orchid shows should be outlawed

[dennis]

went to a local nursery that is hosting a show this weekend to see wha might be available, as we were browsing through the selection that belonged to the store we were invited into the show area to shop. 200.00 later i arrived back home and have to go back tommorrow and pick up two more that only took cash or check. man i need to find a cheaper hobby like growing weeds. on the list i brought home tonight are a paph.vanguard dark x paph. sanderianum no pics it is not in bloom yet. a phal. nobby's amy with 44 blooms and still more to open. a nobile dren oriental smile fantasyand a zyg. bluebird that is still in bud. have another paph and a phal to get tommorrow

[Vivienne]

oh dear! I plan to attend my first orchid show in Denver CO next weekend for my birthday. I truly can not wait, but have a feeling that I may just bankrupt myself - LOL!

[arleneg]

Once you're hooked, you're hooked! Yesterday, I ordered four orchids from Norman's Orchids. In a couple weeks, I'll be attending the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show and visiting a couple orchid nurseries while I'm there. I'm sure I'll be coming home broke, even though the trip (a 5 to 6-hour drive + lodging) is a birthday gift!

[dennis]

we just made our reservations for a show in eastern pa. going to stay 4 days and see some gardens while there. the pa show is supposed to be bigger than this one i went to so i better start saving now.

[pikevi]

Hi,

I know how it feels. In the last 6 months I have spent upwards of a $1000. We had a show ( Southern Ontario Orchid society) just three weeks ago and we are going to have another one again at the Royal Botanical Gardens next week.
I will travel 100km or so and perhaps will spend a few hundreds of dollars at the show. My enthusiasm may wane as time goes by( I hope not) but , right now, I will skip a few meals and a few cups of tea to spend the money on Orchids ( chocolates did not and would not make the list!!).

I hope the orchids will eventually return the favour!

[siriusmk]

I'm going to attend the philadelphia flower show this weekend and my first orchid show at the end of the month. I"m very very EXCITED! I think i'm just going to bring $100 in cash and nothing more so I don't go overboard.

[dennis]

Originally Posted by siriusmk

I'm going to attend the philadelphia flower show this weekend and my first orchid show at the end of the month. I"m very very EXCITED! I think i'm just going to bring $100 in cash and nothing more so I don't go overboard.

are you going to go to parksides in july it is the last weekend that is one we are going to spend fivedays there and visit longwood gardens as well

[Fabolusus]

Parkside is a great place to visit any time of the year! I'm going to the philly show and the International Orchid Show at longwood...

[Maddy]

Look at it this way - it's better than spending our money on stuff like crack. At least orchids aren't illegal.

(As I always say when I bring home another pretty pretty flower - or drop a ton of money at a bead show...)

[Vivienne]

agreed! I tell my kids I need something to take care of after they all leave for college. In fact, in 4 years (when my last child leaves) my orchid collection will be well established. So far, they're buying it. hehehe

[pikevi]

Vivienne,

That is a brilliant concoction !

Now let me think of one for my wife in those lines !

[Anton]

Well, I got the big message from "She who must be obeyed" over the weeked, "You WILL NOT let orchids take over you life". to which I used the husband's stock answer for such confrontations....."No dear".

All I want to do is get a 16 to 18 foot by 7 foot wide combination green house / hothouse combination. That's not asking too much, is it ? (He asks, knowing full well that there will be untold support for him on this forum).

I can't wait for the September Royal Adelaide Show to come along so I can add to my collection of MY LITTLE PRECIOUS s.

[kmarch]

Dear Anton,

By asking for only a 16-18 x 7ft combination house, I think you're not only being reasonable, but you're being downright CAUTIOUS! You could be asking for a 40x60!

Hmmmmm....what if....

- Kevin

P.S. - Disclaimer - Please note that any action taken as a result of this post is the sole choice and responsibility of the party taking the action and the poster is in no way liable for any difficulties, marital or other, arising from such actions.

[Anton]

How to build a man up and cut him down in one fell swoop. And I thought husbands were supposed to stick together.

