The Orchid Garden » Dendrobium Orchid

Can you identify this flower?

admin — Sat, 21 Sep 2002 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

They are dendrobiums, a kind of orchid commonly used by florists. The purple color is natural, but the blue is dye, like the green carnations for St. Patrick’s day. Iris, Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "The trouble with people is not that they don’t know but that they know so much that ain’t so." Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw), 1818-1885

Response:

Definitely an Orchid. Probably a Dendrobium hybrid.

Response:

I suspect this may be some kind of orchid, but am not sure. My wife brought it home from work – from one of her coworkers who didn’t know what it was. The pictures are not too great – I am not good with macro-photography with my digital camera, but you might see enough detail to tell what it is. The flowers are a gorgeous blue and purple, about 2 inches in diameter. There are several flowers on a stem (the coworker gave her just one stem of the flower from a vase of flowers). http://k_cook.home.mindspring.com/ken/flower1.jpg http://k_cook.home.mindspring.com/ken/flower2.jpg http://k_cook.home.mindspring.com/ken/flower3.jpg

I sure can’t, but it sure is pretty. Seeing the leaves might’ve helped. I thought some sort of clematis but the third photo seems to show a thorn along the stem. -paghat — "Flowers are commonly badly designed, inartistic in color, & ill-smelling." -Ambrose Bierce Visit the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.angelfire.com/grrl/paghat/gardenhome.html#top

Response:

It looks vaguely like a lisianthus, but I’ve never seen one in that color scheme and it may not even have the right number of petals.

Response:

There is no thorn – sorry the picture isn’t clearer. And there were no leaves on the part given to my wife so we don’t have that to go on either.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I suspect this may be some kind of orchid, but am not sure. My wife brought it home from work – from one of her coworkers who didn’t know what it was. The pictures are not too great – I am not good with macro-photography with my digital camera, but you might see enough detail to tell what it is. The flowers are a gorgeous blue and purple, about 2 inches in diameter. There are several flowers on a stem (the coworker gave her just one stem of the flower from a vase of flowers). http://k_cook.home.mindspring.com/ken/flower1.jpg http://k_cook.home.mindspring.com/ken/flower2.jpg http://k_cook.home.mindspring.com/ken/flower3.jpg I sure can’t, but it sure is pretty. Seeing the leaves might’ve helped. I thought some sort of clematis but the third photo seems to show a thorn along the stem. -paghat — "Flowers are commonly badly designed, inartistic in color, & ill-smelling." -Ambrose Bierce Visit the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.angelfire.com/grrl/paghat/gardenhome.html#top

Response:

Small World Eh Mary ?

admin — Wed, 04 Sep 2002 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

I reckon you’re as old ( or young) as you feel ! Its OK though , I have got a few ‘old’ friends , and they’re not a bit senile !!! ( HA! HA! ) Poor Catherine, will have to pick the Botanical Gardens if we all arrive at once !!! Marilyn xxx PS I can remember the ‘rag and bone’ man , coming round our streets on a horse and cart . Your reward for giving him rags was … clothes pegs!!! Hardly worth the trouble , dont you think?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Mary, Thanks for your reply. We do seem like ‘brother chip’ dont we? I didn’t think people would get irritated with chit chat on ngs ? I find it fascinating and really enjoy reading other peoples aswell. I have learned so much about other places eg Austin, Blackburn,Hawaii… and people like.. Lance Armstrong… and things like baseball (well, sort of)…. so you see, it’s educational ! It usually brings a smile, and lifts the spirits away from the other problems that we cant avoid. We cant talk about cancer ALL the time, surely, we have to have a laugh aswell? (By the way , I am reading this on ng , so it wasn’t transferred anywhere?) No! I realised I’d blobbed, sorry anyone reading this who’d rather not Take Care , talk to you soon, Marilyn PS I think BIG SNOW was about 1993or4. I was born in 1952 .. hence Marilyn (Monroe).. so dont remember 1947. Bitch. I’m pre-war. In 1947 the children made an igloo on the street and it was still there in March. The cobbled street, not the pavement. The only motor traffic we got was the ambulance or my plumber uncle, horse-drawn carts weren’t a problem for us when we played in the street. Mary Mary Ok Ok , I’ll send Steven instead! No, I’ve enough with my own man My friends think he looks like a famous English rugby player, but I dont know which one nor would I know anyway as I dont follow or like rugby. I wouldn’t recognise him then. I don’t know any famous rugby players. My dentist plays rugby for the dental hospital where he’s a student but he’s not famous. He still has a Yorkshire accent (after 23 years here) but doesn’t look a bit like a Sheffield lad as he has ‘olive’ skin and goes nearly black when he gets a suntan I have a son like that! (he has been shouted at in the taxi and called a ‘wog’…(which means,in Australia ,of ethnic origin) CHEEK! It means the same here but because we live in a traditional immigrant area (we’re not the only whites in the stret but the only English family) people rarely mention skin colour. To be honest Mary , I’m dreading the summer this year . I’m allergic to mozzies Me too – and repellants don’t work so I just keep covered all the time and try not to go to places where they are. and get sunburn easily if I dont wear total blockout cream, so it will be horrendous now I have got ‘lymph arm’ aswell !!!!!! Bring on the snow! You sound like a kindred spirit! Actually, before I came out here again (I’m talking end of 2000) I only just got to a New Years Eve party , as it started snowing PM , and was about a foot thick by teatime, remember? (That was Sheffield) I do. BUT, I remember vividly ‘THE BIG SNOW’ in Leeds (?year?) . I left work (I worked above Leeds railway station) at 5.30pm … and got home at 3.15am Well there have been a few. You’re too young for 1947 but there was 1968 (I think) and one in the seventies when I worked two miles from home and it took us five and a half hours to drive home. We’d have walked but Chapeltown Road was already littered with abandoned cars which added to the mayhem. The worst aspect of that was needing a wee. Malcolm was OK, he used the screen wash bottle. Afterwards we always carried a biscuit tin containing chocolate and biscuits to sustain the inner man and could be taken out and the tin used as a jerry. Well, I had better get ready for work , I start back today , just 4 hours 12nn-4pm so it shouldn’t be too much of a shock to the system!? Don’t like the idea of that. Work, I mean. Bad enough with all the things to do at home. Dont forget to keep LOOKING WELL at all costs (even if you feel lousy… it helps other people to cope!) Well, to be honest, I rarely feel lousy and do look well all the time. I get fed up of people saying to each other, in hushed voices, that, "Mary Fisher hasn’t been well … "when in truth I’ve never been ill. They all thought I was dead a couple of years ago, my publisher was horrified. He’d left a whole magazine page for an obituary and he had to find something else to fill it! We can swop details nearer the time … by the way , we have got a return flight cancellation fo 2nd Jan , so will be able to bring in the New Year with my family now. Great! See Yer , It would be nice. I don’t think we’re going anywhere this year, instead we might strip the sitting room floor. When you come you might have to clamber over piles of furniture … Thanks for posting, I’ve transferred this to mail because some people get irrritated with personal reminiscing on a ng. I don’t, I love it! Usenet is enhanced by thread drift! Mary

Response:

man, ain’t that the truth? live somewhere desirable and the "friends" come out of the woodwork to come and visit! when I lived in NYC, I got very tired of taking (and paying for) the boat trip to the Statue of Liberty, so at the last, I would put them on the Staten Island ferry (5 cents) and say "there she is!" as we went by! Catharine, did you hear that the most famous collector of prints in the USA has donated his entire collection to…The University of Texas at Austin museums? Seems like there’s big Longhorn news every day! Stupid New York Times spelled it the University of Texas. Que maroon, no?

