New to Orchidgeeks.com

[mindy1]

Hello everyone! I am excited to join your community. I am 27 and have around 40 plants from several different genra. One of my favorites is the Vanda collection!! I have 5 vandas and counting. Today I ordered my very first flask kit from Evans Orchid Labs. I can't wait to receive and watch the family members grow!!

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Welcome, and let us know how your flask babies do. If I hear enough good reports, I just might try it again.

[desertgal]

Welcome Miindy.....great to have you. Post some pictures of your orchids!

[ceciliaL]

Hi everyone,
I don't know if there is anyone else from Arkansas but thought I would pass
this email I received on just incase. It is from a real plant nut. Who has traveled all over the world.

Since I don't have room for a large number of additional plants I've started on a crazy project. I don't have the funds to donate to get this started but I'm beginning to "fish" for folks who do.

There is no botanical garden in Arkansas that I am aware of. My son-in-law works directly for the governor. So I do at least have a contact. I'm beginning to propose a fund raising project to build one in Little Rock. I'd love to make it something like MOBOT but perhaps even a bit more grand. I'd love to see an area for Brazilian species, one for Ecuadorian and western South American species, one for Central American species and another for plants of the Guiana Shield. I'd love to see an enclosed tropical garden which can support large trees and have all the epiphytes up in the trees just as in nature. The ideal situation would be to have platforms which will allow people to "walk" through the trees and observe how much life there is up in those branches. And of course the "jungle" would need some of the small animals that make a jungle what it is.

One thing I think would be fantastic would be to have a large waterfall in the building which would help maintain the high humidity to keep all of these species happy. And of course, lots of places where orchids can grow on the branches of trees as they do in nature. Besides giving me a place to spend my days once we move to Little Rock it would be a fantastic tourist attraction. One which could bring a lot of visitors to the state. I'm sure we're talking mega-millions but I'd certainly be willing to donate my small collection as a place to start.

If you have any contacts with folks who might be able to assist in beginning such a dream project I'd love to know about them. If we could find a "plant nut" who would be willing to make a large donation to begin with then perhaps we could talke the Tysons and other with large funds in Arkansas to join in. The only thing I'd like to see out of this, other than a place to spend my time, is the entire project being called the Arkansas Exotic Rain Forest.

Any ideas?

Steve Lucas

**************************************
We collect and grow many rare and
exotic tropical plants and orchids. Take
the "Rainforest Tour" at:
http://www.exoticrainforest.com/atriumentrancelarge.htm

[Anton]

Here in Adelaide, South Australia, the Botanical gardens has an avenue of Morton Bay Fig trees which are over a century old.

Just by chance last year while "walking down the avenue" on the way to the book shop to buy my wife abook on Australian native orchids I happened to look up, and there, high up in the crooks of boughs were Catts, Dens, Cyms, and a few other species which I am as yet unfamiliar.

It was good to see how they grow "in the wild", even though these were man cultivated. This season I am going back to photograph them and post them here, as at the time I didn't have my camera with me.

So, Cecilia, if you can contact the Adelaide Botanical Gardens via the Net, I am sure they will give you guidance as to how they set theirs up.

They also have the biggest rose garden in the Southern Hemisphere with species from around the globe, that also makes for a good garden as well.

[arleneg]

Hi Mindy,

Welcome to the forum! I don't have any experience in Vandas. But when I do decide to grow one, I know who to ask.

Please post pics of your orchids when you have a chance.