The Orchid Garden

Who We Are.

Question:

Matt Swift, age 32 Rancho Cucamonga, California (40 miles east of Los Angeles) Have lived in Southern California all my life My father was growing orchids and had a greenhouse before I was born so I have been around them all my life.  I have had an interest in them the whole time but more so for the past 10 years. Prefer equitant oncidiums and cattleyas but always have a soft spot for anything eye-catching.  Briefly went through a Masdevallia phase but learned my lesson quickly. Worked at Mervyn’s department store for 9 years until March 1998 Stewart Orchids until November 1998 Santa Barbara Orchid Estate until end of January 2000 Currently co-owner Swift’s Orchids Past President (two terms) Riverside-San Bernardino Counties Orchid Society 1996-1998 Currently Early Bird program chair Have one more month as Newsletter Editor then Marty Shipps takes over the helm. Membership Secretary of the Cymbidium Society of America www.cymbidium.org Member of about 10 Southern California orchid societies but usually only attend about 3 to 4. American Orchid Society Cymbidium Society of America Orchid Digest www.orchiddigest.com

Response:

Hi, Name is Barb and I’m on the back side of 50.  Live in Coon Rapids, MN, as northern suburb of Minneapolis. My sister was visiting from Anchorage and got me started on orchids about 6 years ago with a trip to Orchids Limited.  Most of my orchids have been gifts from sister, Pat, or purchased at Orchids Limited. Another vendor I like is H&R Nurseries.   I like anything small or mini.  My 120 orchids share space with my 500/600 African violets. Actually, I’m looking to decrease my collection of some of the larger plants.  What my daughter does not want may soon be available to anyone near enough to pick them up. Accomplishment – each time my Paph. Prince Edward of York blooms.  Still waiting on Paph. Sanderianum. — Barb Coon Rapids, MN

Response:

Barb, from Coon Rapids, MN, again. Forgot to mention that 90% of my orchids grow in natural light.  I have a solarium and they are on a top or near top shelf.  Several of the smaller ones (about 10%) are in an orchidarium. — Barb Coon Rapids, MN

Response:

I’m Ken Woodward, English teacher by day, orchid grower by night.  I’m nearing 60 and wish that I had tried growing orchids when I was much younger, but I waited until I was nearly fifty to start.  I still have my first orchid, a stanhopea, which has now joined about a hundred others inside the house.  I grow in every space that I can find and that my wife will allow, the main areas being a garden window in the kitchen, a south-facing livingroom window in the winter, and under lights in a humidity room built in the basement.  I grow orchids from A to Z: aerangis to zygopetalum.  New England winters are not easy conditions for orchid growing, but I love the challenge of  growing in a hostile environment. Ken Woodward Newton, MA http:/kwoodward.net

Response:

That is an amazing story, I find it interesting how many of us can tie orchids into the very special days of our lives. If you are looking at getting rid of any snippets of your Zygopetalum mackayii gimme a yell, Im in Bundy, QLD.

I’ve got a backbulb that has already flowered that I could send you. Are there any problems with sending plants interstate as far as the authorities?  I guess if I packed it in spaghnum and sent it in one of those Australia Post plastic overnight bags it should arrive O.K. Email me your address and we’ll figure something out.

Response:

So here we go: Kenneth Bruyninckx, male Ekeren (north of Antwerp), Belgium grow ??? not much, see the info part age: 30 info: Well, if you really count MY collection then only a few terrestrial orchids can be found in it. Although I really have experience with lots and lots more. As my parents started and run their nursery Akerne Orchids in Belgium I guess I’m very lucky to have grown up surrounded by orchids (of course when I look at my younger brother things could have turned out differently as well: he doesn’t like them at all ). Actually I beat the first orchid by one year, he of course was not so lucky…. So for the moment my plants are still happily growing in my parents large greenhouse, although plans exist to build a greenhouse as soon as possible in my backyard (just as soon as I get the more important (?) things like a bathroom, heating etc fixed in my new house for my girlfriend). What do I like ? Well, have you got a couple of hours ??? Almost anything species, but a few favourite genera: Stanhopea, Gongora, Coryanthes, Catasetum, Sobralia, Elleanthus, Cymbidium, Pterostylis, lots and lots of terrestrial orchids (from all over the world in fact)…. I’m a trainee judge in the English judging system and have visited orchid habitats in Mexico, Venezeula and New Caledonia in the past. Oh yes, I’m the webmaster behind orchidguide.com, so a couple of you will know me from the OGD as well.

