The Summer Hummer is an open house event for both Cal Orchids and Santa Barbara Orchid Estate, which are conveniently next to each other! They also had international vendors they invite for the event.
Since the last orchid show, and my last Neofinetia purchase at Seed Engei, I’ve totally fallen in love with Neofinetias. I was super excited to visit Seed Engei again.
Unfortunately, the last time I saw her some months ago…okay, 2 months ago, I fell in love with Neofinetia falcata Homeiden, but it was quite pricey….well it still was. The people on the facebook group, Orchidaholics (visit them!), were mocking me (posting pics) with their new Houmedens, and I was getting so envious. There was nothing close to the creamy variegation and bright pink roots like this cultivar, and as you can see, I ended up purchasing it. The other one I purchased is Neofinetia falcata Sasa no Mai, which is a pine needle leaf shape, which was very interesting. I find that I am more interested in the different kinds of foliage in Neofinetias than I am interested in flowers. Next time I see her, I am thinking of getting a bean leaf variety.
Cal orchids had a delightful variety of different orchids.
As many orchid collectors, especially those who grow primarily on window sills, I had my eye out for miniatures. As neofinetias, I love orchids with intresting foliage, because, let’s face it, it’s what we are looking at for the majority of the time. The first is Leptotes bicolor 4N. I am not sure what the tetraploidy (4 sets of genes instead of typical 2) does to the plant, but the flowers look typical from the picture they provided. The second mini I purchased is Angraecum distichum.
Surprisingly, a few days after purchase, there were buds, and then next thing you know, there are flowers! As you can see above, if there are buds, they are quite miniscule when I bought it. I did not notice any at all.
The last 2 orchids I purchased at Cal Orchids are these…
The first I spotted in a random corner of a grow room, Phalaenopsis Schilleriana. The flowers are, to me, pretty unimpressive large pink flowers I am sure was the parent to many complex hybrids we have now. What I love is the mottled leaves, aren’t they beautiful? The other is Galaendra Leptoceras that I purchased from one of the international vendors. They grow like a catasetum type, but flowers are trumpet shaped. I first became interested in this guy after watching this Gardening at Douentza youtube video. Unfortunately, the roots are little suspect after I unpotted it, and there has already a flower spent flower spike. I do not think it will continue to grow this season, but I am a little confused on who I should water now…
Lastly, I bought a couple plants from Santa Barbara Orchid Estate also.
The first is a Masdevallia Ibanez Behar, that my friend pointed out as were walking around. such an unassuming little flower, but beautiful mix of pink and coral. The second is a seedling, Encyclia Mooreana x Tampaensis. Encyclias are so delicate looking, and they have a great scent.
Surprise Haul
This weekend is the Newport Beach Orchid Society show and sale at Westminster mall. Their spring show was the first orchid show I’ve ever been too. It’s pretty small, but there’s great stuff. I purchased 2 orchids. Please excuse the poor pictures…
Weirdly, my bear root Tolumnia urophylla, a species plant, is doing well but my other two hybrids strangely are rather unhappy. They all live at the same window 😦 Anyway, I couldn’t help myself and got another tolumnia because it was so cute, Tolumnia Bravo “Nalo Beauty.” The other is Phragmipedium Grande, which was a deal on the member’s table. This orchid is also talked about by Gardening at Douentza. The members at the table were also very helpful on the care.
So as you can see, I spent a good amount of money this last month…how has your wallet been faring?
I have been a little busy lately, and in my absence, there has been orchids blooming. Hopefully soon, I can post some pictures 🙂
fish&flora 