Cattleya Percivaliana 'Summit' FCC/AOS

Surprise bloom on November 2, 2014

Native of Venezuela. Also nicknamed "Christmas Orchid." Cinnamon-y fragrance. Apparently in the 1940's, this orchid hit the shelves at Christmas time along with poinsettias.                   

Photos Courtesy of Andre Gratto.

Acquired from Deep Cut Orchid Society 2014 Auction from Anne & Dave Safarewitz. 

2nd specimen also acquired from Deep Cut Orchid Society 2014 Auction from Larry Desiano. No blooms to date from this one.

Laeliocattleya Tristar Bouquet 'Hawaii'

Picked this guy up in bloom. Regrettably, did not get the clearest pictures before the flowers dropped. I'll make up for lack of quality with quantity.

Acquired from Deep Cut Orchid Society 2014 Auction from David Carrick's Collection.

Bollopetalum Midnight Blue 'Cardinal's Roost' (Bollea violacea x Zygopetalum B. G. White (Zygopetalum Blackii x Zygopetalum mackayi))

Received as a double spike in bloom. Each bud took its time to unfurl and each unfurling played out as elaborately as a slow motion ballet. She then hung around for a nice few weeks. Faint green fragrance.

Gorgeous presentation- noticed and awarded by my
local orchid society.

Macro view in the sunshine. Photo courtesy of Andre Gratto.

This is my second specimen of this orchid.

Acquired from Lucky Girl Orchids by way of EBay.

Vuylstekeara Celtic Sun 'Blushed'

Acquired in triple spike. Originally bloomed yellow, then transitioned to
white. 

Heavenly fragrance.

Acquired from Lucky Girl Orchids by way of EBay.

Vanda Princess Mikasa 'Indigo' (Ascocenda Royal Sapphire x Vanda Coerulea)

                                     

Apparently Ascocenda is now part of Vanda as per the Vol. 6 of Genera Orchidacearum. The use of DNA testing has evidently caused frequent and major shakeups of nomenclature! This makes me love the wise and knowledgeable AOS judges at GNYOS so much more..

2014 GNYOS Auction, RF Orchids, Homestead, FL

Bulbophyllum "Wilmar Galaxy Star" (dearii x lobii)

Water:  evenly moist (1-3x/wk)- careful: high risk 

for fungus on pseudobulbs from overwatering

Humidity: high

Fertilizer: 20-20-20 monthly

Temp: 58-90 °F

Light: 2000-3000 Fc

Rest period: Not needed or very brief winter with less watering.

Flowering: Spring-summer lasting 2-3 weeks, sweet scent; bobbing-head like lip trips insect into the flower, forcing pollination when it exits. See video below.

Repotting: Sensitive to repotting- may skip bloom. Sphagnum moss, mounted cork, shallow media for short roots.

Propogate:  Split pseudobulbs

Species Bulbophyllum Dearii originally from Borneo, Phillipines, Malaysia. Bulbophyllum Lobii also in Indonesia. Grows on tree trunks or limestone. 

The blossoms evoke scents of ripe, sweet nectarines! Like abstract art, I keep seeing the flower form anew from different angles:

I got a macrolens attachment for my IPhone camera. Here are the finer details up close:

 

Bobbing lip in action:

Link to Video Pending

This orchid from Ebay Seller Lucky Girl Orchids. Arrived with two blossoms on July 23, 2014. Despite the very delicate nature of the blossom, this seller did a phenomenal job of delivering intact flowers. Additional, her culture is impeccable with no flaws on any other part of the plant or the media. 

Credited sources:

http://www.orchidspecies.com/bulblobbii.htm

http://www.orchidspecies.com/bulbodearei.htm

http://www.andysorchids.com/

http://www.carterandholmes.com/bulbocare.html

Encyclia Jungle 'Valley Isle' x self

Acquired in bloom July 16, 2014 by way of Lenny Zieff of Victor's Florists at the GNYOS monthly meeting. Plant tag identifies origin as Exotic Maui Orchids.

Brassolaeliocattleya Dora Louise Capen 'Lea' AM/AOS (C. Moscombe x Blc. Toshie Aoki)

The sunny yet dainty Dora Louise keeps company with the zany, flamboyant Dendrobium Spectabile. 

And fun with the Iphone macro lens:

Acquired from Ebay Seller Kawamoto Orchids in bud June 2014.

Laeliocattleya Mary Ellen Carter ‘Dixie Hummingbird’ HCC/AOS (Lc. S. J. Bracey x Lc. Amber Glow).

She's on her way....

TA DA!!!!

The evening look without sunlight:

This photograph courtesy of Elena Gaillard, GNYOS President.

Dendrobium Spectabile x sib. (Group: Latouria)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JEN!!!

Water: drench media in AM- allow to dry throughout the day until rest period (see below)
Humidity: > or = 50%
Fertilizer: 20-20-20; reduce fertilizer in Oct.
Temp:  mid 80sº F during the day, 10- to 20º F drop at night
Light: 5-8,000 fc; summer 10-11,000 fc; AKA “Cattleya light”;
Air:  enjoys good air circulation- I have mine in this holey orchid pot. 
Rest: cooler and drier with reduced fertilizer starting in October
Flowering:  Blooms midwinter-early spring; Flowers at 4-5 yrs old and when it has 4-7 canes. Spikes emerge from black spots on the side of the canes.
Repotting: springtime after flowering; sphagnum moss or medium fir bark; since it grows so large, may need supportive staking
Propogate:  divide canes

Originally from Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. We named ours "Alien". When the sunshine woke me up one morning, the light floated in paired with a floral scent equivalent to sweet sunshine. My Spectabile had finally bloomed ! This blessing arrived after over a month of watching a weird green alien spike emerge and creep out of black dot in the cane. These blooms hung around for over a month. When they finally dried, they became pretty dried specimens as well. Abundant nectar bejeweled the flower stalks. Go ahead - swipe a taste for floral flavored nectar.

Acquired 4/17/2014 from Kawamoto Orchids, Honolulu, HI

Other credited sources:

http://orchidsamore.com/tutorials/dendrobiun%20spectabile.htm

http://bursa-lukisan.blogspot.com/2009/12/dendrobium-spectabile.html

Fun with IPhone Macro Lens