Response:

If I could afford to, I’d love to come and get leid. catherine

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – PS Catherine, am I invited too ( or shall I send Steve??) I’ve always wanted one of those ‘flowery things’ draped round my neck and I’ve always thought your ‘Hawaii 5 0′ theme tune was the best one yet!!!! It’s called a lei, and EVERYONE’s invited. We’re poor, we need the tourists. If you come, I will meet you at the airport and drape a lei around your neck — and it’ll be a nice lei, too, not one of those junk dendrobium orchid lei they give to unknowing tourists — Aloha, Catharine Character is what you do when no one’s watching.

Response:

Ok Ok , I’ll send Steven instead!

No, I’ve enough with my own man My friends think he looks like a famous English rugby player, but I dont know which one nor would I know anyway as I dont follow or like rugby.

I wouldn’t recognise him then. I don’t know any famous rugby players. My dentist plays rugby for the dental hospital where he’s a student but he’s not famous. He still has a Yorkshire accent (after 23 years here) but doesn’t look a bit like a Sheffield lad as he has ‘olive’ skin and goes nearly black when he gets a suntan

I have a son like that! (he has been shouted at in the taxi and called a ‘wog’…(which means,in Australia ,of ethnic origin) CHEEK!

It means the same here but because we live in a traditional immigrant area (we’re not the only whites in the stret but the only English family) people rarely mention skin colour. To be honest Mary , I’m dreading the summer this year . I’m allergic to mozzies

Me too – and repellants don’t work so I just keep covered all the time and try not to go to places where they are. and get sunburn easily if I dont wear total blockout cream, so it will be horrendous now I have got ‘lymph arm’ aswell !!!!!! Bring on the snow!

You sound like a kindred spirit! Actually, before I came out here again (I’m talking end of 2000) I only just got to a New Years Eve party , as it started snowing PM , and was about a foot thick by teatime, remember? (That was Sheffield)

I do. BUT, I remember vividly ‘THE BIG SNOW’ in Leeds (?year?) . I left work (I worked above Leeds railway station) at 5.30pm … and got home at 3.15am

Well there have been a few. You’re too young for 1947 but there was 1968 (I think) and one in the seventies when I worked two miles from home and it took us five and a half hours to drive home. We’d have walked but Chapeltown Road was already littered with abandoned cars which added to the mayhem. The worst aspect of that was needing a wee. Malcolm was OK, he used the screen wash bottle. Afterwards we always carried a biscuit tin containing chocolate and biscuits to sustain the inner man and could be taken out and the tin used as a jerry. Well, I had better get ready for work , I start back today , just 4 hours 12nn-4pm so it shouldn’t be too much of a shock to the system!?

Don’t like the idea of that. Work, I mean. Bad enough with all the things to do at home. Dont forget to keep LOOKING WELL at all costs (even if you feel lousy… it helps other people to cope!)

Well, to be honest, I rarely feel lousy and do look well all the time. I get fed up of people saying to each other, in hushed voices, that, "Mary Fisher hasn’t been well … "when in truth I’ve never been ill. They all thought I was dead a couple of years ago, my publisher was horrified. He’d left a whole magazine page for an obituary and he had to find something else to fill it! We can swop details nearer the time … by the way , we have got a return flight cancellation fo 2nd Jan , so will be able to bring in the New Year with my family now.

Great! See Yer ,

It would be nice. I don’t think we’re going anywhere this year, instead we might strip the sitting room floor. When you come you might have to clamber over piles of furniture … Thanks for posting, I’ve transferred this to mail because some people get irrritated with personal reminiscing on a ng. I don’t, I love it! Usenet is enhanced by thread drift! Mary

Response:

Hi Mary, Thanks for your reply. We do seem like ‘brother chip’ dont we? I didn’t think people would get irritated with chit chat on ngs ? I find it fascinating and really enjoy reading other peoples aswell. I have learned so much about other places eg Austin, Blackburn,Hawaii… and people like.. Lance Armstrong… and things like baseball (well, sort of)…. so you see, it’s educational ! It usually brings a smile, and lifts the spirits away from the other problems that we cant avoid. We cant talk about cancer ALL the time, surely, we have to have a laugh aswell? (By the way , I am reading this on ng , so it wasn’t transferred anywhere?) Take Care , talk to you soon, Marilyn PS I think BIG SNOW was about 1993or4. I was born in 1952 .. hence Marilyn (Monroe).. so dont remember 1947.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok Ok , I’ll send Steven instead! No, I’ve enough with my own man My friends think he looks like a famous English rugby player, but I dont know which one nor would I know anyway as I dont follow or like rugby. I wouldn’t recognise him then. I don’t know any famous rugby players. My dentist plays rugby for the dental hospital where he’s a student but he’s not famous. He still has a Yorkshire accent (after 23 years here) but doesn’t look a bit like a Sheffield lad as he has ‘olive’ skin and goes nearly black when he gets a suntan I have a son like that! (he has been shouted at in the taxi and called a ‘wog’…(which means,in Australia ,of ethnic origin) CHEEK! It means the same here but because we live in a traditional immigrant area (we’re not the only whites in the stret but the only English family) people rarely mention skin colour. To be honest Mary , I’m dreading the summer this year . I’m allergic to mozzies Me too – and repellants don’t work so I just keep covered all the time and try not to go to places where they are. and get sunburn easily if I dont wear total blockout cream, so it will be horrendous now I have got ‘lymph arm’ aswell !!!!!! Bring on the snow! You sound like a kindred spirit! Actually, before I came out here again (I’m talking end of 2000) I only just got to a New Years Eve party , as it started snowing PM , and was about a foot thick by teatime, remember? (That was Sheffield) I do. BUT, I remember vividly ‘THE BIG SNOW’ in Leeds (?year?) . I left work (I worked above Leeds railway station) at 5.30pm … and got home at 3.15am Well there have been a few. You’re too young for 1947 but there was 1968 (I think) and one in the seventies when I worked two miles from home and it took us five and a half hours to drive home. We’d have walked but Chapeltown Road was already littered with abandoned cars which added to the mayhem. The worst aspect of that was needing a wee. Malcolm was OK, he used the screen wash bottle. Afterwards we always carried a biscuit tin containing chocolate and biscuits to sustain the inner man and could be taken out and the tin used as a jerry. Well, I had better get ready for work , I start back today , just 4 hours 12nn-4pm so it shouldn’t be too much of a shock to the system!? Don’t like the idea of that. Work, I mean. Bad enough with all the things to do at home. Dont forget to keep LOOKING WELL at all costs (even if you feel lousy… it helps other people to cope!) Well, to be honest, I rarely feel lousy and do look well all the time. I get fed up of people saying to each other, in hushed voices, that, "Mary Fisher hasn’t been well … "when in truth I’ve never been ill. They all thought I was dead a couple of years ago, my publisher was horrified. He’d left a whole magazine page for an obituary and he had to find something else to fill it! We can swop details nearer the time … by the way , we have got a return flight cancellation fo 2nd Jan , so will be able to bring in the New Year with my family now. Great! See Yer , It would be nice. I don’t think we’re going anywhere this year, instead we might strip the sitting room floor. When you come you might have to clamber over piles of furniture … Thanks for posting, I’ve transferred this to mail because some people get irrritated with personal reminiscing on a ng. I don’t, I love it! Usenet is enhanced by thread drift! Mary

Response:

PS Catherine, am I invited too ( or shall I send Steve??) I’ve always wanted one of those ‘flowery things’ draped round my neck and I’ve always thought your ‘Hawaii 5 0′ theme tune was the best one yet!!!! It’s called a lei, and EVERYONE’s invited. We’re poor, we need the tourists.

ARe you serious? I thought Hawaii was a very popular tourist spot. Not that I know anything about tourist spots … If you come, I will meet you at the airport and drape a lei around your neck — and it’ll be a nice lei, too, not one of those junk dendrobium orchid lei they give to unknowing tourists

What if we all come at once? Mary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — Aloha, Catharine Character is what you do when no one’s watching.

Response:

anywhere?) No! I realised I’d blobbed, sorry anyone reading this who’d rather not Take Care , talk to you soon, Marilyn PS I think BIG SNOW was about 1993or4. I was born in 1952 .. hence Marilyn (Monroe).. so dont remember 1947.

