Thanks to the Orchids

[RandomGemini]

I have seasonal allergies. I'm allergic to grass. It sucks, because I love to be outside. They're bad today because something or other is in the process of dying off, so I'm writing this post while waiting for the Allegra to kick in.

I've actually avoided having plants other than African Violets for a very long time, because of my allergies. I recently discovered that I am allergic to lavender which is a bummer, because I love the fragrance and it makes me sneeze in its artificial and natural forms and gives me headaches and standing in a field of it, makes me itch.

Since I've found orchids, I've gone kind of crazy. For the first time in years, I'm looking forward to blooming plants! My dining room has a very large Sharry Baby sitting in it, stinking up the place with its amazing smell and I love it, but best of all, it does not make me sneeze! In fact, it's making me want to move to Florida, because I read somewhere that these things grow WILD in Florida! Wild! And the fact that I could have orchids in my landscaping is more than appealing… and this idea is probably completely crazy, but I haven't had so much fun thinking crazy thoughts like this in years!

Anyway… I just wanted to say thanks to the orchids, because I can have a little piece of a tropical paradise in my house and I don't have to sneeze, swell or break out in hives to enjoy it.

[The Mutant]

It's great that the chids don't trigger your allergy. We had a member on our Swedish orchid forum, who had to sell their entire collection because of allergies.

I don't have any allergies, and if I should develop any against my cats or my chids, I would be devastated.

Keep thinking your crazy thoughts, 'cause it sounds to me like they make you really happy.

[RandomGemini]

Originally Posted by The Mutant

It's great that the chids don't trigger your allergy. We had a member on our Swedish orchid forum, who had to sell their entire collection because of allergies.

I don't have any allergies, and if I should develop any against my cats or my chids, I would be devastated.

Keep thinking your crazy thoughts, 'cause it sounds to me like they make you really happy.

I did develop an allergy to my cat years ago. My doctor told me to get rid of him because of it. I gave the guy a rude gesture and told him it wasn't going to happen. Then I told him about how Fuzz had defended me from evil when I was pregnant. How he banished anyone and everyone from entering the house and if someone came to the front door, he would sit and stare at it and growl low and then spring to attack if it opened without me picking him up first. He was my guardian. He was my defender. I wasn't going to dump a noble being like that in an animal shelter and leave him to die.

I walked out with a prescription for allergy medication.

If I end up developing allergies to my dogs (I have three Labradors) they have desensitization shots, but I have been around dogs my entire life. Odds are good, I won't develop allergies to them.

I hope I don't develop an allergy to my orchids, that would be so depressing!

[AnonYMouse]

Gemini, IIRC you are in Washington state (?). Keep an eye on Ronanldhanko's posts. He has photo series on PNW native orchids. Many or all of them might grow outdoors in your yard. Vendors may have some available.

I don't need to remind you but others reading might need it: never collect from the wild!

[WhiteRabbit]

Awesome!

I have both seasonal and year-round allergies. I know tree pollen is a bad one for me! I haven't noticed any of my orchids aggravating the allergies - and have read that they generally don't, because they don't "spew" their pollen like some other flowers. I CAN get headaches from some with strong fragrance, however - Sharry Baby, I'm looking at you . Fortunately, my Sharry Baby is reasonably happy growing outside .