Living in a home is different from Living in a rented space. First of all, the responsibility of the house you own is yours. Anything that needs done, you better make it happen, otherwise it will fall to disrepair. Now, the outside of the house needs painting, we hired a painter, who became a memeber of the house hold.
I had (notice the word HAD) a dendrobium that refused to do anything the first couple of years. I would speak sweetly, yell, do everthing to make it spike and grow, but it did nothing. Suddenly, after many years, it started blooming and was beautiful. In fact it became a tree which surprised all of us. In fact, a friend who knows so much about orchids was amazed. But back to my story.
So the painter started painting, now, mind you this is the Summer so all the orchids were outside. We were lazy and did move the orchids from the wall of the house, thought it would be just fine. The painter put a plastic cover over the orchids for protection. I can tell you that was not enough. The job was finished so I went to check on the orchids and to my surprise the tree in now the size of a small plant. All the branches broke - I was heart broken - I am starting all over again to produce the tree.
I am happy to report, I will have my first BlOOM from the disaster. Once it blooms, I will take a picture and post it. WishI had taken the picture of the tree.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Simply Orchids
Working in New York, I met my new assistant, (I still live in No. Carolina) and the subject got around to orchids. She too, is an avid orchid aficionado. Well one day she called and said she was going to orders some orchids from an orchid farm, and would I like her to get me some different varities. I jumped on the chance. Orchid farms, I did not know there were so many all over the U.S.
The orchids came, they were beautiful, so many varities, and of course, I was $400.00 poorer. It was well worth it. Could not wait to see them bloom. I still have many of the original orchids she sent. (10 years) later. I must confess, I am just as impatient when they spike to see them bloom. It is the law of averages, when you want them to be in bloom, they become bashful.
My next adventure was to find more orchids farms, and I did. I started dealing with the Santa Barbara Orchid Estate in Santa Barbara, California. You should just see the way, they are shipped. You would think it was the most valuable china in the world. The orchids arrive in perfect condition. My new project was to give out orchids as presents.
The orchids came, they were beautiful, so many varities, and of course, I was $400.00 poorer. It was well worth it. Could not wait to see them bloom. I still have many of the original orchids she sent. (10 years) later. I must confess, I am just as impatient when they spike to see them bloom. It is the law of averages, when you want them to be in bloom, they become bashful.
My next adventure was to find more orchids farms, and I did. I started dealing with the Santa Barbara Orchid Estate in Santa Barbara, California. You should just see the way, they are shipped. You would think it was the most valuable china in the world. The orchids arrive in perfect condition. My new project was to give out orchids as presents.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
On The Road Again
As Export manager, my job took me not only to other countries, but I had to handle trade shows. Now I am in Florida for a show - where better to find orchids - My signature has been beautiful orchids to catch the eye of the buyer.
I found some beauties, placed them in a prominent place in the booth - this caught the attention of the buyers who stopped and said " what beautiful orchids" this opened up conversation, the next thing you know they are veiwing fabrics and expressing interest. You have to keep a fine balance so that the orchids do not distract from the purpose of selling your products.
The show is over I am going to carry the orchids from Miami to Winston-Salem, No. Carolina. Miami is a really busy airport, but the orchids are close to me. As I was checking in, the gate attendant told me I could not take the orchids on board. I was horrified, I was not going to let that stop me so I found a cute guy and convinced him to help me. We got on together, with the orchids between us getting on as fast as possible, finding the seats and quickly putting each one under the seat.
Happy to say, I was successful. We traveled back to Winston-Salem with the orchids and my new best friend intow. Jim greeted me at the airport, took the orchids from my new best friend, who by the way, I had invited to dinner. Jim said "not surprised as you have never met a stranger in your life.
Unfortunately, these friendships do not last, but the orchids survived still giving me beautiful blooms.
I found some beauties, placed them in a prominent place in the booth - this caught the attention of the buyers who stopped and said " what beautiful orchids" this opened up conversation, the next thing you know they are veiwing fabrics and expressing interest. You have to keep a fine balance so that the orchids do not distract from the purpose of selling your products.