Response:

Phalaenopsis don’t like me, so we are discontinuing trying to grow them.

BTW, have I mentioned that I have started a new charitable organization, "Orchids for the Needy"?  Any orchids no longer needed can be sent to my address where they will be sorted, brought up to par and offered to lower income families who have no orchids yet… — Reka <BEG www.rolbox.it/hukari/index.html "I hate flowers-I paint them because they’re cheaper than models and they don’t move."   –Georgia O’Keefe

Response:

Are you interested in lurk… ehm, readers too? Who am I and What Is My Gender???

Anna Maria Canepa, female Where am I???

I’m an Italian living in Sweden, near Stockholm. What do I grow???

Now I’m ashamed, i can’t call my five babies a collection! Anyway they are all so grateful to you and your advices that I decided to write for thanking you all. The decade of my age??? I’m in my late 30s. How long have I been growing orchids???

I tried to grow some in Italy with no so big success. Here in Sweden I found that the conditions in the apartments are better than in Italy for orchids (and not only for them) )) My biggest orchid accomplishment???

Buying a dying oncidium for pennies and making it flower again )) Plants can be grateful and they know how to demonstrate it! Miscellanious Info…

I’ve got a master degree in Slavonic Philology at Pisa University and worked mainly as a translator from Russian into Italian. Now I’m studying Swedish at the local school for adults hoping to use all my languages for a job. I’m married to a wonderful man since 1993. Bye, Anna Maria

Response:

I am Doris Salzmann living across the border from Augusta Ga. for the past 34 years. I have had orchids since 1979 when a friend introduced me to Carter and Holmes. I promptly killed both plants that I bought within 2 years. In 83   I went to a southern living show in Charlotte and returned with 1 orchids,which is still thriving and has been divided several times.It was a cattleya golden girl. After that I got phals and dendrobiums since those was the only varieties available locally.  I have only had a computer since the beginning of 2000 and have not found this NG until this summer. I have learned an awful lot in the meantime. My plants are flourishing  since I put most of them into semihydro. But I digress. I am pushing 60 am a homemaker, grow in windows, have no room for a gh.and have to stop bying more plants.They total about 50 by now, mostly phals, cattleya tribe, oncidiums and 2 cymbidiums. I have all my orchids on view at http://community.webshots.com/user/hodosal1

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Kye asked: Who am I and What Is My Gender??? I will answer for both my husband, John and myself, Sue Erickson. Where am I??? We got infected in Chicago, Illinois, but currently live in Longmont Colorado. What do I grow??? I like Epi and Encyclia, for some reason they are not as happy with me. So I grow Oncidium, intergeneric’s, Dendrobiums, Pyschopsis, Vandaceous, Angraecum and misc. genera. Currently 410 different plants. Phalaenopsis don’t like me, so we are discontinuing trying to grow them. John grows Paphs and Phrags. He also photographs each plant as it blooms so we have a photo database as well as the Access database ported to the Palm Pilot to take shopping. The decade of my age??? We are typical empty nesters in the mid 50’s. How long have I been growing orchids??? In Chicago John was scouting antenna sites with a fellow from Motorola. As they drove passed ‘Orchids by Hausermann’ (http://www.orchidsbyhausermann.com/)  the fellow said "if your wife likes flowers, you ought to take her there sometime." I got one plant. Joined the Illinois Orchid Society just in time for a large show, a Mid-America or AOS trustees meeting. By the time the show was over I was hooked and hog tied. I also thought all shows were that size and complexity. I keep meaning to look up the year.. about ‘74. My biggest orchid accomplishment??? Keeping a few alive since then. In 1983 we moved to Colorado.  We moved 300 plants, mostly large hybrid Catts. We had been growing in windows and under lights. We kept them under lights here until the lean-to greenhouse was built. About 6 years ago the thermostat in the gh failed during the winter. The resulting freeze redefined the collection.  Now there are few large catts. Several made it thru the freeze and the depression that followed. I would empty 6′ of hanging space with out finding a living thing. I would be too sad to do more for several days, weeks, or months. When we finally finished cleaning the gh 3 years ago. we found 50 plants alive. It has been a miracle seeing these long neglected plants react to fertilizer and attention with big growths and lovely blooms. Miscellanious Info…

Response:

Kye asked: Who am I and What Is My Gender???

