I saw that big orange Cym in a show 2 weeks after the freeze... those flowers not only survived, but were show-quality.

Citrus is grown in areas that mostly warm, with winters where frost is fairly rare but does happen (like inland southern California, and in Florida). The fruit is damaged by frost, so the growers have various techniques to protect the crop. Up until mid-20th century, they'd burn crude oil and similar dirty fuels to get a coating of soot over the fruit...black absorbs heat, also a rather thin insulating layer, and the burning also produces some heat. (Look up "smudge pot" ). Of course those made life miserable for the people leaving nearby, and they were eventually outlawed. Newer approaches include wind machines (keep the air moving to help prevent frost from settling on the fruit), gas orchard heaters, and also the low flow water approach. The trees will survive the fost, but of course it's the fruit that's sold.

Amazing!! Show worthy cymbidiums!!! I have never seen cymbidiums in person before..I have my very first orchid show next year in spring. I hope I can see some!!
That is quite interesting about the smudge pot. It looks kind of charming to me! Hahah!! But youre right..not so good for the others around.

My folks had a key lime growing in a large planter many years ago in Houston. It grew out on the patio and they usually would cover it with blankets if there was any frost predicted. They did drag it inside at times when the mercury really dropped.

Neighbors of my folks had a Satsuma orange bush planted in the backyard and it survived through quite a few winters. One winter there were oranges ready to pick when an ice storm hit. The oranges were encased in ice after the storm and the neighbors let me pick some. They tasted great and were obviously ice-cold. Probably didn't last long though after the thaw.

I love orchidroots.com and use it every time I'm considering an orchid purchase.

Ice cold oranges, sounds yummy haha!!!