Bitch. I’m pre-war. In 1947 the children made an igloo on the street and it was still there in March. The cobbled street, not the pavement. The only motor traffic we got was the ambulance or my plumber uncle, horse-drawn carts weren’t a problem for us when we played in the street. Mary Mary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok Ok , I’ll send Steven instead! No, I’ve enough with my own man My friends think he looks like a famous English rugby player, but I dont know which one nor would I know anyway as I dont follow or like rugby. I wouldn’t recognise him then. I don’t know any famous rugby players. My dentist plays rugby for the dental hospital where he’s a student but he’s not famous. He still has a Yorkshire accent (after 23 years here) but doesn’t look a bit like a Sheffield lad as he has ‘olive’ skin and goes nearly black when he gets a suntan I have a son like that! (he has been shouted at in the taxi and called a ‘wog’…(which means,in Australia ,of ethnic origin) CHEEK! It means the same here but because we live in a traditional immigrant area (we’re not the only whites in the stret but the only English family) people rarely mention skin colour. To be honest Mary , I’m dreading the summer this year . I’m allergic to mozzies Me too – and repellants don’t work so I just keep covered all the time and try not to go to places where they are. and get sunburn easily if I dont wear total blockout cream, so it will be horrendous now I have got ‘lymph arm’ aswell !!!!!! Bring on the snow! You sound like a kindred spirit! Actually, before I came out here again (I’m talking end of 2000) I only just got to a New Years Eve party , as it started snowing PM , and was about a foot thick by teatime, remember? (That was Sheffield) I do. BUT, I remember vividly ‘THE BIG SNOW’ in Leeds (?year?) . I left work (I worked above Leeds railway station) at 5.30pm … and got home at 3.15am Well there have been a few. You’re too young for 1947 but there was 1968 (I think) and one in the seventies when I worked two miles from home and it took us five and a half hours to drive home. We’d have walked but Chapeltown Road was already littered with abandoned cars which added to the mayhem. The worst aspect of that was needing a wee. Malcolm was OK, he used the screen wash bottle. Afterwards we always carried a biscuit tin containing chocolate and biscuits to sustain the inner man and could be taken out and the tin used as a jerry. Well, I had better get ready for work , I start back today , just 4 hours 12nn-4pm so it shouldn’t be too much of a shock to the system!? Don’t like the idea of that. Work, I mean. Bad enough with all the things to do at home. Dont forget to keep LOOKING WELL at all costs (even if you feel lousy… it helps other people to cope!) Well, to be honest, I rarely feel lousy and do look well all the time. I get fed up of people saying to each other, in hushed voices, that, "Mary Fisher hasn’t been well … "when in truth I’ve never been ill. They all thought I was dead a couple of years ago, my publisher was horrified. He’d left a whole magazine page for an obituary and he had to find something else to fill it! We can swop details nearer the time … by the way , we have got a return flight cancellation fo 2nd Jan , so will be able to bring in the New Year with my family now. Great! See Yer , It would be nice. I don’t think we’re going anywhere this year, instead we might strip the sitting room floor. When you come you might have to clamber over piles of furniture … Thanks for posting, I’ve transferred this to mail because some people get irrritated with personal reminiscing on a ng. I don’t, I love it! Usenet is enhanced by thread drift! Mary

Response:

I’m not posh either and I live 7 miles from Blackburn and often shop there. Mind you, my neighbours think I’m posh because I neither have a local accent nor speak Urdu, and I "do things with computers", they make it sound like a perversion. I don’t think there is any power generation (cooling towers) in Blackburn, the town centre is dominated by the Thwaites brewery, a large red brick building somewhat resembling, well, a large red brick. Despite its name Blackburn is a fairly light and clean place, most of the old Victorian stone buildings have been cleaned up and revealed in all their architectural glory. I think most people from out of the area know Blackburn for its football (soccer) team. If Mary can talk about cricket in Yorkshire and the Austin, Texas lot can talk about whatever game it is they play, then I ought to be able to talk about football in the North West UK, home of all the leading football teams, Manchester United, Liverpool, and of course Blackburn Rovers. Fortunately I can’t. Tim Jackson

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – By the way , my friend isn’t posh … she’s from Blackburn ( apologies to people from Blackburn , I’ve never been , but I always think of black cooling towers , probably wrong again !) Take Care, Mazza ( Marilyn) xxx

Response:

debateable to say the least ! "UP THE OWLS!!!" I know what you mean about not speaking Urdu though … in Dewsbury you look out of place if you dont wear a black veil with slits for eyes ! The Pakistanis are funny though . Their accents are more broad Yorkshire than my mothers’ ! A lot of the houses and old mill buildings round there have been sandblasted too, and look really good. I’ve heard it said that some computer buffs ARE perverts , but we will give you the benefit of the doubt …. this time !!! Where did you go that’s posh speaking to lose your accent? I HAD to lose mine in Oz , as nobody could understand a word I was saying, so I trained myself. How can I pull my friend’s leg , now you’ve told me how nice Blackburn is? Spoilsport! So where are the ‘Dark Satanic Mills’ as the song goes? Mazza x

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m not posh either and I live 7 miles from Blackburn and often shop there. Mind you, my neighbours think I’m posh because I neither have a local accent nor speak Urdu, and I "do things with computers", they make it sound like a perversion. I don’t think there is any power generation (cooling towers) in Blackburn, the town centre is dominated by the Thwaites brewery, a large red brick building somewhat resembling, well, a large red brick. Despite its name Blackburn is a fairly light and clean place, most of the old Victorian stone buildings have been cleaned up and revealed in all their architectural glory. I think most people from out of the area know Blackburn for its football (soccer) team. If Mary can talk about cricket in Yorkshire and the Austin, Texas lot can talk about whatever game it is they play, then I ought to be able to talk about football in the North West UK, home of all the leading football teams, Manchester United, Liverpool, and of course Blackburn Rovers. Fortunately I can’t. Tim Jackson By the way , my friend isn’t posh … she’s from Blackburn ( apologies to people from Blackburn , I’ve never been , but I always think of black cooling towers , probably wrong again !) Take Care, Mazza ( Marilyn) xxx

Response:

Umm, Yorkshire, I think!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – So where are the ‘Dark Satanic Mills’ as the song goes? Mazza x

Response:

on the point you made about people saying "you look well" and being cancer-centric…they mean well, so I would just say, "thank you," and then ask "how is whatever going on with whomever whenever and wherever?" Just some sort of question I could come up with, such as… Why is it that no one on this newsgroup has the least bit of familiarity with customs and traditions at The University of Texas at Austin? and so on

LOL! Mary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

So where are the ‘Dark Satanic Mills’ as the song goes?

They were nothing to do with factories, they were about the mills of the mind – the universities of the time. Truly. Mary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Despite its name Blackburn is a fairly light and clean place, most of the old Victorian stone buildings have been cleaned up and revealed in all their architectural glory.

That happened in Leeds some time ago. They’d been blackened by industrial and domestic soot. Now we’re smokeless and the buildings are almost as black again. It can only be from traffic – what’s it doing to our lungs? I think most people from out of the area know Blackburn for its football (soccer) team. If Mary can talk about cricket in Yorkshire

I can only bluff it out! and the Austin, Texas lot can talk about whatever game it is they play, then I ought to be able to talk about football in the North West UK, home of all the leading football teams, Manchester United, Liverpool, and of course Blackburn Rovers. Fortunately I can’t.

Nor can I talk about Leeds United or Elland Road. I was taken once and saw John Charles play. I think I was fifteen. Mary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Umm, Yorkshire, I think!

Note: a duck in cricket is a no score. Tim scored nothing with that one ho ho! Mary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Tim So where are the ‘Dark Satanic Mills’ as the song goes? Mazza x

Response:

Hi Mary! Yes we could perhaps meet up for a cup of coffee or something (if we can find the time around xmas, you know what its like), it would be interesting to say the least!

