Trip to Fantasy Orchids, CO

[Izzie]

Finally was able to go to CO's orchid vendor!
I got a division of one of the owner's personal plants- L. anceps, which they helped me repot with no charge for supplies, a teeny Den. aggregatum, and a Pot. Samantha Duncan 'Paradise' with a stunning bloom. I'll post pics of them in a bit.
They have impeccable service, wonderful plants (teeny seedlings to massive specimen plants), diverse selection, and they add a lot to the community to boot! (such as field trips from local nursing homes, etc.)
While I was there, a van of elderly people visited to enjoy the flowers- apparently it's a common thing, how sweet!
From what I can tell, it is run mostly by a father and son.
Their site is: Fantasy Orchids | Colorado Front Range Orchid Seller

It was my first time to an orchid greenhouse, what an experience!

I've made an album of all my pictures, including some main views of the greenhouse here:
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...rchids-co.html
If any of you would like to chime in with names, that would be great- I know a lot of their Catts were pretty common hybrids, I just didn't take the time to write down names.

***For some reason, the uploader on this site just kills the quality of my shots, any tips? They really aren't this out of focus!

Some of my favorites:
This specimen has been in bloom for 25 years straight.






Chocolate Drop!


I laughed out loud when I saw this group- "my turn, my turn!"












ETA: Thought I should note, it was NOT this dark in the greenhouse- I had to darken the settings on my camera so that things wouldn't overexpose. Not to mention super balmy in my thick turtleneck.

[Izzie]

@Mods: Just realized this might be better suited for Orchid Lounge. Sorry guys! Move it if you like.
:X

[Connie Star]

***For some reason, the uploader on this site just kills the quality of my shots, any tips? They really aren't this out of focus!

Hi Izzie,
You need to downsize them yourself to about a file size of 50kb, otherwise the up loader programmed into the site does it for you.
A photo-processing program probably came with your camera. If not there are other options. If you have an Apple, there is a program called iPhoto that you can down size with; if a windows pc there is a simple photo processing program that I rarely use. I use Photoshop CS- difficult to learn, but there is an easier to use version, Photoshop Elements. There are a number of threads on OB about how to post photos.
By the way, it took me several months before I figured out how to do it at all- so you're one step ahead.

[Izzie]

D: Lame. I've been resizing them with Digital Image (my favorite editing program), guess I'll have to go one step lower in size/quality than I thought.
I also have Photoshop CS3, but don't find it as accessible for picture editing as DI.

[Izzie]

Any comments on how they compare to a vendor on the coast where they're more common? I'm sure it's a good deal smaller.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Izzie

Any comments on how they compare to a vendor on the coast where they're more common? I'm sure it's a good deal smaller.

I don't get what you're asking here.

[Izzie]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

I don't get what you're asking here.

Sorry! I'm wondering how this greenhouse compares to the ones in states like CA and FL where orchids and orchid vendors are more common.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Izzie

Sorry! I'm wondering how this greenhouse compares to the ones in states like CA and FL where orchids and orchid vendors are more common.

Well...

How many greenhouses does this company have?

I don't want to make a comparison of dissimilar proportions.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I went onto Fantasy Orchid's site.

They're fairly large.

There are a number of nurseries just as large as the one you have CO here. But there are hella larger facilities here in California as well (not necessarily here in SoCal).

I went into one that was on the way to Santa Barbara, and it was ginormous!

One greenhouse alone was a sea of Cymbidium clones (non-blooming), and the greenhouse was probably about 100 ft long.

The entire place probably has 10 of these greenhouses.

It's been a while since I've been to the nursery that I'm talking about and I didn't go frequently, so the numbers might be a bit off.

But make no mistake about it, it's huge! They also have a small area designated for the public. The rest of the place is for wholesale sales.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I think Fantasy Orchids is more along the same or similar scales of operation as places such as Norman's Orchids, Andy's Orchids, and Santa Barbara Orchid Estate.