New to Orchid Board - just saying hello!
 

:hello I just became a member and I wanted to introduce myself and say 'hi'. I've been an insatiable plant addict for a long time, but I'm new to the world of orchid growing. I can already tell that I'm going to love it!

I was given a paphiopedilum venustum as a gift about six months ago and I guess that 'planted the seed', so to speak. Then last week I went to the orchid show here in Saint Louis and now I'm officially hooked. I bought another small paph and a phalaenopsis on my way out of the show, so now my count is up to three. I'm definitely glad I found this forum! This is such a great source of information for beginners like me - Thank you!

Welcome to Orchid Board :welcome:

It's so easy to get hooked isn't it :biggrin:

Definately welcome aboard the orchid board :) Hope you have fun here

Welcome! :waving

3 orchids is only the beginning, they have a way of sneaking in the house when you're not looking. :coverlaugh: Soon you'll be completely overrun with them, and love it! :biggrin:

Welcome to the OB!

If you have a chance post some pics of your orchids - we all love to share photos. How was the St. Louis show?

-J

Hello and welcome!
Joann

Thanks for the great welcome everybody!

I don't really have anything worth a picture yet. My first paph lost it's flower about a month ago, and my two new orchids are really too young to bloom. I could have bought more mature plants that were already blooming, but I'm patient and I don't mind waiting. Plus I like the idea of watching the whole process and letting the anticipation build: watching the stalks grow, the buds slowly develop, and then the flowers finally open! Like being a kid again and counting the days to christmas morning.

The orchid show here in Saint Louis is great. It's an annual event at the Botanical Gardens, and they hold it in one of their lush, warm greenhouses. And what a great time of year for it! There's nothing like waking up on a cold, dark, icky February morning and then getting to take a field trip to a beautiful summer-time jungle full of flowers! I swear I felt ten years younger after my visit!

I totally understand with the young plants - I've got a young oncidium and a young sophronitis and I'm loving watching them grow bigger each year (I'm hoping they'll both be blooming size next year :crossfing). I also understand the excitment of 'field trips' - I'm off to Kew Gardens tomorrow for a semi-surprise early birthday present, as they've got their tropical displays up (which will end the weekend before my birthday) - I can't wait!!!!