I went insane at Oak Hill

[brookn]

So it's my birthday, well it was 2\5. I decided that I wanted to spend some of that b-day money, and went to Oak Hill. The b-day money is gone lol. I bought 9 plants, some spike clips, and wire supports. I got some great deals, I did buy smaller plants so that I could afford more plants if possible. So here is the list of my insanity:

Phal. Stuartiana- love the variegated foliage

Phal. Mini Mark 'Holm'- this is one that I planned to get a long time ago

Neofinetia falcata- love them!

This is where I really lost it hee hee.

Ascofinetia Cherry Blossom

Cymbidium eburneum

Dendrobium kingianum

Dendrobium lineale

Oncidium ornithorynchum

Oncidium maculatum 'Paulo' AM\AOS x self

Kevin if I have skewered the name of something just let me know. Since I am on the squeakiest budget most of the time, I can honestly say that I will have to wait a while to order more orchids. I now have to plot just where I am going to put them all. What have I done? I now know that it will never be fully possible to be on the wagon from being a complete orchid addict.

[patlee]

Well why not It's your birthday and you deserve a special treat!! There was a guy at out house last night who bought a metal detector from my husband. He laid out a cool $900 plus. Do you know how many orchids that would buy? Boys and their toys-- (with apologies to the more discerning guys on the forum)!

Enjoy your special day and your new "toys".

[kmarch]

How cold does it get at night in the winter in Missouri?

[Vivienne]

Congrats on your birthday gifts Brook! I purchased my Ascf. Cherry Blossom and my Neofinetia from Oak Hills. They are excellent plants. Can't wait for the blooms they bring.

[articuno75]

Happy Birthday !!! I'm sooo glad that you finally got a Neo! School, kids, working,,,,you deserve to splurg! The Ascofinetia looks awesome. Have to let me know how they all look when you get them.

Woo Hoo!!! You go girl!!!

(Insanity is best when shared by others ~ Your fellow orchidolic)

[BillC]

Ad multos annus Brook! However, in pursuit of orchids, I believe you are heading, A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi - (A precipice in front, wolves behind). And I will leave you with the following:

Illud quos filiolus votum subvertio es primoris coegi dementis

(Those whom the Gods wish to detroy are first driven mad)

Bill

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Did you get the stuartiana in bloom? Love to see a picture of the blooms. One of my small stuartianas from Oak hill bloomed, but it was a stretch for the small plant, so I expect bigger and better blooms next time. The blooms are small and the petals/sepals are very much swept back, as you can see on the upper right of picture.

[brookn]

Kevin,
It gets pretty cold here. I live in a valley so we experience somewhat moderate temps for the most part. It is weird here, we recieved the snow that everyone got, and the next day we were 50F + and the next day 65+. We do get below zero, but most times in my area we are around 30+ F through the winter.

Thanks Vivienne, I was absolutely drooling over the Ascofinetia.

Bill thanks for the Latin sentiments! It had me giggling, I studied it for 3 or so years (I admit to being fairly rusty). The last quote is very appropriate hee hee.

Jenny, I sat and looked at that Ascofinetia, and went back and forth. Should I, should I not? Then I spoke to a friend of mine, and she said "Stop trying to analyze and psychoanalyze it and buy yourself what you want."

Cynthia, I bought the smaller of the stuartiana, so that I could squeeze in as much plant for my dollar. I have been wanting one for a long time, so I figured if I did have to wait for blooms I was okay with it. I will be happy to attempt a pic, but I am limited to my cell phone as my DVD Rom is broken and I have not been able to load my digital cam. The puter was scheduled for a total overhaul, but I had to take a required computer course this semester, and it has to wait so that I can get my homework done. Thank goodness for a USB flash drive. The pic in my avatar was taken with my cell so I am able to take a decent pic with it (of course it takes about 20 takes before it resembles a clear pic). The petals are swept back a bit on yours, but the thing that is catching my attention is that great spotting on it. I have seen some that the spotting is very light, and not as dramatic. I am actually hoping, that mine will also have that nice spotting like yours.

