What is your objective for growing orchids?

[Ross]

Originally Posted by shakkai

LOL!! Not only the cost of doing the extension... but just think of all those new orchids you're going to have to get!! Just call me 'the great enabler'

I don't know who is worse - you or Dorothy!

[shakkai]

Originally Posted by rsfrid

I don't know who is worse - you or Dorothy!

We make a great team!!

[Dorothy]

:iagree:

[Bradfo69]

Oh come on Dorothy... not the violin!

But is IS a true story....

[Dorothy]

That's not a violin .. it's a fiddle and I was playing it to cheer you boys up

[Charles]

I think I know what Brad is going through. It would seem to me that the dating scene today would be very tough. If you can find someone who is not insane. Then you find someone you like and they usually have some huge baggage.
But look on the bright side. Brad, you can find a woman in her late twenties or early thirties. Wink, wink.

Good luck.

[gmdiaz]

That space is CRYING OUT for a greenhouse! Perfect light!

Do it! Do it! Do it!

And then you can teach me how you grow your orchids in there. muh ha ha

[gmdiaz]

I've been mulling this over the last few days. . .why orchids?

Many years ago, it seems, I was an artist, a painter & sculptor. . .original & carefree. But I had to get out in the "real world" and adapt. . .make some moola. It was not pretty. I did this late in life and let me just say:

It's a hell of a long way to go, to drop from heights of the ivory tower down into the nitty gritty of managing, multi-million dollar envelope accounts.

I hope you find this as funny as I really do. I think this is hilarious but. . .

I've had to harden my heart along with the rest of the human race, deal with stress, blow off rude & mean people, jealousy and pettiness. I've worn myself out trying to make things more pleasant and to run more smoothly. . .the process has made my heart harden & sometimes hurt, become calloused for the first time. But it's also made me much stronger and more resilient. It didn't happen suddenly, it happened over five years or so.

And now. . .looking into my Exo Terra tank:

I see these gorgeous orchids inside that I've collected, the bright green paph, the bright green growing roots on my Sophronitis, the NOID purple blooms of my Dend, my Drac that is having a hard time adapting to the bright light but is beginning to put out new tougher leaves. . .the little "surprise" plant that I've got peaking out where I've had to remove damaged leaves. . .I see all this beauty, as my new heart, thin-skinned, healthy, happy, open, breathing in & out, blooming & resting in turn.

I guess orchids have become a metaphor for me. . .a way to teach myself how to survive and flourish in a sometimes rough but always beautiful world.

OK, standing down off my soapbox and going out to the garage to play woodworker.

Really love you guys. . .and all that you do here for yourselves and for each other.

[shakkai]

Gwen, What an inspiring (and warm-hearted) response! I am in awe of your brave, honest words. And I agree, these plants teach us that we can be as adapable as they are, as precious as they are, and as diverse as they are.

Thanks for sharing a bit of your world with us! And keep up the great work with those 'chids!

[Charles]

I see my orchids as dependents and teachers. They definitely show us how to slow down. They constantly remind me that I will only be here for a certain time. For example, I may not be here to see the results of my cross breeding efforts. But to slow down and watch how steady natural progress is. It takes years to understand this, and then we are too old to really do anything meaningful with this knowledge.
That said, orchids also point out that we are a part of God's world. And as independent as we wish or think that we are, we are very dependent. But my orchids show me that God is very careful with us and wants so many great things for us. Just as we want for our orchids. I just thank God that he never quits anything or gets bored with us. Ask and ye shall receive. But you must never doubt that it will be given to you. That is the faith that Christ spoke about.
I do orchids and they do me.