Indeed. Do let me know. I’ve been silent for a few days while a son nuked my hard drive (deliberately) and tidied up my pc. I’m not trying to find my way around again. Do you think it will be a white xmas?

Nope. Haven’t had one for years. Well, not quite true, last Christmas we took our tiny caravan to a daughter’s farm on the side of a Welsh mountain and it snowed on Christmas Eve at midnight and we couldn’t get out until the week after New Year. It wasn’t slushy, too cold! We enjoyed it. Hope not , I hate the slush and muck!

So do I, in towns. Its amazing … when you live in England , you dont see your friends and family for months and months …but if you are visiting from Australia , EVERYBODY wants to see you at least 3 times! It will be even worse , me having cancer , I’m dreading the pity , or people avoiding the subject , and saying ," You look really well" AARGH!

I’ll try to remember not to say it, if you don’t You are right though Mary, Headingley is ‘posh’ , well , expensive. I dont know Allerton or Alwoodley , but I think they are quite green?

Not like when I was at school, houses are being built everywhere. It breaks my heart , as its 25c and not a cloud in the sky today , not bad for the start of Spring!

Oh – we’re at the start of autumn. I bought a greenhouse heater on Friday! Take Care, Mazza ( Marilyn)

Oh no! I thought you were STEVEN! Ah well, it would still be good to meet you! Mary

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Nope. Haven’t had one for years. Well, not quite true, last Christmas we took our tiny caravan to a daughter’s farm on the side of a Welsh mountain and it snowed on Christmas Eve at midnight and we couldn’t get out until the week after New Year. It wasn’t slushy, too cold! "Here we know that Christmas/ Will be green and bright/ The sun will shine all day/ And all the stars at night…" — From "Mele Kalikimaka," a smug Hawaiian Christmas song. Yes, I’ve been moaning about the heat and humidity all summer long, but at Christmas time, I’ll be telling all y’all stories about my sunburn of yesterday, or my fun time at Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens. Come visit!

Ooh! It’s tempting … XMary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — Aloha, Catharine Character is what you do when no one’s watching.

Response:

Ok Ok , I’ll send Steven instead! My friends think he looks like a famous English rugby player, but I dont know which one nor would I know anyway as I dont follow or like rugby. He still has a Yorkshire accent (after 23 years here) but doesn’t look a bit like a Sheffield lad as he has ‘olive’ skin and goes nearly black when he gets a suntan (he has been shouted at in the taxi and called a ‘wog’…(which means,in Australia ,of ethnic origin) CHEEK! To be honest Mary , I’m dreading the summer this year . I’m allergic to mozzies and get sunburn easily if I dont wear total blockout cream, so it will be horrendous now I have got ‘lymph arm’ aswell !!!!!! Bring on the snow! Actually, before I came out here again (I’m talking end of 2000) I only just got to a New Years Eve party , as it started snowing PM , and was about a foot thick by teatime, remember? (That was Sheffield) BUT, I remember vividly ‘THE BIG SNOW’ in Leeds (?year?) . I left work (I worked above Leeds railway station) at 5.30pm … and got home at 3.15am Well, I had better get ready for work , I start back today , just 4 hours 12nn-4pm so it shouldn’t be too much of a shock to the system!? Dont forget to keep LOOKING WELL at all costs (even if you feel lousy… it helps other people to cope!) We can swop details nearer the time … by the way , we have got a return flight cancellation fo 2nd Jan , so will be able to bring in the New Year with my family now. See Yer , Marilyn (not Steve) xxx PS Catherine, am I invited too ( or shall I send Steve??) I’ve always wanted one of those ‘flowery things’ draped round my neck and I’ve always thought your ‘Hawaii 5 0′ theme tune was the best one yet!!!!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Mary! Yes we could perhaps meet up for a cup of coffee or something (if we can find the time around xmas, you know what its like), it would be interesting to say the least! Indeed. Do let me know. I’ve been silent for a few days while a son nuked my hard drive (deliberately) and tidied up my pc. I’m not trying to find my way around again. Do you think it will be a white xmas? Nope. Haven’t had one for years. Well, not quite true, last Christmas we took our tiny caravan to a daughter’s farm on the side of a Welsh mountain and it snowed on Christmas Eve at midnight and we couldn’t get out until the week after New Year. It wasn’t slushy, too cold! We enjoyed it. Hope not , I hate the slush and muck! So do I, in towns. Its amazing … when you live in England , you dont see your friends and family for months and months …but if you are visiting from Australia , EVERYBODY wants to see you at least 3 times! It will be even worse , me having cancer , I’m dreading the pity , or people avoiding the subject , and saying ," You look really well" AARGH! I’ll try to remember not to say it, if you don’t You are right though Mary, Headingley is ‘posh’ , well , expensive. I dont know Allerton or Alwoodley , but I think they are quite green? Not like when I was at school, houses are being built everywhere. It breaks my heart , as its 25c and not a cloud in the sky today , not bad for the start of Spring! Oh – we’re at the start of autumn. I bought a greenhouse heater on Friday! Take Care, Mazza ( Marilyn) Oh no! I thought you were STEVEN! Ah well, it would still be good to meet you! Mary

Response:

my name is not Ann. Ann’s name is Ann. my name is Christine, but since there is a psycho girl in the Mets ng who calls herself, get ready for this Christineeeeee Jay Payton’s girl I will be Christine from Texas

Response:

you apparently wish to get leid.

| Ok Ok , I’ll send Steven instead! | My friends think he looks like a famous English rugby player, but I dont | know which one nor would I know anyway as I dont follow or like rugby. | He still has a Yorkshire accent (after 23 years here) but doesn’t look a bit | like a Sheffield lad as he has ‘olive’ skin and goes nearly black when he | gets a suntan (he has been shouted at in the taxi and called a | ‘wog’…(which means,in Australia ,of ethnic origin) CHEEK! | | To be honest Mary , I’m dreading the summer this year . I’m allergic to | mozzies and get sunburn easily if I dont wear total blockout cream, so it | will be horrendous now I have got ‘lymph arm’ aswell !!!!!! Bring on the | snow! | Actually, before I came out here again (I’m talking end of 2000) I only just | got to a New Years Eve party , as it started snowing PM , and was about a | foot thick by teatime, remember? (That was Sheffield) | BUT, I remember vividly ‘THE BIG SNOW’ in Leeds (?year?) . I left work (I | worked above Leeds railway station) at 5.30pm … and got home at 3.15am | | Well, I had better get ready for work , I start back today , just 4 hours | 12nn-4pm so it shouldn’t be too much of a shock to the system!? | Dont forget to keep LOOKING WELL at all costs (even if you feel lousy… it | helps other people to cope!) | | We can swop details nearer the time … by the way , we have got a return | flight cancellation fo 2nd Jan , so will be able to bring in the New Year | with my family now. | | See Yer , | Marilyn (not Steve) | xxx | | PS Catherine, am I invited too ( or shall I send Steve??) | I’ve always wanted one of those ‘flowery things’ draped round my neck and | I’ve always thought your ‘Hawaii 5 0′ theme tune was the best one yet!!!! | | | | | | Hi Mary! | Yes we could perhaps meet up for a cup of coffee or something (if we can | find the time around xmas, you know what its like), it would be | interesting | to say the least! | | Indeed. Do let me know. | | I’ve been silent for a few days while a son nuked my hard drive | (deliberately) and tidied up my pc. I’m not trying to find my way around | again. | | Do you think it will be a white xmas? | | Nope. Haven’t had one for years. Well, not quite true, last Christmas we | took our tiny caravan to a daughter’s farm on the side of a Welsh mountain | and it snowed on Christmas Eve at midnight and we couldn’t get out until | the | week after New Year. It wasn’t slushy, too cold! We enjoyed it. | | Hope not , I hate the slush and muck! | | So do I, in towns. | | Its amazing … when you live in England , you dont see your friends | and | family for months and months …but if you are visiting from Australia , | EVERYBODY wants to see you at least 3 times! It will be even worse , me | having cancer , I’m dreading the pity , or people avoiding the subject , | and | saying ," You look really well" AARGH! | | I’ll try to remember not to say it, if you don’t | | You are right though Mary, Headingley is ‘posh’ , well , expensive. | I dont know Allerton or Alwoodley , but I think they are quite green? | | Not like when I was at school, houses are being built everywhere. | | It breaks my heart , as its 25c and not a cloud in the sky today , not | bad | for the start of Spring! | | Oh – we’re at the start of autumn. I bought a greenhouse heater on Friday! | | Take Care, | Mazza ( Marilyn) | | Oh no! I thought you were STEVEN! | | Ah well, it would still be good to meet you! | | Mary | | | | | | |