Patlee, orchid toys are much better hee hee.

[PhalPal]

Happy Happy Birthday Brookn!! I would go crazy at Oak Hill Farms too; it's bad enough going to their website. post pics when you can!

[Vivienne]

Brook - I'm on a mission this year to fill out my collection of all the different colored Ascofinetia I can find. So far...

HAVE
Ascofinetia Cherry Blossom (pink blooms)
Ascofinetia Twinkle (orange/pink)
and of course Neofinetia (white)

WANT
Ascofinetia Peaches (peach)

Are there any others?

[janice]

Brook, what a great idea to spend your birthday money on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But living in Mo. where the heck are you putting them on??? We have a local Herb and Garden Show this weekend...........I am going to ask for an advancement on my birthday money!!

[patticake]

How exciting!!
Just reading about your new goodies, gives me butterflies! Enjoy your new presents!!

[kmarch]

Brookn,

I really had to laugh this morning when I re-read this thread, especially the title, "I went insane at Oak Hill." My first thought was, " 'I went insane at Oak Hill,' sounds a bit like, 'I ate at the banquet.' " My second thought went something like, "Well of course, what else would you do at Oak Hill?"

Except for the very coldest part of the winter, you could probably grow your Den kingianum outside all year round. I grow mine outside here in Melbourne where the winter nights get as low as 5C (40F). In those conditions, with pronounced seasonal differences, the canes grow really plump and hard and they bloom very reliably and no keikis. And I don't even fertilize them. Also I pot them in a dry mix, med bark, med perelite and med charcoal, but I keep them quite wet.

One of the things I love best about Oak Hill is that their prices are so great that try different things out to see how they go with you without breaking the bank.

[jbigio]

Happy Birthday sounds like a great way to spend a birthday
Joe

[Debbie Hayden]

Happy Birthday, Brooke!!! It sounds like you had an awesome time at Oak Hill.

[evagentry]

Happy birthday Brooke,this will be one to remember, tha time you lost you mind!

[brookn]

Thanks everyone, I had a great time ordering and of course second guessing my self.

Janice- I have a table in the living room in front of a couple of, and no one freak out, North facing windows. A long time ago Kevin in a post commented that with the latitude here (I think that is what he said) that some plants would do well there. All of my low light plants are therem and grow very well. I also have a set of large windows in my upstairs, that is where some of the new ones are going for the time being. And I also have my dog room and it has a huge double paned picture window that was originally installed for me to keep an eye on the dogs and kids, it has a built in shelf. I also have a shed that I am converting to a greenhouse (slowly, I am a single mom\student), but as of yet it does not have heat.

[brookn]

Kevin, that was so funny, and yes what else would you do at Oak Hill? The plants are great, and they have the best pricing around. The Cymbidium eburneum alone was a bargain at I think $8, another place that I checked out they were $45, now mine is likely just seedling size, but on a budget you cannot beat the prices. I mostly got plants that I already had some experience with the cultural requirements, but this is my first Cym.

Thanks for the info on the kingianum I have wanted one since I first laid eyes on them. I have a great spot outside for it in mind. I like hybrids, but I find the more I get into the hobby, the more I gravitate toward species plants. I love telling the kids where the plants are from, and how this plant looks like the ones growing in the wild. I have been so jazzed about the whole order today, it's great when you get new plants, I can hardly wait for them to get here.
By the way, I also almost tried my hand at a Paph. or two. I was tempted to buy either the Paph. Concon Bell, or the Paph. Armeni White, there are about 5 more plants at Oak Hill I know that I want, and I think that the next moment of insanity I will get those for sure. I really love the spots on that Paph. Concon Bell

[janice]

Brook, we all make do.............I have all of mine in either a south door/window or my lower light ones on a table near a west window........................in the warm months they all go outside......................I think I need a greenhouse..........................too bad we don't live next door to each other!!!!!!!!!!!! I bought 8 (YES, 8 more in the last two days!!!!!!!!) I am in southern Illinois....what part of Mo. do you live?? Close enough to go to the Orchid Show in St. Louis