Quote:
Originally Posted by Grandma M
 Sorry Ross
Sue, While you are giving info on the pics Ross took, will you also give us more info about this Vanda? I took these last spring. All I was told about it is that it is 85 years old. Do you know any more history about it? Sorry about the poor quality of the photos. I had to take them into the sun. Marilyn
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Don't know the ID right off. Would have to look it up when I am at the Gardens. I know a lot of general information, but specific IDs don't yet seem to be my forte. (That's why God gave us reference materials and ID tags. And I try to utilize them fully.
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The vanda is about 85 years old. It weights somewhere between 200-250 lbs. It was a donation to the Gardens by someone in the Gerber (as in Gerber babyfood) family.
It hung in the orchid greenhouse for about 10 years. Its weight bent the steel flyer bar that it was hanging from.
Several years ago it produced 15 huge bloom spikes. It was spectacular.
Unfortunately we couldn't display it--too heavy to move.
(I suggested a block & tackle on wheels, but nobody went for it.)
If you had an "in" with the orchid team, we would bring people back to see it. It was a limited, but appreciative audience.
Two years ago, it was finally moved into the Lena Meijer Conservatory which is its present location. It is suspended about 12-15 feet up by a high tensile strength wire from a steel girder. It seems to be happy enough as it has bloomed about 3 times since its placement. Used to bloom 2-3 times a year, not as often now. May be still settling in after its move. Maybe it pouts a little as it doesn't get as much babying as it used to back in the greenhouse. A little high up for hands-on grooming & fussing.
The flowers show a bit in photo 1, though they almost get lost in the sun. Beautiful delft blue blossoms with a sort of 'crackle' finish veins. Wonderful.
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