Response:

mele kalikimaka is the island way to say Merry Christmas.

| | Nope. Haven’t had one for years. Well, not quite true, last Christmas we | took our tiny caravan to a daughter’s farm on the side of a Welsh | mountain and it snowed on Christmas Eve at midnight and we couldn’t get | out until the week after New Year. It wasn’t slushy, too cold! | | "Here we know that Christmas/ Will be green and bright/ The sun will shine | all day/ And all the stars at night…" | | — From "Mele Kalikimaka," a smug Hawaiian Christmas song. | | Yes, I’ve been moaning about the heat and humidity all summer long, but at | Christmas time, I’ll be telling all y’all stories about my sunburn of | yesterday, or my fun time at Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens. | | Come visit! | | — | Aloha, | Catharine | | Character is what you do when no one’s watching.

Response:

Its Ann isn’t it ? ( I hate calling you Crosem… and I’m not Steven either!) I agree with Sharon, you’ve helped me too ! you have hit the nail on the head , that might be just what I need !!! (I hope none of the men are reading this!) Kind Regards Marilyn (Mazza/Sydney)

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – you apparently wish to get leid. | Ok Ok , I’ll send Steven instead! | My friends think he looks like a famous English rugby player, but I dont | know which one nor would I know anyway as I dont follow or like rugby. | He still has a Yorkshire accent (after 23 years here) but doesn’t look a bit | like a Sheffield lad as he has ‘olive’ skin and goes nearly black when he | gets a suntan (he has been shouted at in the taxi and called a | ‘wog’…(which means,in Australia ,of ethnic origin) CHEEK! | | To be honest Mary , I’m dreading the summer this year . I’m allergic to | mozzies and get sunburn easily if I dont wear total blockout cream, so it | will be horrendous now I have got ‘lymph arm’ aswell !!!!!! Bring on the | snow! | Actually, before I came out here again (I’m talking end of 2000) I only just | got to a New Years Eve party , as it started snowing PM , and was about a | foot thick by teatime, remember? (That was Sheffield) | BUT, I remember vividly ‘THE BIG SNOW’ in Leeds (?year?) . I left work (I | worked above Leeds railway station) at 5.30pm … and got home at 3.15am | | Well, I had better get ready for work , I start back today , just 4 hours | 12nn-4pm so it shouldn’t be too much of a shock to the system!? | Dont forget to keep LOOKING WELL at all costs (even if you feel lousy… it | helps other people to cope!) | | We can swop details nearer the time … by the way , we have got a return | flight cancellation fo 2nd Jan , so will be able to bring in the New Year | with my family now. | | See Yer , | Marilyn (not Steve) | xxx | | PS Catherine, am I invited too ( or shall I send Steve??) | I’ve always wanted one of those ‘flowery things’ draped round my neck and | I’ve always thought your ‘Hawaii 5 0′ theme tune was the best one yet!!!! | | | | | | Hi Mary! | Yes we could perhaps meet up for a cup of coffee or something (if we can | find the time around xmas, you know what its like), it would be | interesting | to say the least! | | Indeed. Do let me know. | | I’ve been silent for a few days while a son nuked my hard drive | (deliberately) and tidied up my pc. I’m not trying to find my way around | again. | | Do you think it will be a white xmas? | | Nope. Haven’t had one for years. Well, not quite true, last Christmas we | took our tiny caravan to a daughter’s farm on the side of a Welsh mountain | and it snowed on Christmas Eve at midnight and we couldn’t get out until | the | week after New Year. It wasn’t slushy, too cold! We enjoyed it. | | Hope not , I hate the slush and muck! | | So do I, in towns. | | Its amazing … when you live in England , you dont see your friends | and | family for months and months …but if you are visiting from Australia , | EVERYBODY wants to see you at least 3 times! It will be even worse , me | having cancer , I’m dreading the pity , or people avoiding the subject , | and | saying ," You look really well" AARGH! | | I’ll try to remember not to say it, if you don’t | | You are right though Mary, Headingley is ‘posh’ , well , expensive. | I dont know Allerton or Alwoodley , but I think they are quite green? | | Not like when I was at school, houses are being built everywhere. | | It breaks my heart , as its 25c and not a cloud in the sky today , not | bad | for the start of Spring! | | Oh – we’re at the start of autumn. I bought a greenhouse heater on Friday! | | Take Care, | Mazza ( Marilyn) | | Oh no! I thought you were STEVEN! | | Ah well, it would still be good to meet you! | | Mary | | | | | | |

Response:

| Hi Mary! | Yes we could perhaps meet up for a cup of coffee or something (if we can | find the time around xmas, you know what its like), it would be interesting | to say the least! | Do you think it will be a white xmas? Hope not , I hate the slush and muck! | Its OK on xmas cards though , and through the window if you are snug and | warm inside !!! | | Its amazing … when you live in England , you dont see your friends and | family for months and months …but if you are visiting from Australia , | EVERYBODY wants to see you at least 3 times! It will be even worse , me | having cancer , I’m dreading the pity , or people avoiding the subject , and | saying ," You look really well" AARGH! | I suppose I read this ng because it makes me feel less alone. I mean , | family and friends do their best , but they cannot understand completely , | unless its actually happening to them. (Also , its preferable to doing the | ironong , which is what I should be doing!) | | By the way , my friend isn’t posh … she’s from Blackburn ( apologies to | people from Blackburn , I’ve never been , but I always think of black | cooling towers , probably wrong again !) | She went to University in Leeds and ended up staying there… living with a | Yorkshire TV cameraman. They have just split up , hence the move. | I’m definitely not posh either , good ol’ 2 up 2 down in Sheffield, that’s | my roots! | You are right though Mary, Headingley is ‘posh’ , well , expensive. | I dont know Allerton or Alwoodley , but I think they are quite green? | | I start taking Xeloda tablets today .. for forever I think judging by the | amount (500 x 5 repeats!). Hope they work , and dont give me horrible side | effects ! Wish me luck ! | | Well , cant delay the ironing any longer , better get on, | It breaks my heart , as its 25c and not a cloud in the sky today , not bad | for the start of Spring! | | Take Care, | Mazza ( Marilyn) | xxx | | | | Oh! | | Sorry to intrude on your conversation , but I’m so glad that someone | else | ( but me) admitted being lost with the ‘Orange Tower’ thread. | | That’s a great comfort to me too | | I was | beginning to think that I was the only one in the group who didn’t get | it | ! | You are right , its like trying to explain a game of cricket to an alien | !!! | I have deduced (probably wrongly) that there is some ‘tribal’ belonging | associated with the whole thing ? Possibly akin to the British following | their soccer teams? I could sense some ‘mock venom’ in some of the | comments!? | | Oh no! Not in this ng | | Tim once told me that you were from the same neck of the woods as me | ……. | I lived at Dewsbury for 11 years pre 2001 , and then I came to Oz. | I was working for Parcelforce at Westgate in Leeds , and my best | friend | lived at Weetwood Court , Headingley up until earlier this year. (She | has | moved to The Avenue, Alwoodley just recently.) | | Oooooooooh! Very posh! Well it was when I were a lass and went to Allerton | High School and most of my friends lived in Alwoodley. We went past today | and it seems to have changed. As do we all. | | I will be visiting her later this year when I go to UK , so we will be | in | touching distance then. | What a small world it is !!! | | Let me know. I’m serious. If I’m around (I get about a lot) it would be | nice | to swap stories. Why are you reading this ng, for instance? | | Mary | | | | |

Response:

Oh! Sorry to intrude on your conversation , but I’m so glad that someone else ( but me) admitted being lost with the ‘Orange Tower’ thread.

