Diamonds in the rough? Ever find something special from a big box store?

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Here in Phoenix Home Depot and Lowe's usually have NOID Phals and nothing else. Trader Joe's has NOID Phals and NOID Oncidiums. I visited my Mom over Christmas in southern Calfornia; we went to the HD to get a brush for cleaning machinery. Along with NOID Phals they had a few 2" pot Better Gro Cattleya hybrids in plastic net baggies, 3 different kinds. We never get those in Phoenix. I couldn't really see into the baggies, but they looked alive, so I bought two, hoping. I got BLC Burdekin Wonder 'Lakeland' AM/AOS in great shape, with a new lead breaking, and BLC Always Dream 'Volcano Queen', very dessicated and wrinkled but probably salvageable.

We remembered to get the machinery brushes and I cleaned and oiled Mom's bathroom fan.

[Nanotyrannus]

Originally Posted by Mandy2705

My local Lowes has recently been getting in big lip phals that come with tags. Anytime they get one that I don't have, I buy sometimes in discount or full price

That's fascinating, I wasn't aware of big lipped Phals. I'll have to keep an eye out. I went to Lowe's a few days ago because I'd read stories here of people finding cheap Brassavolas. When I didn't find any non-Phals, I was told "orchids were out of season"! Whatever that means.

Originally Posted by estación seca

I got BLC Burdekin Wonder 'Lakeland' AM/AOS in great shape, with a new lead breaking, and BLC Always Dream 'Volcano Queen', very dessicated and wrinkled but probably salvageable.

Nice! Blc. Burdekin Wonder is a nice find, one that I've been looking for myself.

Originally Posted by wintergirl

Looking forward to seeing this. You need 5 posts before adding a picture, just one more post to go

EDIT: I've attached the image. Apparently I still don't have URL linking privileges! She looks extremely similar to Bapcticidium Hwuluduen Chameleon 'Golden Oriole', but the markings differ slightly. She also has these nice fat pseudobulbs and comparatively short and wide leaves. I suspect she has the same parents, or is a complex Bapticidium. I've contacted Matsui Nursery and found that she's the result of an experimental cross that will likely never be produced again.

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Originally Posted by Nanotyrannus

Nice! Blc. Burdekin Wonder is a nice find, one that I've been looking for myself.

There was at least one more. Mission Viejo store on Marguerite Parkway near the I-5 Crown Valley Parkway exit. They were just to the left as you walk into the main entrance with the NOID Phals.

The Home Depot Mission Viejo|Mission Viejo, CA 92692

[Nanotyrannus]

Originally Posted by estación seca

There was at least one more. Mission Viejo store on Marguerite Parkway near the I-5 Crown Valley Parkway exit. They were just to the left as you walk into the main entrance with the NOID Phals.

I really appreciate the tip! However that's about 2 hours away from me, which is too much of a drive.

Right now I am kicking myself for not buying two orchids from Trader Joe's. On new year's eve I saw a handsome Dendrobium kingianum specimen with well over 2 dozen growths for only $12!

I also saw what looked almost identical to an Oncidium Twinkle, except that the flowers were miniscule. They were maybe half a centimeter in diameter. Anyone know what it could be? I'm going to go again when it opens to see if they're still there. Maybe it's not too late.