Talk about offering advice on how to walk to the gallows........

[Anton]

Any way,........... a 40 X 60 wouldn' t leave much room in the back yard for HER plants..........

[dennis]

i have 5 acres in the back a 40 x 60 would be nice

[Anton]

Talk about rubbing salt into the wound.............

[rmoen]

I feel your pain! I went to an orchid show in early February near my home in Minneapolis. I left so frustrated because I couldn't decide between several beautiful plants! I wanted them all!!! The weather was quite cold and very windy, so I rationalized that my new purchases might not survive the long trip to my car and the 100 mile ride home. I sure regret that now! Rick

[Anton]

You have ONE chance and it is a pain if you let it go.

Last year I went to the Royal Adelaide Show with my wife on the opening day, and the first port of call was the flower display, which I might add, consisted mostly of orchids.

Around the perimeter wall of the display hall, were the commercial growers and orchid societies with stalls selling their wares.

I had been looking for a good chocolate coloured orchid for 5 years without luck.

And then........... the very first stall I looked at........... Just like the movies, there, in sharp focus, (cue spot) everything else was a blurr (cue soft romantic music). Volcanic Surprise 'TimTam'........ LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!

NO WAY KNOWN WAS I GOING TO LET THIS CHANCE GO ! I didn't want to agonise for another 5 years, so I got it. It would have been D.I.V.O.R.C.E. if I wasn't allowed to get MY PRECIOUS (said in a glutteral tone).

If you would like to see her, go to:
http://www.users.on.net/~op_ink/AD/C...m_Orchids.html

BTW Tim Tam is a chocolate coated finger cookie here in Australia, and to die for.

MORALE: The one you miss out on, is the one that's gone FOREVER.

Who said orchid growers are passionate about their plants ?

[janet_a]

couple months ago the local nursery got a big shipment of orchids in. there were a couple deep red fragrant NOID catts. i said "nope, no more NOIDs, and i can't grow catts anyway, and they're too expensive."

a couple weeks later one of the plants were still there, and the nursery was having a 30% off sale. i said "nope, no more NOIDs, and it really needs to be repotted badly, and i don't have the conditions for catts."

saturday the 2d plant was still there post-bloom, still NOID, still desperately needing to be repotted. i told the cashier "i'll give you ten bucks for it."

it's on my kitchen floor, repotted. hope i haven't killed it or it doesn't have some virus or something.

i've been known to leave my wallet in the car when going to greenhouses; sometimes that works, sometimes i've gone out and gotten it.

[slippery_biscuit]

I missed the local show in Mt. Vernon, WA. The bit of remorse from missing it was more than offset by the realization that I needed more plants like another hole in my head. Going from none a year ago to about 25 now, I've told myself to go with what's in-hand and see if they are still alive next year and even better, reblooming.

Still would have liked a look-see, tho. Jeff

[Anton]

Janet, way to go girl !

[dennis]

Originally Posted by slippery_biscuit

I missed the local show in Mt. Vernon, WA. The bit of remorse from missing it was more than offset by the realization that I needed more plants like another hole in my head. Going from none a year ago to about 25 now, I've told myself to go with what's in-hand and see if they are still alive next year and even better, reblooming.

Still would have liked a look-see, tho. Jeff

my wife keeps telling me the same thing must be a washington thing as that is where she is from. i say but now you can always kill them later to make more room

[Lucinda Brown]

Hi everybody,Hey Dennis when that bluebird zygopetalum blooms out,could you PLEASE,PLEASE,post a pic.I just received one as a present and haven't been able to find a pic. of what the bloom will look like anywhere.