That’s a great comfort to me too I was beginning to think that I was the only one in the group who didn’t get it ! You are right , its like trying to explain a game of cricket to an alien !!! I have deduced (probably wrongly) that there is some ‘tribal’ belonging associated with the whole thing ? Possibly akin to the British following their soccer teams? I could sense some ‘mock venom’ in some of the comments!?

Oh no! Not in this ng Tim once told me that you were from the same neck of the woods as me ……. I lived at Dewsbury for 11 years pre 2001 , and then I came to Oz. I was working for Parcelforce at Westgate in Leeds , and my best friend lived at Weetwood Court , Headingley up until earlier this year. (She has moved to The Avenue, Alwoodley just recently.)

Oooooooooh! Very posh! Well it was when I were a lass and went to Allerton High School and most of my friends lived in Alwoodley. We went past today and it seems to have changed. As do we all. I will be visiting her later this year when I go to UK , so we will be in touching distance then. What a small world it is !!!

Let me know. I’m serious. If I’m around (I get about a lot) it would be nice to swap stories. Why are you reading this ng, for instance? Mary

Response:

Hi Mary! Yes we could perhaps meet up for a cup of coffee or something (if we can find the time around xmas, you know what its like), it would be interesting to say the least! Do you think it will be a white xmas? Hope not , I hate the slush and muck! Its OK on xmas cards though , and through the window if you are snug and warm inside !!! Its amazing … when you live in England , you dont see your friends and family for months and months …but if you are visiting from Australia , EVERYBODY wants to see you at least 3 times! It will be even worse , me having cancer , I’m dreading the pity , or people avoiding the subject , and saying ," You look really well" AARGH! I suppose I read this ng because it makes me feel less alone. I mean , family and friends do their best , but they cannot understand completely , unless its actually happening to them. (Also , its preferable to doing the ironong , which is what I should be doing!) By the way , my friend isn’t posh … she’s from Blackburn ( apologies to people from Blackburn , I’ve never been , but I always think of black cooling towers , probably wrong again !) She went to University in Leeds and ended up staying there… living with a Yorkshire TV cameraman. They have just split up , hence the move. I’m definitely not posh either , good ol’ 2 up 2 down in Sheffield, that’s my roots! You are right though Mary, Headingley is ‘posh’ , well , expensive. I dont know Allerton or Alwoodley , but I think they are quite green? I start taking Xeloda tablets today .. for forever I think judging by the amount (500 x 5 repeats!). Hope they work , and dont give me horrible side effects ! Wish me luck ! Well , cant delay the ironing any longer , better get on, It breaks my heart , as its 25c and not a cloud in the sky today , not bad for the start of Spring! Take Care, Mazza ( Marilyn) xxx

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Oh! Sorry to intrude on your conversation , but I’m so glad that someone else ( but me) admitted being lost with the ‘Orange Tower’ thread. That’s a great comfort to me too I was beginning to think that I was the only one in the group who didn’t get it ! You are right , its like trying to explain a game of cricket to an alien !!! I have deduced (probably wrongly) that there is some ‘tribal’ belonging associated with the whole thing ? Possibly akin to the British following their soccer teams? I could sense some ‘mock venom’ in some of the comments!? Oh no! Not in this ng Tim once told me that you were from the same neck of the woods as me ……. I lived at Dewsbury for 11 years pre 2001 , and then I came to Oz. I was working for Parcelforce at Westgate in Leeds , and my best friend lived at Weetwood Court , Headingley up until earlier this year. (She has moved to The Avenue, Alwoodley just recently.) Oooooooooh! Very posh! Well it was when I were a lass and went to Allerton High School and most of my friends lived in Alwoodley. We went past today and it seems to have changed. As do we all. I will be visiting her later this year when I go to UK , so we will be in touching distance then. What a small world it is !!! Let me know. I’m serious. If I’m around (I get about a lot) it would be nice to swap stories. Why are you reading this ng, for instance? Mary

Response:

Hi There Mary , Sorry to intrude on your conversation , but I’m so glad that someone else ( but me) admitted being lost with the ‘Orange Tower’ thread. I was beginning to think that I was the only one in the group who didn’t get it ! You are right , its like trying to explain a game of cricket to an alien !!! I have deduced (probably wrongly) that there is some ‘tribal’ belonging associated with the whole thing ? Possibly akin to the British following their soccer teams? I could sense some ‘mock venom’ in some of the comments!? Tim once told me that you were from the same neck of the woods as me ……. I lived at Dewsbury for 11 years pre 2001 , and then I came to Oz. I was working for Parcelforce at Westgate in Leeds , and my best friend lived at Weetwood Court , Headingley up until earlier this year. (She has moved to The Avenue, Alwoodley just recently.) I will be visiting her later this year when I go to UK , so we will be in touching distance then. What a small world it is !!! Take Care Mary and keep up that Yorkshire humour, Mazza in Sydney xxx

Response:

need some help

admin — Sat, 04 May 2002 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

– Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a new orchid grower. Mu husband bought me this den at home depoit in Jan, the flowers have died off and I cut the stems back. Nowwww it looks as if there are new stems coming back or maybe more leaves growing. What i was wondering was if there is a new bloom coming does it come up threw the center of the plant or could it come out threw the side. Also when you see orchids in the store there is always two in a pot. Is one a male and one a female and if so which one blooms Thanks for your help

Response:

Jackie, In reverse order – I believe the reason you see two plants in a pot is simply to make it a larger and showier. For the most part, orchid flowers carry both male and female structures which are fused into the single "column" in the middle (as opposed to the separate pistils and stamens in other flowers). There are some orchids that can produce male or female flowers, depending on the growing conditions, but the dendrobium is not one. Dendrobiums grow pseudobulbs on a short rhizome, so new growth will look like it starts at the base of an older pseudobulb. Depending on the type of den you have, the ‘bulbs can look like tall "canes" or be short and fat. Occasionally, dendrobiums can start to form a new plantlet called a "keiki" (Kay-kee – Hawaiian for baby) on other parts of the canes. Once they get leaves and roots, they may be snapped off and potted up on their own. If you plants are the type that send their inflorescence from the very top of the cane, it is possible that they can do so again, but it’s a bit soon for that, and I think you’d be able to tell the difference pretty readily between that and a keiki. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info!

Response:

I am a new orchid grower. Mu husband bought me this den at home depoit in Jan, the flowers have died off and I cut the stems back. Nowwww it looks as if there are new stems coming back or maybe more leaves growing. What i was wondering was if there is a new bloom coming does it come up threw the center of the plant or could it come out threw the side. Also when you see orchids in the store there is always two in a pot. Is one a male and one a female and if so which one blooms Thanks for your help

Response:

Maxillaria Tribe – family?

admin — Fri, 05 Apr 2002 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

Okay.. I am going to be a total numbnuts here and ask a stupid question. Is there any difference between a tribe and a family? And if so what? And if a plant is in the same family/tribe, does that mean it can be bred with others in that tribe/family? I did a bunch of google searching, but I swear this stuff is like a guarded barbecue recipe, and now I am more confused than I was before. This being the first year I have a bunch of stuff in bloom, I was thinking about playing around. Thanks for your wise experience. Crystal — If you don’t buckle down, you’re never going to hit bottom.