The show is over I am going to carry the orchids from Miami to Winston-Salem, No. Carolina. Miami is a really busy airport, but the orchids are close to me. As I was checking in, the gate attendant told me I could not take the orchids on board. I was horrified, I was not going to let that stop me so I found a cute guy and convinced him to help me. We got on together, with the orchids between us getting on as fast as possible, finding the seats and quickly putting each one under the seat.
Happy to say, I was successful. We traveled back to Winston-Salem with the orchids and my new best friend intow. Jim greeted me at the airport, took the orchids from my new best friend, who by the way, I had invited to dinner. Jim said "not surprised as you have never met a stranger in your life.
Unfortunately, these friendships do not last, but the orchids survived still giving me beautiful blooms.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Visit to North Carolina
My trips around the world not only taught me about orchids, but helped me pick up small bottles of vodka from the airline, that came in handy.
My niece, who I am very close to, came to visit. After a fun day of eating, talking drinking wine, she asked if I was O.K. This was a strange question, but I said "yes, why are you asking" the retort was maybe I was a bit depressed? which I confess, leaving L.A., family, friends I had my moments here of feeling utterly hopeless. In fact, for many years, I had a one-way ticket back to L.A. in my night stand.
I asked Stephanie why she thought I was depressed and she answered " I see all these little bottles of vodka half empty around the house.
You can imagine, I started laughing. I told her they were for the orchids. Really? yes. You see orchids tend to attract meely bugs. They look like flecks of snow on the flower and leaves. Once meely bugs attack, you have to take care of them because they sap the life out of the orchid. I showed Stephanie a cotton swab that I dipped into the vodka bottle and cleaned the orchid with it. Maybe the orchids enjoyed the drink because the meely bugs were not there after the touch of vodka. I had these bottles around the house because I was lazy to go to the cabinet and bring it out everytime I needed to clean the orchids.
I was able to start Stephanie on growing orchids, we still use this method.
My niece, who I am very close to, came to visit. After a fun day of eating, talking drinking wine, she asked if I was O.K. This was a strange question, but I said "yes, why are you asking" the retort was maybe I was a bit depressed? which I confess, leaving L.A., family, friends I had my moments here of feeling utterly hopeless. In fact, for many years, I had a one-way ticket back to L.A. in my night stand.
I asked Stephanie why she thought I was depressed and she answered " I see all these little bottles of vodka half empty around the house.
You can imagine, I started laughing. I told her they were for the orchids. Really? yes. You see orchids tend to attract meely bugs. They look like flecks of snow on the flower and leaves. Once meely bugs attack, you have to take care of them because they sap the life out of the orchid. I showed Stephanie a cotton swab that I dipped into the vodka bottle and cleaned the orchid with it. Maybe the orchids enjoyed the drink because the meely bugs were not there after the touch of vodka. I had these bottles around the house because I was lazy to go to the cabinet and bring it out everytime I needed to clean the orchids.
I was able to start Stephanie on growing orchids, we still use this method.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Living in Winter Wonderland?
My first Winter in No. Carolina was an experience. I knew it would be cold but did not expect it to be so------------------------------cold. I am not sure what I expected, but after So. California? what was I crazy?
It was early November and in comes Jim carrying a few of my orchids? "what are you doing" says I. Orchids have to come in says he or they will freeze? I did not even consider this issue, as my experience, living in So. California was leave orchids out, pay some attention, do not water them too much and they bloom.
But I am not living in So. California anymore, so comprise had to be made and all 50 orchids, pots and all, had to come in. This house looked like a jungle.
To keep the humidity high, Jim suggested, if the mood hit me, to spritz them twice a day. That lasted one week and I cut it down to once a day. It was really quite a job.
In cold climates, orchids tend to bloom in the winter mostly, that is not to say you can not have some bloom in the summer. I presently have one that is about to bloom, which I shall post once in full bloom.
A sight to behold was orchids blooming in the house, with snow outside. That was my winter wonderland
It was early November and in comes Jim carrying a few of my orchids? "what are you doing" says I. Orchids have to come in says he or they will freeze? I did not even consider this issue, as my experience, living in So. California was leave orchids out, pay some attention, do not water them too much and they bloom.