[arleneg]

Hi Lucinda,

I believe I found a pic of Zyg. Blue Bird. The referenced pic is from an Italian web site. So I hope it was translated correctly.

http://www.webalice.it/grantares/ORCHI06/IMGP1678.JPG

[Stargazer997]

Agreed, they should totally be abolished!I went to the same orchid show in Minneapolis/St Paul, at the Conservatory, that Rick referred to. Unlike Rick, I did buy them all! Mid January, prior to the show, my total collection consisted of three orchids, a den, a paph and a den moniliform "Kintsuru" (talk about a difficult challenge for a newbie! - the moniliform!). As of today, 6 weeks later, I have 24 babies, with 14 more being delivered this week. My house has been revamped as a result of needing the space for them, and finding the correct lighting. The next step is a new house designed with orchids in mind (kind of kidding). I have been fortunate to have had the past 3 months off from work. I start a new job Monday. AWAY from my orchids and my constant doting. Dear Abby.... I CAN'T go back to work!
Signed,
Seperation Anxiety from Minnesota.

Love this Forum. Thanks to everyone!

[sandra]

Yes, once you're hooked, you're hooked! I bought my very first orchid this past Thursday. Since then, I've purchased 3 more. I can't stop. I'm going broke. I'm going to have to sell my children to buy more orchids!!! I'm addicted, know nothing yet about caring and cultivating but predict that this time, next year, I'll have orchid nurseries around the world and be interviewed on 60 minutes. LOL

[Stargazer997]

Sandra, LOL about 60 minutes. Maybe more likely the 15 minutes of fame on 60 Minutes will deal with Orc'ahoholics. Good luck in your quest !

[ShannieK]

I also plan to go to my first orchid show this coming weekend in Denver and my justification for the expenditure is also my birthday (2 weeks ago). Looking forward to the thousands of plants...I'm sure my husband isn't near as excited

[ShannieK]

All I want to do is get a 16 to 18 foot by 7 foot wide combination green house / hothouse combination. That's not asking too much, is it ?

Funny, I thought the same thing. About a week ago I asked my husband, who happens to build homes, to build a greenhouse addition to the south wall of our house. It wouldn't be that bad...come on 12' x 26' is barely large enough to grow all of the orchids (and vegetables) that I need


We'll see...the poutty face goes a long ways

[Anton]

There's other tricks that wives pull to get their way too...............

[Vivienne]

ShannieK - happy birthday fellow Coloradoan! Have fun at the show - I'm eagerly awaiting it! Do you belong to any of the orchid societies here?

Vivienne

[greg_s]

I am going to be hitting the Philadelphia flower show tomorrow. My wallet is feeling a might bulky now...but I have a feeling that I'll make short work of that.

For those of you talking about the Parkside show...I just stumbled upon that one last year (even though it is about 10 miles away from me) and ended up dropping WAY too much money. Good stuff though!

[ShannieK]

Vivienne,

I have looked into the orchid societies and am torn between Denver and Co. Springs, they are about the same distance from where I live (60-90 min. drive time). I plan to look into DOS at the show and attend the Co. Springs meeting this month. Do you belong to any? I would like to know more about the organizations, preferably from someone in a similar situation.

[ShannieK]

I don't belong to a society...yet. I have looked into both Denver & Co. Springs but havn't made any decisions. I plan to look into the DOS at the show and attend the Co. Springs meeting this month. Do you belong to one? I would like more information about the organization, especially from someone in a similar situation.

[Vivienne]

I haven't joined a society yet, but if/when I do it will be the Colorado Springs Orchid Society. Denver's a good drive. Unfortunately I almost always work Saturdays, which is when they have their meetings.

[dennis]

well here we go again the pittsburgh show is just 6 days away. i am thinking that i should make a list or just buy what pleases me the most

[flowerchild]

Good morning, I am new here! I was to the central ontario orchid society show at the royal botanical gardens last weekend. I bypassed the displays of gorgeous orchids to head right to the buying section, telling myself I will only spend birthday money on one RIGHT(haha), came home with 4 bringing me to a total of 13(ewh unlucky 13, better go orchid shopping and make it an even 14). My hubby asked if I really needed anymore orchids, my reply "do you need your snowmobile, do you need your 76 camaro, do you need all your power tools?" His answer "Yes." My reply to that was "Orchids make me HAPPY so shutup!!!!!!"

