Miltoniopsis Ronald Reagan

[Piper]

I picked this up at the NH Orchid show, a week ago last Sunday. The first bloom was just coming out. Since then I've been in the hospital for knee surgery (both knees replaced) and when I got home Sunday, was treated to this beautiful spread. There are five flowers open now (the last is just opening) and the blooms range from 4-5" each.

I've always wanted a milt, and this was such a nice treat to come home to! (LOL - I didn't seem the name tag till after I got home...)

Julie

[bench72]

WOW Julie, for two reasons...

1. amazing flowers on that plants, seems like it's got one p/b and a new growth and it has already an inflorescence with five flowers.

2. both knees... geepers. I had my appendix out and I'm like this big baby... well, hope u get better soon.

oh yeah, and imagine if it was called a 'miltonia bush'... errr, anyways, over and out...

tim

[Cinderella]

Julie hope you are feeling better soon....that is really an undertaking. The Milt is beautiful even if it does not share your politics. LOL.

[Sue]

It's very nice. I also have been wanting a Milt for a while. I have to say though, just based on the name, I would never let it in my house.

I always think it's odd when grexes are named after people. Did this bloom remind someone of the Gipper, or perhaps of his persistant gipping? What would a bloom look like in order that it be named for our ever persistant Dubya? Maybe nobody should answer that question; we may not all be of the same opinion here, and I shouldn't stir up political issues. If I ever come up with a Bulbo hybrid that smells truly awful though, I might be tempted . . .

I wonder also what kind of effect this kind of thing has on marketing.

I myself am tempted to name my planned grexes after philosophers, just because it would amuse me. W.V.O. Quine spoke with regard to metaphysics of his preference for 'desert landscapes'. He meant this metaphorically, of course, but this would still make him rather an odd choice for a grex name memorial.

Ok. Time for me to stop avoiding work. It's midterm season, and I have a lot of grading to do.

[Cinderella]

Bulbos are too smart....

[TADD]

Yup Sue, a local North Carolina Grower here has named a cross after Dumbya and Ms. Laura.

[Sue]

You moved me to look up a few things. Which is nice, because it isn't work. I still have much grading to do.

Turns out there's a Blc. Laura Bush, named by Chadwick Orchids of Virginia. They're not partisan though, they just name Cattleya hybrids after first ladies, going back to the '40s, apparently. There's an article on it here.

The Singapore Botanic Gardens also named one for her; Mokara Laura Bush. She is quoted as saying "I can't image anything nicer than having an orchid named for yourself." Please note that the last sentence did not contain a typo, on my part at least. The folks in Singapore are apparently also in the habit of doing this with first ladies of the U.S. You can read about this here.

There's also a Vanda Laura Bush, Aranda Barbara Bush, Odontocidium Barbara Bush, Phal. Barbara Bush, and a Dtps. George Bush. The Dtps. George Bush is by Owens Orchids of NC, and they say specifically on their site that it is named for the elder. I don't see a George W. Bush on their site, but I didn't look too hard.

Also registered are Paph. Burning Bush, and Paph. Bushwacker. These probably aren't anti-Bush hybrids, but I'll tell ya, they sure sound downright unamerican to me. Please note sarcasm.

Incidentally, there is a Blc. Richard Nixon. If anybody can get me a division of this plant I will reward you handsomely.

[Gin]

Beautiful plant, I am not a fan of RR or any of them but it could live at my house anyday . Hope all is going well , be sure to do the therapy , my sister in law had both of hers done , one at a time . I tried to find a Dracula orchid named Charlie Manson for Sue and failed !

[Sue]

I tried to find a Dracula orchid named Charlie Manson for Sue and failed !

Well, I guess I have a brand new evil plan. Now I just have to get my Dracula vampira and Dracula pusilla to bloom at the same time . . .

[Piper]

Thanks all, for the well wishes! Yes, therapy hurts like a bastard, but given what they've done to me I'm amazed it's not worse. I came home right from the hospital and had 90+ degrees of flexion on both knees, so I'm doing well. But pain is involved. That's why there are so many drugs. It's a continual dose of oxycondone (Percocet). (If you didn't take it, you wouldn't do the PT.)

I'm seeing lots of improvement daily, but things hurt and there's also lots of sleeping, icing and just resting (doing little else but stare at plants! That's why it's nice to have so many blooming at once.)

As for Milt. RR, I didn't know the name when I bought it. What a nauseating thing to name a plant. (Politics of any sort!) I'm enjoying it regardless and am trying to think more of Errol Flynn and Robin Hood rather than Dubya and the fundementalist right! It's quite fragrant early-mid day. Almost cloying if you're too close.

Julie

Sorry Sue, used to have a Blc. Richard Nixon, but my mouse erased it...