But I am not living in So. California anymore, so comprise had to be made and all 50 orchids, pots and all, had to come in. This house looked like a jungle.
To keep the humidity high, Jim suggested, if the mood hit me, to spritz them twice a day. That lasted one week and I cut it down to once a day. It was really quite a job.
In cold climates, orchids tend to bloom in the winter mostly, that is not to say you can not have some bloom in the summer. I presently have one that is about to bloom, which I shall post once in full bloom.
A sight to behold was orchids blooming in the house, with snow outside. That was my winter wonderland
Monday, May 20, 2013
Living In No. Carolina
I arrived in No. Carolina in August. Was it hot ... So. California was never like this. Too hot to go out, but the orchids were loving it.
My cousins were coming to visit from London so I went looking for orchids in the area. (I was till very very new so did not know where to go.) I wanted a beautiful orchid for their room, so I found a place that had a lovely white Cattleya, which, believe it or not, I still have. Over the years, Jim has divided it giving me many more of this variety. Jim told me that one has to divide orchids when they get to big for the pot. I just assumed they would be the same every year just giving me blooms. How silly of me, everything grows, that is the way orchids or plants multiply.
My sister and her husband thought they would surprise my cousin, so they came to visit as well. The hunt went on for more orchids.
I wanted every room and bathroom to have beautiful orchids, but that was expensive. This one orchid was as expensive as the flower shop in Beverly Hills.
I was so happy when my family arrived, enjoying the orchids with us.
My cousins were coming to visit from London so I went looking for orchids in the area. (I was till very very new so did not know where to go.) I wanted a beautiful orchid for their room, so I found a place that had a lovely white Cattleya, which, believe it or not, I still have. Over the years, Jim has divided it giving me many more of this variety. Jim told me that one has to divide orchids when they get to big for the pot. I just assumed they would be the same every year just giving me blooms. How silly of me, everything grows, that is the way orchids or plants multiply.
My sister and her husband thought they would surprise my cousin, so they came to visit as well. The hunt went on for more orchids.
I wanted every room and bathroom to have beautiful orchids, but that was expensive. This one orchid was as expensive as the flower shop in Beverly Hills.
I was so happy when my family arrived, enjoying the orchids with us.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Decisions
After travelling the world as export manager, and looking for orchids, the company that I was associated with insisted I move out of Southern California to North Carolina. I was besides myself. What was I going to do and how was I going to leave family and beautiful So California.
I discussed this with Jim, who was a very good friend at the time, and said "what am I going to do?" I have no one in No. Carolina, just business friends and where would I live. He promptly suggested we build a house together and I said "O.K." I thought I could stall, but pressure was mounting. So as not to lose my position, I decided to move lock ... stock and orchids. Other plants I gave away, but orchids were my babies, and I was going to take them. The percentage of the orchids surviving in a closed moving van cross country was really slim. Keeping fingers crossed.
The house was ready, so the fatal day arrived for me to leave. Was I sad, yes, still could not believe I was making this move. Five days later, the moving van arrived - the first thing I looked for were the orchids.
Happy to report they all made it. In fact, I still have most of the original ones. I was worried they needed water, but Jim told me not to worry, orchids do not need water except once a week and depending on the heat, maybe every 10 days.
I discussed this with Jim, who was a very good friend at the time, and said "what am I going to do?" I have no one in No. Carolina, just business friends and where would I live. He promptly suggested we build a house together and I said "O.K." I thought I could stall, but pressure was mounting. So as not to lose my position, I decided to move lock ... stock and orchids. Other plants I gave away, but orchids were my babies, and I was going to take them. The percentage of the orchids surviving in a closed moving van cross country was really slim. Keeping fingers crossed.
The house was ready, so the fatal day arrived for me to leave. Was I sad, yes, still could not believe I was making this move. Five days later, the moving van arrived - the first thing I looked for were the orchids.
Happy to report they all made it. In fact, I still have most of the original ones. I was worried they needed water, but Jim told me not to worry, orchids do not need water except once a week and depending on the heat, maybe every 10 days.
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