I will answer for both my husband, John and myself, Sue Erickson. Where am I???

We got infected in Chicago, Illinois, but currently live in Longmont Colorado. What do I grow???

I like Epi and Encyclia, for some reason they are not as happy with me. So I grow Oncidium, intergeneric’s, Dendrobiums, Pyschopsis, Vandaceous, Angraecum and misc. genera. Currently 410 different plants. Phalaenopsis don’t like me, so we are discontinuing trying to grow them. John grows Paphs and Phrags. He also photographs each plant as it blooms so we have a photo database as well as the Access database ported to the Palm Pilot to take shopping. The decade of my age???

We are typical empty nesters in the mid 50’s. How long have I been growing orchids???

In Chicago John was scouting antenna sites with a fellow from Motorola. As they drove passed ‘Orchids by Hausermann’ (http://www.orchidsbyhausermann.com/)  the fellow said "if your wife likes flowers, you ought to take her there sometime." I got one plant. Joined the Illinois Orchid Society just in time for a large show, a Mid-America or AOS trustees meeting. By the time the show was over I was hooked and hog tied. I also thought all shows were that size and complexity. I keep meaning to look up the year.. about ‘74. My biggest orchid accomplishment???

Keeping a few alive since then. In 1983 we moved to Colorado.  We moved 300 plants, mostly large hybrid Catts. We had been growing in windows and under lights. We kept them under lights here until the lean-to greenhouse was built. About 6 years ago the thermostat in the gh failed during the winter. The resulting freeze redefined the collection.  Now there are few large catts. Several made it thru the freeze and the depression that followed. I would empty 6′ of hanging space with out finding a living thing. I would be too sad to do more for several days, weeks, or months. When we finally finished cleaning the gh 3 years ago. we found 50 plants alive. It has been a miracle seeing these long neglected plants react to fertilizer and attention with big growths and lovely blooms. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Miscellanious Info…

Response:

OK, I sign in as K Barrett. Hopefully by now you all should know my first name is Kathy. I’m in the high 40’s fast approaching 50 in circuits around the sun. I live in Northern California, near San Fransisco, in a more dry climate similar to the Great Central Valley. I’m a confirmed generalist in my orchid collection. I have a little bit of everything except terrestrials. Like Kenneth I like the very unusual species, coryanthes, stanhopeas, lycastes, bulbophyllum, mormodes, catasetums, as well as the more mundane, cattleyas and paphs. I’ve gotten out of oncidiums and phals because I just don’t have the room. Plus they tend to stay in bloom too long. I like plants that strut and fret their hour upon the stage and then have the good grace to know when to exit. 2-3 weeks is perfect, IMHO. I’ve been growing since 1994 or was it 1995?? And have been online here since 12/1995 when I got my computer. Well, actually I took over the computer. Its was a bloodless coup. My boyfriend had been yammering on and on about how wonderful computers are. But only talking about hardware. (boring) One Christmas vacation I said ‘if these computers are so great find me something about orchids.’ We found the AOS website, and from there a link to rgo, and he never got his computer back. I am now the Den Mother of OrchidSafari, the Wed/Sat chatgroup. Sorry OS has taken such a dive in interest recently. I just ran out of steam. But there may be life in the old girl yet. We are moving the webapge away from Geocities, and my push will be to make the archives a better resource. maybe even searchable. But Rome wasn’t built in a day, and we’ll see how that really progresses. Time is the ultimate commodity. K Barrett

Response:

This questionnaire has been circulated many times in the last half decade. But I will answer again.  Some of my answers have changed and it is time to update the form.

Who am I and What Is My Gender???

I am Al. Where am I???

It appears to be the planet earth.  Leesburg Virginia USA to be specific. What do I grow???

Lots of things.  Phals species are my biggest love.  I have Big Plans for breedings them.  Big Plans. The decade of my age???

The birth certificate puts me in my early 40s.  But that refers only to physical age.  In mind and spirit there is conciderable vasscilation and I would have a hard time pinning it down. How long have I been growing orchids???

