A new Paph in my collection, and many others in my wish list :)

[kavanaru]

Today, I went to visit a friend of mine, who breeds Paphiopedilum since many many years (his father started the nursery more than 75 years ago)... as always, we had a very nice and long conversation about plants, politics, and, and, and... (as always I spent more than 4 hours with him in the greenhouses - slowly, I am starting to think his wife will declare me "persona non grata" )

The greenhouses look great at this time, with several hundreds of plants in bloom... Of course, I could not resist and came back with a gorgeous Paph venustum (to be honest, I never thought I would ever buy this species )
Paphiopedilum venustum forma measuresianum on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Paphiopedilum venustum forma measuresianum on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

he had another Paph venustum with quite small flowers, about half the size of the "standard" ones, but somehow a very very cute plant
Paphiopedilum venustum on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Paphiopedilum venustum on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Paphiopedilum venustum on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

many blooming Paph tranlienianum
Paphiopedilum tranlienianum on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

and here is where I almost went mad... I tried anything that came to my mind to convince him to sell me this plant, after he explained it was the only one he has, I did my best to convince him to sell me a division... but no way, I could not (YET! )
Paphiopedilum tranlienianum var alboviride on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Paphiopedilum tranlienianum var alboviride on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Paphiopedilum tranlienianum var alboviride on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

same as above, I will keep insisting and begging for a division of this other (the whole plant is not taller than 45 cm/18", with a leave span of not more than 30 cm/12")
Paphiopedilum Saint Swithin x rothschildianum on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I was also "deeply touched" by this clon of Paph Bryan
Paphiopedilum Bryan on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

and had the pleasure to see first hand (even if not my favorite species)
Paphiopedilum insigne forma sanderianum on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Paphiopedilum insigne forma sanderianum 2 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Enjoy