Laelia (Cattleya) purpurata time
 

The purps are popping... I lined up the L. purpuratas that are in bloom at the moment. (There are more in bud, but this is a good start) For "studio photos" check out my website. But this what things looked like this evening.
The first two photos are "group shots" from the two ends of the row. The first has L. purpurata f. (striata x flamea) and L. purpurata f. vinicolor in the foreground, the second one has starts with several semi-albas, the (striata x flamea) and vinicolor in the background. Then, a closer look at the (striata x flamea)... note that two color forms of a species crossed are still the species. Next, L. purpurata f. russelliana, a delicate pink form. Then one of the semi-albas. This is labeled L. purpurata f. schusteriana ... I can't tell the difference between f. schusteriana and f. roxo-violeta (not open yet) - there are a bunch of variations on the semi-alba theme, so I'm sticking just with semi-alba for the group. And then, ending with L. lobata f. alba (this is a very close relative to L. purpurata, a bit smaller) This one still has a bunch of buds to open. I can show it later when that happens. This is a really good year for them. (They're now classified as Cattleya.. in Brazil, they're still considered Laelia, at any rate I'm not changing the tags)

I grow all of these outside, no overhead protection. So they get rained on, and see occasional near-freezing winter nights.

Absolutely wonderful Roberta. Thanks for showing those fantastic photos of the purpurata orchids that you grow. Truly wonderful!

You're the one that inspired me to acquire my one and only purpurata, which is a v. carnea crossed with some other purpurata.

You really do have a jungle going!

I particularly like the delicate f. russelliana and how the soft pink accentuates the yellow throat. Very nice.

Roberta, I wish I could have a growing space like yours.
Wonderful flowers!:)

Lovely place you've got there, and June couldn't be a better month for it :D

- as far as I read, roxo-violeta is the Brazilian name for the schusteriana.

Thanks! I have wondered where the lines might be, between the various named color forms. This makes sense.

That is just a most beautiful display Roberta. Many kudos to your growing skills. :bowing

Thanks! L. pururata is actually one of the easy Catts, really not fussy. Not miniature. The color variety makes it impossible to have just one.

When I see him at shows, I give Ivan Portilla (Ecuagenera) a hard time... the L. purpuratas that he sells are all labeled "W" for warm-growing. I say "Please don't tell my plants"... Clearly, they will grow warm quite happily (probably better than they do for me) but they don't require it.

Beautiful! What a great collection!

Thanks! Waiting for a few more... var. werkhauseri, var. carnea, and var. sanguinea typically put in an appearance a little later.