Orchid Sunday

[Leafmite]

We had snow this past week but, yesterday, it rained and rained and rained. During the night, it became freezing rain and, now, everything is ice. Lovely. They salted the roads, though, so all is well.

The Lepanthopsis astrophora 'Stalky' is in bloom and it is really an amazing orchid. It put out what looks like very thin wire that is not at all alive and yet the little, star-shaped flowers are opening up all over it. Pretty cool. Even better, it is really an easy orchid to grow. This was an orchid I saw posted on this board and ordered quickly after from J&L. No regrets.

[charlesf6]

just finished cleaning up 4 of the supposed 6-8 inches of snow that Dolly sent my way (aaarggh!)

[jkofferdahl]

Originally Posted by charlesf6

just finished cleaning up 4 of the supposed 6-8 inches of snow that Dolly sent my way (aaarggh!)

She has a way of spreading her troubles, yes....

[estación seca]

I hear it is easier in some adorable Muk LUKS.

[Dollythehun]

Lepanthopsis astrophora 'Stalky...Picture please?

---------- Post added at 06:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:59 PM ----------

Hey, Charles, I took pity on you! Estacion, it is hard to find adorable, warm snow boots. Adorable orchids are much easier.

[pipsxlch]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Happy Orchid Sunday. I'm listening to some streaming music while watering.

In 1978 I moved to San Francisco for school. I found a great radio program Sunday nights on KPFA, the Berkeley public radio station. It was then called Music from the Hearts of Space. Stephen Hill played music I had never heard before - he called it space music. It now might be called "ambient", but that doesn't really do it justice. It was music from all over the world; acoustic, synthesized, vocal, instrumental.

Each week had a different theme. Occasionally it was way out there, but most of the time it was just amazing. I kept listening for 4 years in SF, then Seattle, Tucson and Phoenix. Then it went away. NPR dropped the program.

I didn't think to look for it on the WWW until several years ago. It's now called Hearts of Space, and it's a subscription service. The current weeks' program is free to stream each Sunday (Pacific time, UTC -8) if you register.

I think you might enjoy this weeks' program:
"Winter settles in, and we seek warmth and the immediate satisfaction of familiar things: food, fire, friends, and the traditional sounds of acoustic instruments. The resonant overtones of fine wood and crystalline steel on instruments like the guitar, the Celtic harp, and the hybrid "harp-guitar" take on a special glow.

In our fast-moving world of electronic technologies, it's easy to forget that for thousands of years acoustic instruments were the alpha and omega of musical experience — limited in sonic range and variety, but not in subtlety, depth, or expression.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, sparkling acoustic sounds to warm the winter soundscape, on a program called COMFORT AND JOY 3."

I used to love that program when I was a kid! 10:30 on Saturday nights.

It was almost 90 today, but sadly didn't rain like they maybe hopefully said we had a chance for. Oh well I watered anyhow. And my friend loved the Lc. Pure Soul, it's a 3 lead plant and should continue to put on a show for awhile. Gave her husband a Spitfire model, he flew one once. He reminisced happily for a couple hours.

[jkofferdahl]

1.1.17: I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year as well as a Happy Orchid Sunday! I missed posting last week, being stuck in the hospital at the time, but an truly celebrating today. I hope that we all fin joy in our orchids, as in our lives, in the new year.

I slept in late today - even late for me. The dogs, thankfully, were very patient. I expected problems because I couldn't get Rocket to go outside last night because of the massive neighborhood fireworks melee, but he made it through. Each got a short walk, meaning I got one long walk in three stages; I often walk both Rocket and Cassius together but today didn't feel like dealing with Rocket's insanity. He's far easier to control when he's the only dog.

I mentioned a hospital stay. No details necessary, but upon my return I was greeted home by the discovery that the invading hordes of mice got to two of my plants in bloom. First, Phal. Joy Fairy Tale, a delightful and colorful fragrant peloric; on this plant they not only ate the flower but also chewed up the base of the plant, though it appears that the plant will survive. Then they got to my big Phal. schilleriana - possibly the most beautiful schilleriana I've ever bloomed - eating EVERY SINGLE FLOWER on two spikes, while mangling the spikes. Welcome home indeed!

But all is not dire among my orchids. I've mentioned before that in the Spring I bought three seedling schillerianas and two stuartianas. By optimistic expectation, the plants should have been a year from blooming size. The largest plant has a leaf span about the size of one leaf on my big schilleriana, yet each plant is in spike. One stuartiana has two spikes, in fact. Every single Phal which bloomed for me this year is growing a secondary spike from the original, a couple even while now setting new spikes. Indeed, I expect that for the first 4 or 5 months of this year I'll have more Phals in bloom than I've ever before had.

Again, a Happy Orchid Sunday and a Joyous 2017 to all!

[rbarata]

I wish a Happy New Year too to everyone and your familie1s and friends... and pets!
jkofferdahl, I hope you're in good health. Hospitals, except in some particular situations, are always not a good sign.

Today I've dealing with the depression of thinking about start working tomorrow, after a 10 days vacation.
Spent the day studying math, trying to remember some of what I've learned a few years ago at uni.

[jkofferdahl]

Originally Posted by rbarata

I wish a Happy New Year too to everyone and your familie1s and friends... and pets!
jkofferdahl, I hope you're in good health. Hospitals, except in some particular situations, are always not a good sign.

Today I've dealing with the depression of thinking about start working tomorrow, after a 10 days vacation.
Spent the day studying math, trying to remember some of what I've learned a few years ago at uni.

Thank you! I'm actually fine. What was initially thought to be a possible heart attack (I don't get traditional HA symptoms) turned out to be a virus and a scare. However, due to the symptoms they hospitalized me for tests. The results of these tests were all extremely positive, and the doctors declared that despite my previous HA, my heart is now as healthy as a man's half my age. In fact, I consider the results, retrospectively, to be as good a Christmas gift as a man could receive.

{As an aside (and I'm donning my preacher's hat), I strongly encourage everyone here to see your doctors and get your heart health checked. Where I live (and in much of the US), heart attack is THE leading cause of death - indeed, I've been living on bonus time since April of last year! The EMTs who took me to the hospital said that they deal with at least one true heart attack case every single day they work. Many heart attacks can be stopped before they occur with minimal medical intervention (though in my case a lifetime of eating choices didn't help) and also minimal physical exercise. I pray that nobody here has to go through the nasty experience of a heart attack. Please listen to your doctor and avoid it.}

[Dollythehun]

Rbarata,
The fact that you took higher math, and understood it is epic to me. I only have room in my brain for so much and Trig never got a toe hold! I now hold you in awe.
It was a quiet day. I cooked a meal for the shelter and watered the Phals, read the Chicago Trib, and made split pea soup for New Year's day. A pretty lazy day for us both. Tomorrow is considered the holiday observed, so no work for honey...I have a project in mind, though😈