New Member in San Jose, Ca

[Rick Barry]

Hi,

My name is Rick Barry. I live in a condominium in San Jose, California and grow my orchids under lights, in windows and outside on my patio. I've been growing orchids for about 15 years. I'm most interested in Paphs, but (typical of most orchid growers) I also have a mixed assortment of other genera.

For years I was a member on the Orchid Guide Digest (and even before that, the Orchid List Digest). For some reason I no longer receive the OGD, though it is apparently still operating. I sent multiple e-mails to the owner but never received a response. Ultimately I gave up, but I still check the archives occasionally to see if there is anything worth reading.

I recently registered with SlipperTalk as well as the Slipper Orchid Forum. There was a message on one of these forums regarding the Orchid Board, so that led me here.

I've found that most forums devolve into a rather awkward form of chat room, which I find pretty tedious, but I am always happy to read anything that is well thought out and intelligently written. Photos, of course, are always worth a look. I have taken many digital photos myself, and am happy to share them with other growers.

I've found that every online forum has its own unique set of social dynamics at play. It seems that there are always certain members who come to dominate the dialogue, and this can be detrimental to the overall health of the forum. The degree to which this is true on this forum will determine whether I will become an active participant or just another lurker.

Here's hoping for the best!

Regards,
Rick