Carmela Orchids
 

I've read great things about Carmela's Orchids on this board. I looked and found a lot of things I liked. I was thinking of ordering one of the "10 Cattleya meristem plants for one price including shipping" specials.

Then, on my birthday, I saw a new special: Honolulu Orchid Show Celebration (Oct. 9-11). 11 different blooming-size plants, plus 6 plants in 2 1/2" / 6.4cm pots, for $100 including shipping. I'm very Type A and the idea of letting somebody else pick something out for me makes me more than nervous. But, I looked my fear in the eye and placed the order.

WOW! They arrived today. I'm not the sort of guy to use exclamation marks, emojis nor emoticons, but WOW!!! Somehow, they were able to read my mind. And

I didn't realize "blooming size" in Hawaii means "mostly in spike."

Here is what came today:

Blooming size, mostly in 3.25" / 8.25cm pots
BLC (C. intermedia x BC Morning Glory) 'Doris' In spike
BLC Mari's Glory 'H&R' In spike
Cyrtocidium Midnight 'Ebony & Ivory' In spike
Dendrobium Burana Stripe In spike
Dendrobium Kiyoshi Uzumi x Jacqueline Concert In spike
Doritanopsis Fusheng's Glad Lip x 'Hsninying Mount' In spike
Dyakia hendersoniana Tree fern mount
Epidendrum porpax Tree fern mount In bloom
Grammatophyllum elegans 4" / 10cm pot - wildly outgrown the pot! 22" from ground to highest leaf, 32" horizontal spread, nice basket (of roots)
Miltassia Kauai's Choice 'Tropical Fragrance' AM/AOS In spike
Odontocidium Burgundian 'Too Sweet' In spike
Oncidium Ron's Rippling Delight 'A' In spike
Phalaenopsis Maki Watanabe 'Carmela' x same 'Travis'

2.5" / 6.25cm pots
BLC Golden Chieftan 'Akukil'
BLC Sweet Silk 'Vanilla Sky'
LC Cariad's Mini-Quinee 'Angel Kiss'
LC Purple Cascade 'Shiang Beauty'

Wow, what a haul! Wish we could order from some of these places. Have fun with all of them :)

Now THAT'S a birthday present! Great orchids!

Sheldon at Carmela's is a super guy!!

Congrats on all the new additions! Looking forward to seeing some pics. Happy (belated?) Birthday!!!

Thanks for the birthday wishes. Most years I'm not a very good boy :evil: but I told myself I was this year.

Wow! Amazing haul! Happy b-day!

That's amazing! Post pictures when you can!

I'm glad you had a happy birthday. Next year, if you're not a 'good boy', you can just place two orders and tell yourself that the added responsibility is punishment.

Happy Birthday!
Looks like you received some great orchids!

Our OS gets the orchids for our Holiday dinner from them every year. They really ship fun! :)

It would be great deal for someone who is just starting out or lives somewhere warm. For me, with space issues and a cold winter, it would be a nightmare.

I'm extremely jealous. I have neither the space, nor a forgiving hubby to welcome such a spread. Congrats. You're going to have a blast !