Of course we on the East Coast envy them the wonderful temperature and sun.
My sister's roses were just beautiful and again, orchids that are not even tended to, like we do, are blooming without much trouble.
Even the nail salons have beautiful orchids blooming. 
I will be posting my other sister's l orchids hopefully before I leave again.  She just moved from San Diego, and I can tell you she had some beauties.
More to come later.

Making up for lost time

It seems the weeks  go by and I realize I have not blogged in a long time.  No excuses, but I have been on the road.  Mostly beautiful New York, however, not so beautiful when it is bitterly cold.
I have never experienced such cold.  It would take me 15 minutes to put all the clothes on and 15 minutes to take it off.  As I wait for the last minute sometime to do things, this was not good.
Any way, this time, I was fortunate? to see the inside of an emergency hospital with the drop dead good looking doctor.  Not bad for someone that was sick.  I am happy to report that I am much better and off to N.Y. and L.A. - New York is going to be cold again, but looking forward to L.A.
I must tell you there were no orchids in the emergency room however, they were everywhere else.
I asked a nursery the reason for various orchids not  sold in N.Y., they told me that other varieties
do not last for more than a couple of weeks, and people complain.  Too bad as you do not know what you are missing.
Off again, will try and be better at blogging.

Beast of Winter

Winter now seems endless.  I have just returned from the West Coast, missed storms on the East and West that I am happy about, but going right into another one next week in N.Y.  needless to say, not happy.  I really hate the cold.  Can not do a thing about it. 
I have been in San Diego and Los Angeles, country is really beautiful, hope our wonderful Govt. does not ruin this beautiful country.
Weather was so temperate, orchids were so happy, could not believe the profusion of orchids that I saw. 
One of these days, I am going to make my way to the Santa Barbara Orchid estate will take pictures and post them hopefully on the blog.  That is a problem I still have posting pictures.

Wishes are horses

I am so sorry that I did not take a picture of the beautiful orchid that we were taking care of for my friend.
My other friend's orchid is just getting ready to bloom. I definitely will take a picture.
 I am very lax in my daily spraying of the orchids.  Not sure why I get so lazy.  I guess I get very tired of fighting the bugs.  Sometimes I think I am going to beat them and others it seems like an impossible task.
The interesting thing to note, is that some friends who keep orchids do not have this problem.
So Why me? there must be a way to eliminate them.
Once the weather (oh is it cold) gets better, I am going to Wake Forest gardens to talk to the orchid growers maybe they can tell me what to do.
Keep fingers crossed.

VANILLA ORCHID

You will not believe this orchid,  once it starts to bloom, smells like chocolate mixed with vanilla.
I have a few of these that should bloom soon.  I am watching out for the bugs to avoid them destroying the orchid, as I want to enjoy this orchid, hopefully, for the next 6 weeks.  Being that the weather is so ----------------------cold it is nice to see orchids blooming.
By the way, this orchid is from the Oncidium family.

Making friends happy

For the last 6 months we have been collecting orchids from friends to help them re-bloom.
Jim and I watch over them more than our own orchids.  The biggest challenge are the bugs that look so innocent you think it is just fluff.  Do not be fooled, those are Mealy bugs.
I am happy to tell you that we have the first re-blooms on one of my friends' Phalaenopsis which has six buds and is just about to burst forth.
I took it to her yesterday - the happiness on her face was worth all the work.
Maybe I should start another business.  What do you think?

Taking care of Orchids

The other day I was spraying orchids, I try to spray often, but sometimes get lazy or I am too cold and skip the duty.
Well, would you believe, some of the orchids had  mealy bugs.  I thought there was snow on the orchids.  Could not believe my eyes as I had just checked on them.
It took me a while to clean them with my handy vodka and my cue tip - This is one thing that has to be checked constantly as before you know it, the bugs have destroyed the plants.
Still wish I had a green house.  Maybe this year.
Off to Germany for the show, will check and see how many orchids I find
Happy New Year to all.