Meanwhile, Back at the Atlanta Orchid Conservatory 6/13/2012

[BValdes]

This was really a pleasure to look at. Thanks for sharing them.

[pipsxlch]

Thank you for the wonderful photos... wait... there's an orchid conservatory in Atlanta? And it's open to the public? I have family in Stone Mountain and hope to be able to visit them sometime, this would be a great way to spend a day!

[mauraec]

Thank you for the wonderful photos... wait... there's an orchid conservatory in Atlanta? And it's open to the public? I have family in Stone Mountain and hope to be able to visit them sometime, this would be a great way to spend a day!

Glad you enjoyed them - I go there as much as possible. PLEASE do come and take advantage of it. It's world-class - in the Atlanta Botanical Gardens right in-town.

[Dorsetman]

I had wondered about your absence. Glad to see you back. Some nice things there - the one that has me puzzled is the single flower hanging down with a lip like the sword of Damocles ! If you reember that one, or anyone else here can give an ID, it may just get onto my wish list.

[mauraec]

I had wondered about your absence. Glad to see you back. Some nice things there - the one that has me puzzled is the single flower hanging down with a lip like the sword of Damocles ! If you reember that one, or anyone else here can give an ID, it may just get onto my wish list.

Thanks, Geoff. Does Paphinia sound right for the pendant "Damocles" orchid? No scent that I can recall. It was in a suspended basket, the bloom hanging straight down over the edge. By the way, as you probably know, the photo right after that (not a very good one, but the only one I was able to get) was tagged a Paph. violascens, but I haven't ever seen a photo of one that looks like that. It sort of looked to me like a kind of lowii crossed with a victoria-reginae, but obviously not exactly like either one of those either. Not a multifloral. Do you know it? It was quite lovely.

[otis226]

Lovely photos, gal. Thanks for bringing us along, and happy to see you back in action.
Cheers,
Tony

[Dorsetman]

Thanks, Geoff. Does Paphinia sound right for the pendant "Damocles" orchid? No scent that I can recall. It was in a suspended basket, the bloom hanging straight down over the edge. By the way, as you probably know, the photo right after that (not a very good one, but the only one I was able to get) was tagged a Paph. violascens, but I haven't ever seen a photo of one that looks like that. It sort of looked to me like a kind of lowii crossed with a victoria-reginae, but obviously not exactly like either one of those either. Not a multifloral. Do you know it? It was quite lovely.

Yes - could be a Paphinia ; I have grown and flowered P.herrera - and that had the same hanging flowers - big ones too - but about five in the head of flowers, and they were pink, not yellow . Unfortunately, not easy to grow and keep alive for more than 1 flowering in my experiences - I have tried three times - but my latest plant is a small one, maybe 2 or 3 years away from FS , and that is not doing well either.
As to Paph violascens , I never had that in my collection ; years ago ( many ! ) when there were I think only 65 undisputed species - before all the Chinese discoveries, I had the UK National Collection , and I reckoned that I had 62 of the 65. I found violascens ( at a US dealer - CITES was no problem then - but baulked at paying a few thousand dollars for a smallish plant or indeed for any plant !)

[mauraec]

Yes - could be a Paphinia ; I have grown and flowered P.herrera - and that had the same hanging flowers - big ones too - but about five in the head of flowers, and they were pink, not yellow . Unfortunately, not easy to grow and keep alive for more than 1 flowering in my experiences - I have tried three times - but my latest plant is a small one, maybe 2 or 3 years away from FS , and that is not doing well either.
As to Paph violascens , I never had that in my collection ; years ago ( many ! ) when there were I think only 65 undisputed species - before all the Chinese discoveries, I had the UK National Collection , and I reckoned that I had 62 of the 65. I found violascens ( at a US dealer - CITES was no problem then - but baulked at paying a few thousand dollars for a smallish plant or indeed for any plant !)

Can't say I'm surprised that Paphinias are hard to grow - you are right that this bloom was quite large - about 6-7" across, I'd say, but, as you noted, it was yellowish-white, and I've only ever seen photos of P. bougainvillea, which are a different color altogether. The conservatory in Atlanta is funny that way - they have all sorts of unusual species and a lot of very common ones, and very few in-between. I suppose the Paph. violascens could have been tagged with a cultivar name, which might explain why it looked different from those I've seen.

On another matter altogether - You've had the UK National Collection of Paphs???!!!??? I think I should probably shut up about knowing anything whatsoever about identifying or growing them. I'm beyond impressed, but then, that's not an unusual occurrence, is it? By the way, the E. fragrans is thriving, although little movement in the spiking area. When are they supposed to bloom?

[Dorsetman]

- By the way, the E. fragrans is thriving, although little movement in the spiking area. When are they supposed to bloom?

Here is another div. of the same plant, snapped today - going over a bit I think, could have been out a few weeks.
All the laeliniae can be quite teasers , forming spathes and doing nothing , then suddenly finding buds. I can only say that when old enough and strong enough, then it just blooms.

[mauraec]

Here is another div. of the same plant, snapped today - going over a bit I think, could have been out a few weeks.
All the laeliniae can be quite teasers , forming spathes and doing nothing , then suddenly finding buds. I can only say that when old enough and strong enough, then it just blooms.

Thank you for the photo!!! Well, it is being a teaser - and must be somewhat less pleased with its conditions here than yours across the pond. Has had 2 spathes (a new term for me) with no sign of any other activity, but it IS growing and seems to be thriving. It's outside in indirect sun, so I do think it's getting enough light. I have it on the same watering schedule as my catts, but perhaps it needs more?