Response:

Well, all orchids are actually in the same family…the Orchidaceae… and there are a few very closely related families that are sometimes and sometimes not included in the larger orchid order, Orchidales. Basically, anything that we call an "orchid" is in the same orchid family…this is the large group that has about 25,000 to 30,000 species of orchids in it. The orchid family is further divided into subfamily, tribe, and subtribe. It’s usually the subtribe that determines what orchids are in a breeding group (but not always–some orchids considered in the same genus will not readily interbreed–like some Dendrobium). When we refer to "the cattleya alliance" or the "oncidium alliance", we’re really referring to which subtribe the orchid belongs to. Some will say "the Cattleya tribe", but that it technically incorrect. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Okay.. I am going to be a total numbnuts here and ask a stupid question. Is there any difference between a tribe and a family? And if so what? And if a plant is in the same family/tribe, does that mean it can be bred with others in that tribe/family? I did a bunch of google searching, but I swear this stuff is like a guarded barbecue recipe, and now I am more confused than I was before. This being the first year I have a bunch of stuff in bloom, I was thinking about playing around. Thanks for your wise experience.

Response:

OT: Orchid Show

admin — Fri, 29 Mar 2002 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

I went to the Windward Orchid Society Orchid Show today and let me just say ‘Wow!’ I’ve led such a sheltered life when it comes to orchids. There is so much variety in size/ shape/color that I never knew existed. I had a blast. I had thought I would have to take the kids with me, which would have made it much less enjoyable, but DH ended up having the day off so I was able to go by myself. I am also quite proud of myself in that I came home with money still left in my wallet. Of course, it’s supposed to rain tomorrow, so I’m planning on going and taking some pictures and, well, buy another plant or two. ) I came away with a honohono, a dendrobium, a pleurothallis, a brassilia, an epidendrum, a paphiopedilum, a brassia, and three or four other non-orchid plants. I’m very, very happy (but I’ll be happier once I get another honohono!) Tracey

Response:

Scratch the ‘brassilia’. It was a brassia. I’m learning, I’m learning. Tracey

Response:

>I came away with a honohono, a dendrobium, a pleurothallis, >a brassilia, an epidendrum, a paphiopedilum, a brassia, >and three or four other non-orchid plants.

I love orchids. Very hard to grow here in Kansas. I’ve never been able to keep them alive… "This time: gonna do it RIGHT!" — Bob Seger Jennaii

Response:

>I came away with a honohono, a dendrobium, a pleurothallis, >a brassilia, an epidendrum, a paphiopedilum, a brassia, >and three or four other non-orchid plants. I’m very, very >happy (but I’ll be happier once I get another honohono!) >Tracey

I just got my first orchid last month. It’s a dendrobium. The flower spike broke off. Do you think I should repot now? It’s in one of those little 4" square pots. What size should I repot it to? jane

Response:

>Do you think I should repot now?

Supposedly you repot in the spring, in the next size up pot. Tracey

Response:

Jennaii Awoke this dragon, who will now respond: > >I came away with a honohono, a dendrobium, a pleurothallis, > >a brassilia, an epidendrum, a paphiopedilum, a brassia, > >and three or four other non-orchid plants. > I love orchids. Very hard to grow here in Kansas. I’ve never been able > to keep them alive…

My dad is pretty successful at growing orchids. he built an electronic conductivity meter. if anyone wants to know, I will find out how he built it (its really simple). the key is the right temperature, a humid environment, and the right nutrients, in the right quantities. (duh

Response:

>Very hard to grow here in Kansas. I’ve never been able to >keep them alive…

Never was able to in Minneapolis, either, but I didn’t try very much because they were too darned expensive for me. But now they’re not so I’m trying… Tracey

Response:

>Supposedly you repot in the spring, in the next size up pot. >Tracey >

Okay, thanks. I got a brassia, too. BTW, have you ever seen a lotus? I just bought one. I had no idea what they looked like. jane

Response:

Fragrant Orchids?

admin — Sat, 23 Mar 2002 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

I like my Den Frosty Dawn… Crystal — If you don’t buckle down, you’re never going to hit bottom.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve been seeing orchids for sale at a number of places lately (Lowes’ & Sams’ club) and I have bought 3 new ones in the past month. I’ve had a moth orchid for about 5 years now also. I’ve noticed that most orchids don’t have a smell. I have recently bought a couple of dendrobiums and they smell slightly. What are some fragrant orchid types? Which ones smell the best or strongest and where can I get them?

Response:

I read a few years ago about a competition in Japan where the plants were judged and evaluated solely on fragrance. Very interesting stuff! I think it was in the AOS bulletin, but I am not sure. Anyone have any info on this? Perhaps a link to the prize winners or a web page of the event? Tom.

Response:

Which ones smell the best or strongest and where can I get them?

A dendrobium with the Hawaiian name of honohono has a great fragrance. A show recently had it’s first award of most fragrant orchid. The one which won was Den. Superbum. (I just looked and it looks like a honohono to me!) Tracey

Response:

honohono == Dendrobium superbum (aka Den. anosmum) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Which ones smell the best or strongest and where can I get them? A dendrobium with the Hawaiian name of honohono has a great fragrance. A show recently had it’s first award of most fragrant orchid. The one which won was Den. Superbum. (I just looked and it looks like a honohono to me!) Tracey

Response:

Vanda odorata is the most fragrant of all. It is a species from Thailand and South East Asia.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – honohono == Dendrobium superbum (aka Den. anosmum) Which ones smell the best or strongest and where can I get them? A dendrobium with the Hawaiian name of honohono has a great fragrance. A show recently had it’s first award of most fragrant orchid. The one which won was Den. Superbum. (I just looked and it looks like a honohono to me!) Tracey

Response:

I’ve been seeing orchids for sale at a number of places lately (Lowes’ & Sams’ club) and I have bought 3 new ones in the past month. I’ve had a moth orchid for about 5 years now also. I’ve noticed that most orchids don’t have a smell. I have recently bought a couple of dendrobiums and they smell slightly. What are some fragrant orchid types? Which ones smell the best or strongest and where can I get them?

Response:

http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Recreation/OrchidSNS/frag.html This is one site with a fairly long answer to your question. A Great list of orchids with smell. – Some good. some bad, some you smell and I can not, or vise versa. Enjoy SuE – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve been seeing orchids for sale at a number of places lately (Lowes’ & Sams’ club) and I have bought 3 new ones in the past month. I’ve had a moth orchid for about 5 years now also. I’ve noticed that most orchids don’t have a smell. I have recently bought a couple of dendrobiums and they smell slightly. What are some fragrant orchid types? Which ones smell the best or strongest and where can I get them?

Response:

New ORchid Grower

admin — Tue, 19 Mar 2002 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

Jackie, If the "stems" that you refer to are the spikes that bore the flowers, then you can cut them off if you wish. Use a fresh single edged razor blade for the sake of sanitation, and discard the blade when you’re through. However, do not cut down the canes, unless they become soft or rotted, which is unlikely. Even if the canes lose all their leaves, you can get new flower spikes on the bare canes. Enjoy your Den! Diana

Response:

Hi ther recieved my first orchid from my husband on the 29th of January and so far it is doing well. Some of the flowers have fallen off on the one stem and the other is starting to die off now. My question is do I cut those stems back when the flowers have died off or just leave them there I have a Dendrobium Thank sure could use the help jackie

Response:

How often should I water

admin — Thu, 14 Mar 2002 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

I’m new at growing orchids and I’ve been watering mine once a week. They’ve been in an atrium surrounded by the house with an open screen on the roof allowing light and rain to hit. I’ve now moved them to an east facing area of our front porch where their only source of water will be my watering them. Should I still only water once a week. I live in Florida by the way and we’re on the river, so it always humid here. Thanks! June

Response:

Here are my rules to water by: 1) If in doubt DON’T! 2) Stick you finger in about an inch and if in doubt DON"’T! 3) Stick you finger in about an inch and if it is dry WATER! 4) The above does not apply to mounted orchids as there is nothing to stick your finger in! Hope this helps. — Gideon Singer In Beautiful Vancouver BC Web site: members.shaw.ca/gsinger