[dennis]

Orchids make me HAPPY so shutup!!!!!!"

love it thanks

[fred]

hello and welcome to the forum.
glad to have you with us.
My name is Fred and I live in Tasmania Australia.
Does your hubby have a shed for all his tools, snowmobile ?
If yes well may be he might build you an orchid house hehe
we have wonderful members with heaps of information here.
I hope you enjoy chatting with us all.

[Ellen]

Anton, you definitely need that greenhouse/hothouse combo. And if you can make it 8 feet or more wide, do so. That way you can have benches along the sides, plus down the middle. You'd be amazed how many plants you can put in there. The best argument (one I've used) is that the greenhouse will get the plants out of whatever area it is that the spouse doesn't like having them in. Of course, with time (not very much time), new orchids will fill that original area again, but by then the greenhouse is an established part of the landscape.

Slippery Biscuit: Where are you located? We must be neighbors - or at least in the same state.

[BillC]

Hi Lucinda, maybe this will help, this zygo has a nice scent . Pic by Nia's Orchids. Bluebird 2 by Ards' Photos-flickr. Bill

[arleneg]

Last weekend, I drove 5-6 hours to attend the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show. Not including the travel and lodging expenses, I spent about $250 on orchids! I'm so glad my husband is supportive of my (expensive) hobby (well, one of the orchids is actually his...just prefers I care for it...LOL). Now, I'm looking at adding a few shelves or another table in my orchid growing room.

Oh, what we do to satisfy our addiction!

[amaliaforce]

I've only had my orchids for less than a year, and thanks to the NH Orchid Society show I have 22 total...
Just yesterday I finally got a shelf system with various fluorescent light strips going, but both shelves are almost full!
I'll have to figure something out, because the CT Orchid Society show is the 31st of this month, and I'm already looking at mini catts, and maybe another Cym or two.

Thankfully, I live with my dad, and he loves the orchids. Once the weather warms up, I've been given permission to keep mine in the sun porch (huge N,S & W windows), but as it just dropped 8 inches of snow the other day, we won't have temps high enough for them for at least another month. Does anyone else here have to cram in the plants during the winter like me?

[pikevi]

Welcome to the forum, flowerchild.

I went to the OSRBG show too. I did better than you!

I bought only 9 orchids and four flasks . Wonderful displays weren't they?

[prisana]

Orhid shows win everytime, I'd tell myself what to do , what to look for and how much to spend, but just as soon as I step into the show, all the plans would go down the drain ( it's there ) and I'd find myself acting like a school girl and completely lost all my senses except the "sight" part. I'd come home and say to myself.." what the..."

[arleneg]

I can totally relate!

[mdomingz]

You think shows are a crime?! What about having growers at a 5 minute drive from your home, having all those wonderful plants you don't see in big box stores?! I find myself almost every weekend driving on auto-pilot to see what new special thing they have. And yes, if i do see "that special thing" and not getting it right then and there, I usually torture myself until i go during the week to get it! It's crazy... but at least it's an addiction that doesn't give you a hangover (well, at least not in the head).

manuel
panama

[pikevi]

You win , hands down, mdomingz

[Anton]

Talk about an alcoholic living 100 yards away from a brewery with cellar door tastings !!!!

Poor thing. You need a group hug in sympathy.

[kmarch]

When I lived in SE Michigan I lived within a one hour drive from 4 of Michigan's largest orchid nuseries and only about 4 hours form Chicagoland, home of Hauserman's, EFG, Natt's Orchids, Oak Hill, Windsong Orchids, and about 2-3 others. The Annual Chicagoland Orchid Festival was held in this area annually and attracted vendors from all over the country and South America as well, aomething like 25 in all. (Visualize those cartoon images of bags of money flying away on little wings.)

[flowerchild]

Yes they were wonderful displays, but my passion is buying them!!! My hubby says that I can't grow them, but much to my surprise I got my only Phalenopsis to bloom and my nun's orchid bloomed at the same time!!!! Yeah me!!!!