Orchid of the day: Cattleya Newberry Radiance

Cattleya Newberry Radiance

I posted about this specimen in 2014 (click this link). Arne bought this orchid in 2005 and this time around, we have two beautifully formed flowers. These flowers were in bloom in early August. This orchid consists of 50 % Minipurple, which we have and I've also posted (click here).

A) Our Cattleya Newberry Radiance in harmony under lights in the orchidarium in our basement.

C) Flowers in the sun.

D) Note the extensive root system in the pot this year.

E) Our orchid is now resting in the basement under lights. Until next time!

That is about it this time around. We have a few more coming up but until next time, have a great week!

Orchid of the day: Rhynchovola Jimminey Cricket

Rhynchovola Jimminey Cricket

We have had this orchid since 2013 and it usually flowers twice a year. I posted about our Rhynchovola Jimminey Cricket in August 2014 and January 2015. Each time it blooms, the flowers become more prominent and emit a pleasant fragrance.

A) Happily growing in our basement, August 14th, 2016.

This orchid is also known as Brassovola Jimminey Cricket and is a primary hybrid between Brassavola nodosa and Rhyncholaelia digbyana (see post in August 2014). We are fortunate that this time around, we have three flowers instead of our usual two.

B) A better contrast in daylight.

C) Zooming in the beautiful fragrant bloom.

D) The beauty of the entire specimen outdoor.

Today, the flowers are gone and our Rhynchovola Jimminey Cricket is resting until the next flowering cycle. Until next post, I hope you will have a great week.

Arne and the Maryland Orchid Society

Today's post is about Arne's experience as a new and active member of the Maryland Orchid Society. He has put together a little story of his experience. The photos in this post are two specimen that was awarded the first and third place at the local Maryland Orchid Society meeting in September. I hope you will enjoy.

A) Broughtonia sanguinea Karin' AM/AOS, this orchid was awarded first place.

Maryland Orchid Society (MOS):

I have been growing orchids for 16 years in the US and for much longer if I think of my years in Sweden.  I joined the American Orchid Society (AOS) the same week I arrived in the US, but it took another 16 years before I joined the Maryland Orchid Society (MOS).  It is a nice club where a member or a temporary visitor can listen to presentations by selected orchid growers and look at a large u-shaped show table.  Any member can exhibit plants put in different categories such as the Cattleya, Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium alliances as well as in the species, miniature, various-other-hybrids, and fragrance sections.  To make sure everyone can show something, there are also the novice, homegrown and greenhouse sections.  Although there is some aspect of competition, it is all very friendly and the real purpose is for anyone to see different flowering orchids nicely displayed.  For instance, most people have only seen obscure pictures of rare orchid flowers and they will never know how the flowers and the plants really look like until they actually see them in real life.  Some of them might be gigantic plants with beautiful but relatively small flowers whereas others turn out to be very small plants with rewarding cascades of showy flowers perfect for confined spaces at home.

This paragraph was contributed by Arne.

B) A clearer focus on the blue ribbon.

C) Brassavola perinni. This specimen was placed third.

D) Zoom in of our Broughtonia sanguinea 'Karin' AM/AOS

Our Broughtonia sanguinea 'Karin' is currently on loan and will be a part of an exhibition in Washington, DC.

Orchid of the day: Aerangis luteo-alba var. rhodosticta

Aerangis luteo-alba var. rhodostica

This is our miniature orchid, Aerangis luteo-alba var. rhodostica, endemic across equatorial Africa. The color varies from pure white to ivory, cream or pale yellow. We purchased this specimen in August 2014 and it flowered twice in 2015 (see post Feb 1st, 2015 and October 25th, 2015). Once again without fail, it is in bloom this year.

A) August 7th, flowers stems developing.

B) 'Aerial' view of the specimen.

C) By September 17th, almost forty flowers were in bloom.

D) Upclose of the cascading flowers.

E) The profile of an individual flower.

I hope you enjoyed our flowering Aerangis luteo-alba var. rhodosticta. It may flower again this year. We hope to take it for judging next time. Wish us luck!

Orchid of the day: Brassavola perrinii

Brassavola perrinii

The last time I posted about our Brassavola perrinii, it was on November 14th, 2015. Click here to go to that post. At that time we managed to have four beautiful flowers. Today we are fortunate to have twelve delicate flowers.

A) August 7th, 2016. Budding of flowers were observed.

B) Close up of the flower buds.

C) By August 28th, flowers were in bloom but not all.

D) Zooming in one flower. Each reminds me of a ballet dancer.

E) Hanging outside today, September 4th.

G) Sharing space on the branch of our dogwood tree.

Clearly this specimen is doing well in our care and we hope it will produce even more flowers in the coming years. It is not uncommon if the grower is dedicated, this particular orchid can produce more than one hundred flowers. We will try our best!

Have a lovely week and until next time, stop and enjoy your garden. It really is a peaceful feeling.

Orchid of the day: Eurychone rothschildiana

Eurychone rothschildiana

I posted about our Eurychone rothschildiana last year, September 27th 2015 (click this link). Like last year, we have two flower stems and produced nine beautiful delicate flowers. Once again, not all of the flowers bloom at the same time. At this moment a few of the flowers have already wilted. This orchid, which is endemic to central Africa, loves moist and shady conditions to grow. Of course, we keep this specimen indoors under light all year long in our basement. We only take it out to photograph it and back in it goes!

A) The buds and flower stems began to appear early in July this year. Here is an "aerial" shot on August 7th.

B) The entire specimen in the same clay pot from last year. Doing well with green moss establishing itself in the pot.

C) A close up of the buds.

D) The entire plant on August 20, 2016.

If you would like to read more about this specimen, please click here, this will take you to my post from last year with additional information from Arne. In comparison from last year, the entire plant has definitely grew at least twice its original size!

Have a great week everyone and I hope you have enjoyed my post today. I conclude with a zoomed in picture of the flowers. Such gorgeous emerald green and black hues within each white flower.

E) I conclude with a close up view of the flower. 

Orchid of the day: Vanda denisoniana

Vanda denisoniana

Vanda denisoniana is endemic in China, from the Yunnan province down to northern Indochina. The common name of this orchid is Lady Denison Londesborough's Vanda, the wife of Albert Denison Londesborough, an English Orchid enthusiast from the 1800's.

Arne bought this specimen early this year, in March to be exact. This orchid thrive in hot to cool climate and produces a waxy or to me, marzipan-like flowers. Each flower does exude a faint vanilla-like fragrant. I should also point out, that Arne made this orchid basket himself! Another by-product of his orchid hobby.

A) July 30th. Two clear flower buds getting ready to open. We started by placing this orchid under lights but when the weather got warmer, it is hanging outside and receiving the warmth of the summer sun.

B) A day out in the sun and the flowers opened up.

C) The flowers look like 'buttercups' on this day.

D) A day hanging outside in the Baltimore summer sun, July 31st.

E) By August 8th, the flowers are fully opened.

F) The flower petals are thick and reminds me of marzipan-like texture.

G) This final picture, shows the entire orchid in our home-made orchid basket. And yes, Arne made some of his orchid basket these days. Some extra pieces of wood came to good use!

I hope you enjoyed this post. This is the newest orchid in our collection and hopefully it will be happy in our hands. Until next time, please share with friends and write if you have any questions. We love that. Have a good week.