Since I was 16. My biggest orchid accomplishment???

Two or so years ago I got the BIG greenhouse I have always wished for and learned definitivly that it is true what they say: Be careful what you wish for. Miscellanious Info…

It makes me nervous to know that physcologists read what we write here. I have a website/web business that supports my orchids but not me: http://www.orchidexchange.com I like to garden. I have been stuck in this newsgroup for about 5 years now and still can’t find the door.  On occasion I have claimed to be an Alien from Outer Space. Strictly speaking, this is true.  I have also claimed to play the fool but I think of this role as being more like ‘court jester’ and don’t mind at all when others vie for the roles of village idiot or Supreme Monarch.  It’s fun to watch.  I always have appreciated the good advice people offer on orchids and their culture to all the other stuff I find here.  But I also know I am a significant contributor of ‘other stuff’.  I have issues to work out. Basically, this is a good group and the people who use it are good people. Late at night when I can’t sleep I like to re-read my posts to this newsgroup and count the number of times I use the word "I".  I find it amusing.

Response:

Hmmmm, no females? Guess I’ll brave this and be the first. I’m Cindy, 38, and now live in Herndon, VA, and am currently unemployed thanks to layoffs in Austin, Texas. I have a 19 y.o. son who is fully dependent upon myself and my family. I found RGO in July/August and have already learned alot. I’ve had orchids since 1997, but only became an addict this past year. When I moved up here I was also able to meet Al, who is a very nice individual. I also have 3 furbabies (cats) who are the loves of my life. Now, does anybody have a lead on a job so I can continue to afford this hobby?  :o) Cindy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I think this is worthwhile. I learned more about Eric in 30 seconds than I did in 7 years Rod C. Venger. 45. Born in Los Angeles were I learned more than the basics of Orchid culture from my parents. I was in Cardiology until 1993. My wife and I went commerical in the Orchid Biz in 1992. We were possibly the first commercial Orchid site to succeed on the net. Certainly the first to survive RGO Everything was going great until I got cancer in 1998. Had radical surgery on my face in early 1999. I’ve since retired, work as a volunteer counselor to head and neck cancer patients and am producing a documentary on the same at the present. We have 13 Siamese cats -Rod- Rod C. Venger – T4N0M0 Squamous Cell Carcinoma Facial Reconstructions 2-5-99, 3-13-00 http://www.vengers.com/model.jpg

Response:

BTW, Venger’s Orchids is alive and doing very well under Sue’s leadership. And I, like Eric, am also a reefkeeper -Rod- – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I think this is worthwhile. I learned more about Eric in 30 seconds than I did in 7 years Rod C. Venger. 45. Born in Los Angeles were I learned more than the basics of Orchid culture from my parents. I was in Cardiology until 1993. My wife and I went commerical in the Orchid Biz in 1992. We were possibly the first commercial Orchid site to succeed on the net. Certainly the first to survive RGO Everything was going great until I got cancer in 1998. Had radical surgery on my face in early 1999. I’ve since retired, work as a volunteer counselor to head and neck cancer patients and am producing a documentary on the same at the present. We have 13 Siamese cats -Rod- Rod C. Venger – T4N0M0 Squamous Cell Carcinoma Facial Reconstructions 2-5-99, 3-13-00 http://www.vengers.com/model.jpg

– Rod C. Venger – T4N0M0 Squamous Cell Carcinoma Facial Reconstructions 2-5-99, 3-13-00 http://www.vengers.com/model.jpg

Response:

Who am I and What Is My Gender???

Reka, female Where am I???

Northern Italy What do I grow???

A bit of everything, but if you had to pin me down to any one thing, I guess I would say I like Phal species best.  (And maybe Catts; we’ll see after my most recent purchases bloom!) The decade of my age???

I recently joined the 40-and-over club. How long have I been growing orchids???

I got my first orchid, a Phal hybrid, about fifteen years ago (just gave it away last year) but had little success due to a cold, dark apartment and limited budget.  Now I have southern and northern exposure and a winter garden plus two balconies for summering and things are looking up!  (Why is it that the orchids always seem to take up more room when moved back inside after summer?  Did I really buy that many new ones??) My biggest orchid accomplishment???

Killing a Zygo in very short time as well as not killing a Tolumnia AND reblooming it too! Miscellanious Info…

My husband threatens with divorce if I continue to increase my collection at the present rate.  However, he promises in the same breath to build a leanto greenhouse when we build our house.  (Ha!  I was thinking more of building a leanto house onto our new greenhouse…) I have recently become a member of the Tyrolean Orchid Society and am looking forward to going to the orchid market in Munich in spring! — Reka www.rolbox.it/hukari/index.html "I hate flowers-I paint them because they’re cheaper than models and they don’t move."   –Georgia O’Keeffe

Response:

Great idea Kye, will get back later, have to get to work. Cheers Wendy

: Hi everyone. : : This is only vaguely orchid related, but I have been hanging out in this : group for almost a year now, and I realised the other day that I dont really : know anybody here. So todays post is just a general " Who are you, Where are : you, What do you grow, the decade of your age ( optional of course ), how : long have you been growing orchids and your biggest orchid accomplishment. : : I’ll go first. : : Who am I and What Is My Gender??? : :     Kye Tanson, Male : : Where am I??? : :     Queensland, Australia : : What do I grow??? : :     Dendrobiums and Bulbophyllums mainly. I am a strict species grower, and : those hybrids I do obtain usually become gifts within a few weeks. : : The decade of my age??? : :     I am in my early 20’s. ( Call me 24 and i’ll think your nasty, but call : me 22 and I’ll think your a sweety. ) : : How long have I been growing orchids??? : :     Well I am a real newbie at this past time, having just notched up my : first year of growing, and killed my second cheque book on the hobby. : : My biggest orchid accomplishment??? : :     Probably still having the first orchid I was ever given going strong and : looking well after I have tried to kill it every way imaginable. By the way, : ,y first orchid was a Bulbophyllum schillerianum. : : Miscellanious Info… : :     I am a professional Web Developer / Computer Technician who is currently : working as a carer for my housemates aged mother. The first orchid I ever : seen was a terrestrial orchid which looked a LOT like a miniature pink : cypripedium growing at the base of a Eucalyptus tree in Binalong, NSW. Since : then I have never seen another even vaguely like it, but I have never : forgotten the magic of sitting there watching it glisten in the sun while my : parents fixed the flat tyre. : : Hopefully some other people will write about themselves as well, so that I : am not standing out on a limb here all by me self. : : Kye. : : — :   Never be afraid to try something new. :   Remember, amateurs built the ark. :   Professionals built the Titanic. : :       – Unknown : :

Response:

That is an amazing story, I find it interesting how many of us can tie orchids into the very special days of our lives. If you are looking at getting rid of any snippets of your Zygopetalum mackayii gimme a yell, Im in Bundy, QLD. Kye. —   Never be afraid to try something new.   Remember, amateurs built the ark.   Professionals built the Titanic.       – Unknown

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This is only vaguely orchid related, but I have been hanging out in this group for almost a year now, and I realised the other day that I dont really know anybody here. So todays post is just a general " I’m more of a lurker than a poster on this group but I’ll have a go because I notice not many women or non-USAns have responded. Who are you Alina, an academic psychologist Where are you, Victoria, Australia What do you grow, Just started in the last two years but I’m already on the committee of the Maroondah Orchid Society.  Mainly grow easy to grow cymbidiums, zygopetalums and sarcochilus outside – just started to branch out into the trickier ones (for my climate) and am nurturing a cattleya and a paph. the decade of your age ( optional of course ) I’m 42. how long have you been growing orchids and your biggest orchid accomplishment. I bought my first orchid about 2 years ago.  There’s a bit of a story to my first orchid purchase.  I’d always loved orchids but never considered growing them (even though I am a very keen gardener) because I’d always believed that they were fussy.  My father had had what was suspected to be a terminal illness and after many operations and months in hospital he was given the all clear.  On the day I picked him up to take him home from hospital I had to go out and get a "bed wedge", which is a piece of foam to be inserted in the bed so a person can sleep slightly elevated.  The shop that I got the bed wedge from was right next door to a community craft shop and I went in to have a browse.  They had a zygopetalum mackayii for sale.  I had never seen anything like it – the markings were so amazing and I couldn’t believe that it was perfumed – I didn’t know that there were perfumed orchids. So I bought it for myself to celebrate my dad’s coming home from hospital and I thought "no matter what conditions this plant needs I’ll look after it and its beauty will be a constant reminder to me of the happiness I felt on the day I brought dad home from hospital". This orchid has turned into a monster, flowers often, and I’ve got lots of new plants from it.  But probably my best orchid accomplishment is that the paph I bought earlier in the year that I keep in the kitchen has put on lots of new growth and is obviously very happy.  It’s an accomplishment for a newbie.  I did win first prize in the novice section of a show with one of my cymbidiums and I was extremely pleased with myself but I mainly grow orchids to appreciate their beauty for myself.  I have sprays of cymbidium lowianum looking fantastic in a vase in the loungeroom that have lasted two months.

Response:

This is only vaguely orchid related, but I have been hanging out in this group for almost a year now, and I realised the other day that I dont really know anybody here. So todays post is just a general "

I’m more of a lurker than a poster on this group but I’ll have a go because I notice not many women or non-USAns have responded. Who are you

Alina, an academic psychologist Where are you,

Victoria, Australia What do you grow,

Just started in the last two years but I’m already on the committee of the Maroondah Orchid Society.  Mainly grow easy to grow cymbidiums, zygopetalums and sarcochilus outside – just started to branch out into the trickier ones (for my climate) and am nurturing a cattleya and a paph. the decade of your age ( optional of course )

I’m 42. how long have you been growing orchids and your biggest orchid accomplishment.

I bought my first orchid about 2 years ago.  There’s a bit of a story to my first orchid purchase.  I’d always loved orchids but never considered growing them (even though I am a very keen gardener) because I’d always believed that they were fussy.  My father had had what was suspected to be a terminal illness and after many operations and months in hospital he was given the all clear.  On the day I picked him up to take him home from hospital I had to go out and get a "bed wedge", which is a piece of foam to be inserted in the bed so a person can sleep slightly elevated.  The shop that I got the bed wedge from was right next door to a community craft shop and I went in to have a browse.  They had a zygopetalum mackayii for sale.  I had never seen anything like it – the markings were so amazing and I couldn’t believe that it was perfumed – I didn’t know that there were perfumed orchids. So I bought it for myself to celebrate my dad’s coming home from hospital and I thought "no matter what conditions this plant needs I’ll look after it and its beauty will be a constant reminder to me of the happiness I felt on the day I brought dad home from hospital". This orchid has turned into a monster, flowers often, and I’ve got lots of new plants from it.  But probably my best orchid accomplishment is that the paph I bought earlier in the year that I keep in the kitchen has put on lots of new growth and is obviously very happy.  It’s an accomplishment for a newbie.  I did win first prize in the novice section of a show with one of my cymbidiums and I was extremely pleased with myself but I mainly grow orchids to appreciate their beauty for myself.  I have sprays of cymbidium lowianum looking fantastic in a vase in the loungeroom that have lasted two months.

Response:

I think this is worthwhile. I learned more about Eric in 30 seconds than I did in 7 years Rod C. Venger. 45. Born in Los Angeles were I learned more than the basics of Orchid culture from my parents. I was in Cardiology until 1993. My wife and I went commerical in the Orchid Biz in 1992. We were possibly the first commercial Orchid site to succeed on the net. Certainly the first to survive RGO Everything was going great until I got cancer in 1998. Had radical surgery on my face in early 1999. I’ve since retired, work as a volunteer counselor to head and neck cancer patients and am producing a documentary on the same at the present. We have 13 Siamese cats -Rod- Rod C. Venger – T4N0M0 Squamous Cell Carcinoma Facial Reconstructions 2-5-99, 3-13-00 http://www.vengers.com/model.jpg

Response:

You really want to know???? Well, I’m mid-40’s with 4 kids, ranging from 9 to 19 who are all smarter than I am, as is my wife who teaches evolution and biology labs at Queens College. I teach biology and earth science in the (gasp) NYC public school system, with an after school job teaching biology at a private school (a yeshiva…) and of course, I can’t afford orchids…worse, I’m also a reefkeeper….leaving me pretty broke most of the time in regard to my favorite hobbies! Take care, Eric Muehlbauer who just put his last orchids indoors today, in Queens

Response:

This is a good Idea. Staten Island, New York 40 years old married for 15+ years I am an under (HID) light grower. For all intensive purposes I have a greenhouse in my basement but instead of God I pay for the lighting bill. I grow 131 different Genera for a total of over 500 plants mainly species. 25% of which are Bulbophyllums or related genera. I’ve been growing Orchids for about 7 or 8 years. I’m a student judge in the AOS program with the North East Judging Center. My Orchid Addiction started the day I was told I couldn’t grow certain types of orchids. From that day on I have more or less proved I could. My basement is full of Micro micro climates and I use them to their full potential. I hold the position of president of the Staten Island Orchid Society for about 4 years now. I am also a member of the Deepcut Orchid Society and The Greater New York Orchid Society.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone. This is only vaguely orchid related, but I have been hanging out in this group for almost a year now, and I realised the other day that I dont really know anybody here. So todays post is just a general " Who are you, Where are you, What do you grow, the decade of your age ( optional of course ), how long have you been growing orchids and your biggest orchid accomplishment. I’ll go first. Who am I and What Is My Gender???     Kye Tanson, Male Where am I???     Queensland, Australia What do I grow???     Dendrobiums and Bulbophyllums mainly. I am a strict species grower, and those hybrids I do obtain usually become gifts within a few weeks. The decade of my age???     I am in my early 20’s. ( Call me 24 and i’ll think your nasty, but call me 22 and I’ll think your a sweety. ) How long have I been growing orchids???     Well I am a real newbie at this past time, having just notched up my first year of growing, and killed my second cheque book on the hobby. My biggest orchid accomplishment???     Probably still having the first orchid I was ever given going strong and looking well after I have tried to kill it every way imaginable. By the way, ,y first orchid was a Bulbophyllum schillerianum. Miscellanious Info…     I am a professional Web Developer / Computer Technician who is currently working as a carer for my housemates aged mother. The first orchid I ever seen was a terrestrial orchid which looked a LOT like a miniature pink cypripedium growing at the base of a Eucalyptus tree in Binalong, NSW. Since then I have never seen another even vaguely like it, but I have never forgotten the magic of sitting there watching it glisten in the sun while my parents fixed the flat tyre. Hopefully some other people will write about themselves as well, so that I am not standing out on a limb here all by me self. Kye. —   Never be afraid to try something new.   Remember, amateurs built the ark.   Professionals built the Titanic.       – Unknown

Response:

I’m Bob Childers and live in New Orleans, LA. I’m 50 (8/30/51), retired from the navy in 1994 and now spend most of my time as a stay at home dad with my 2 1/2 year old triplet boys and a small business I have. I also have my first orchid (E. Cochleata, 1993) and some of about everything else… up to several hundered varieties now, though I specialize in slippers and Enc/Epi.                               Bob C. http://vchilder.home.netcom.com

Response:

Great idea! Let’s hear from all the regulars… RJ in Raleigh, NC, USA. Late 30’s and with a family. Indoor grower. 100 genera or so, mostly species, under lights. Been growing 2-3 years depending on whether you count my 10 cent mini-dendrobium responsible for the infection though I grew Catts as a kid in the tropics. Member, Triangle Orchid Society. Graduate degree but not plant related. Love the tropics and anything related to them.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone. This is only vaguely orchid related, but I have been hanging out in this group for almost a year now, and I realised the other day that I dont really know anybody here. So todays post is just a general " Who are you, Where are you, What do you grow, the decade of your age ( optional of course ), how long have you been growing orchids and your biggest orchid accomplishment. I’ll go first. Who am I and What Is My Gender???     Kye Tanson, Male Where am I???     Queensland, Australia What do I grow???     Dendrobiums and Bulbophyllums mainly. I am a strict species grower, and those hybrids I do obtain usually become gifts within a few weeks. The decade of my age???     I am in my early 20’s. ( Call me 24 and i’ll think your nasty, but call me 22 and I’ll think your a sweety. ) How long have I been growing orchids???     Well I am a real newbie at this past time, having just notched up my first year of growing, and killed my second cheque book on the hobby. My biggest orchid accomplishment???     Probably still having the first orchid I was ever given going strong and looking well after I have tried to kill it every way imaginable. By the way, ,y first orchid was a Bulbophyllum schillerianum. Miscellanious Info…     I am a professional Web Developer / Computer Technician who is currently working as a carer for my housemates aged mother. The first orchid I ever seen was a terrestrial orchid which looked a LOT like a miniature pink cypripedium growing at the base of a Eucalyptus tree in Binalong, NSW. Since then I have never seen another even vaguely like it, but I have never forgotten the magic of sitting there watching it glisten in the sun while my parents fixed the flat tyre. Hopefully some other people will write about themselves as well, so that I am not standing out on a limb here all by me self. Kye. —   Never be afraid to try something new.   Remember, amateurs built the ark.   Professionals built the Titanic.       – Unknown

Response:

my grammer is really up the creek right now, I meant to say by MY self not by ME self. My apologies everyone. Kye. —   Never be afraid to try something new.   Remember, amateurs built the ark.   Professionals built the Titanic.       – Unknown

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone. This is only vaguely orchid related, but I have been hanging out in this group for almost a year now, and I realised the other day that I dont really know anybody here. So todays post is just a general " Who are you, Where are you, What do you grow, the decade of your age ( optional of course ), how long have you been growing orchids and your biggest orchid accomplishment. I’ll go first. Who am I and What Is My Gender???     Kye Tanson, Male Where am I???     Queensland, Australia What do I grow???     Dendrobiums and Bulbophyllums mainly. I am a strict species grower, and those hybrids I do obtain usually become gifts within a few weeks. The decade of my age???     I am in my early 20’s. ( Call me 24 and i’ll think your nasty, but call me 22 and I’ll think your a sweety. ) How long have I been growing orchids???     Well I am a real newbie at this past time, having just notched up my first year of growing, and killed my second cheque book on the hobby. My biggest orchid accomplishment???     Probably still having the first orchid I was ever given going strong and looking well after I have tried to kill it every way imaginable. By the way, ,y first orchid was a Bulbophyllum schillerianum. Miscellanious Info…     I am a professional Web Developer / Computer Technician who is currently working as a carer for my housemates aged mother. The first orchid I ever seen was a terrestrial orchid which looked a LOT like a miniature pink cypripedium growing at the base of a Eucalyptus tree in Binalong, NSW. Since then I have never seen another even vaguely like it, but I have never forgotten the magic of sitting there watching it glisten in the sun while my parents fixed the flat tyre. Hopefully some other people will write about themselves as well, so that I am not standing out on a limb here all by me self. Kye. —   Never be afraid to try something new.   Remember, amateurs built the ark.   Professionals built the Titanic.       – Unknown

Response:

Hi everyone. This is only vaguely orchid related, but I have been hanging out in this group for almost a year now, and I realised the other day that I dont really know anybody here. So todays post is just a general " Who are you, Where are you, What do you grow, the decade of your age ( optional of course ), how long have you been growing orchids and your biggest orchid accomplishment. I’ll go first. Who am I and What Is My Gender???     Kye Tanson, Male Where am I???     Queensland, Australia What do I grow???     Dendrobiums and Bulbophyllums mainly. I am a strict species grower, and those hybrids I do obtain usually become gifts within a few weeks. The decade of my age???     I am in my early 20’s. ( Call me 24 and i’ll think your nasty, but call me 22 and I’ll think your a sweety. ) How long have I been growing orchids???     Well I am a real newbie at this past time, having just notched up my first year of growing, and killed my second cheque book on the hobby. My biggest orchid accomplishment???     Probably still having the first orchid I was ever given going strong and looking well after I have tried to kill it every way imaginable. By the way, ,y first orchid was a Bulbophyllum schillerianum. Miscellanious Info…     I am a professional Web Developer / Computer Technician who is currently working as a carer for my housemates aged mother. The first orchid I ever seen was a terrestrial orchid which looked a LOT like a miniature pink cypripedium growing at the base of a Eucalyptus tree in Binalong, NSW. Since then I have never seen another even vaguely like it, but I have never forgotten the magic of sitting there watching it glisten in the sun while my parents fixed the flat tyre. Hopefully some other people will write about themselves as well, so that I am not standing out on a limb here all by me self. Kye. —   Never be afraid to try something new.   Remember, amateurs built the ark.   Professionals built the Titanic.       – Unknown

Response:

Filed under: Cymbidium Orchids

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