Response:

Where in FL? We’re here too. Mine grow on the lanai, so I adjust to the weather’s schedule. Anyway, a lot depends on what kind of orchids you’re growing, and what kind of media they are in. For example, I like to keep my Phals moist (not sopping), and never let them dry out completely, but Dends and Catts I water less. Rule of thumb, once weekly is fine, but it would help to know what you’ve got. What’s your feeding schedule? Welcome to the wonderful world of orchid addiction……

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m new at growing orchids and I’ve been watering mine once a week. They’ve been in an atrium surrounded by the house with an open screen on the roof allowing light and rain to hit. I’ve now moved them to an east facing area of our front porch where their only source of water will be my watering them. Should I still only water once a week. I live in Florida by the way and we’re on the river, so it always humid here. Thanks! June

Response:

I’m not sure what types I have! LOL I keep buying them by color! I have one or two that look like the typical corsage orchids and I have a dendrobium? sounds like that and a ""P" something. I need to get a book! LOL Right now only two of my latest purchases are blooming and some of the others don’t have tags, so I won’t know what they are until they bloom again and I get a book on orhicds! I repotted them a couple of days ago when a local orchid grower told me that he doesn’t use moss because it never dries out and that it rotted his wooden planters in two years. So, I bought a bunch of wooden planters and repotted all of them in bark and I have them hanging on the inside of my east facing front porch. I’ve been fertilizing them once a month, but then another grower told me he rarely fertilizes, and yet another grower told me he fertilizes every week with about 20% dose of fertilizer. So I father that there isn’t a singl steafast rule on this. Regards, June

Response:

OOPS, you asked where I am in Florida. I’m in Cocoa, on the Indian River, so there a lot of moisture in the air. You said you’re watering once a week. What medium are you using. Does it hold the moisture that long or is that all that is needs. Thanks! June

Response:

There are as many theories and preferences about how and when to fertilize, what medium to use, etc, as there are enthusiasts! We’re south of you, in Port St. Lucie. For me personally, I prefer to have my Phalaenopsis in spaghnum moss. I plant them in plastic pots, and for the purpose of hanging them on pillars outside I put most of the plastic pots in clay pots. Those orchids that look like corsage orchids are almost certainly Cattleyas. For my Catts I like rock or aliflor (ceramic), and it works well for me; I use the same stuff for my Dendrobiums. I don’t care much for bark, but so many people use it with great results, so who am I?? For babies (small seedling plants) I’m finding that a mix of fine coconut husk chips, peat moss, and perlite seems to hit the proverbial spot. Anyway, as I said, if you ask ten people you’ll get ten different answers, or at least some variations. If what you’re doing is working, go for it. BTW, there’s lots of good info at FirstRay’s.com along with supplies, plants, etc. Those are three of the "basic" orchids. Of course there are many thousands more, and untold hybrids. You might want to get Ortho’s "All About Growing Orchids". Inexpensive, good info, and not so technical that you’ll pull your hair out. Enjoy! Diana

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – OOPS, you asked where I am in Florida. I’m in Cocoa, on the Indian River, so there a lot of moisture in the air. You said you’re watering once a week. What medium are you using. Does it hold the moisture that long or is that all that is needs. Thanks! June

Response:

Dear Diana, Thanks for all your input. I’m saving your note for future reference. Thanks! June

Response:

The addiction is complete…

admin — Sat, 02 Mar 2002 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

Al, Australia… remember? Settled mainly by Brits? Thus capable of the same language? — Reka :-

Varietal question

admin — Mon, 18 Feb 2002 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

Should you cross speciosum v. grandiflorum with speciosum v. grandiflorum, the offspring should be v. grandiflorum. However… The problem with varieties is a) they aren’t that different from the type species (or they would be species themselves) and b) the names tend to proliferate in the absence of publication. B is more a problem than a. Some varieties are validly published, some just sort of appear in catalogs for what I’m sure are perfectly respectable reasons which have nothing to do with selling overpriced plants to collectors… Also, in the "good old days", say the 19th century and early 20th, it was common to use ‘variety’ in the same way that we would use a clonal name today. Just be careful out there, boys. Anyway, depending on how ‘good’ a variety is and what traits you are looking at, you should get a reasonably uniform population of progeny from either a selfing, sibbing, or an outcross to the same variety. If you outcross to another variety, you are technically making a hybrid, although it doesn’t seem to make the RHS radar screen. I think the only thing to do in that case would be to label the progeny either (var A x var B) or just give it the species name with out any variety names. Rob I was meaning more dealing with say Dendrobium speciosum var grandiflorum Will the offspring of the cross all be var. grandiflorum or will there be a spread???

Rob’s Rules: http://www.msu.edu/~halgren 1) There is always room for one more orchid 2) There is always room for two more orchids 2a. See rule 1 3) When one has insufficient credit to purchase more orchids, obtain more credit

Response:

Thanks… Essenially that was what I was trying to figure out. Kye. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Kye, If I’m not mistaken, a selfing or outcross in that case would give 100% of the variety. Not to say that they would all be great, as you will always get some genetic variation in sexual reproduction. There are some taxonomists out there that see such varieties as distinct species, and therefore "must" breed true. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! I was meaning more dealing with say Dendrobium speciosum var grandiflorum Will the offspring of the cross all be var. grandiflorum or will there be a spread??? Kye. Kye, When you say varietal, are you referring to plants that have a specific named clone, such as Oncidium Sharry Baby ‘Sweet Fragrance’ AM/AOS? If so, then the answer is "no," While a division or clone of it is still Oncidium Sharry Baby ‘Sweet Fragrance’ AM/AOS, a selfing or cross of two different ‘SF’s will yield Oncidium Sharry Baby, but not the specific named variety. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! When you self or outcross a Varietal plant, does it always breed true??? Kye.

Response:

I was meaning more dealing with say Dendrobium speciosum var grandiflorum Will the offspring of the cross all be var. grandiflorum or will there be a spread??? Kye. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Kye, When you say varietal, are you referring to plants that have a specific named clone, such as Oncidium Sharry Baby ‘Sweet Fragrance’ AM/AOS? If so, then the answer is "no," While a division or clone of it is still Oncidium Sharry Baby ‘Sweet Fragrance’ AM/AOS, a selfing or cross of two different ‘SF’s will yield Oncidium Sharry Baby, but not the specific named variety. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! When you self or outcross a Varietal plant, does it always breed true??? Kye.

Response:

Kye, If I’m not mistaken, a selfing or outcross in that case would give 100% of the variety. Not to say that they would all be great, as you will always get some genetic variation in sexual reproduction. There are some taxonomists out there that see such varieties as distinct species, and therefore "must" breed true. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was meaning more dealing with say Dendrobium speciosum var grandiflorum Will the offspring of the cross all be var. grandiflorum or will there be a spread??? Kye. Kye, When you say varietal, are you referring to plants that have a specific named clone, such as Oncidium Sharry Baby ‘Sweet Fragrance’ AM/AOS? If so, then the answer is "no," While a division or clone of it is still Oncidium Sharry Baby ‘Sweet Fragrance’ AM/AOS, a selfing or cross of two different ‘SF’s will yield Oncidium Sharry Baby, but not the specific named variety. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! When you self or outcross a Varietal plant, does it always breed true??? Kye.

Response:

When you self or outcross a Varietal plant, does it always breed true??? Kye.

Response:

Kye, When you say varietal, are you referring to plants that have a specific named clone, such as Oncidium Sharry Baby ‘Sweet Fragrance’ AM/AOS? If so, then the answer is "no," While a division or clone of it is still Oncidium Sharry Baby ‘Sweet Fragrance’ AM/AOS, a selfing or cross of two different ‘SF’s will yield Oncidium Sharry Baby, but not the specific named variety. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – When you self or outcross a Varietal plant, does it always breed true??? Kye.

Response: