New aquisitions

[Rocinante]

I got a pretty nice haul from the annual auction held at my Orchid Society meeting last week ($15 each, I shoulda brought more money!):
Left to right:
Gongora gratulabunda,
Cattleya amethystoglossa (Gustavo x Orinoco) x sib 'Herbrita' AM/AOS,
Dendrobium primulinum

[solay]

John, that's some great buys there. One of these days I will join a Orchid Society. Sounds like fun. I like the fern bowl thing the Gongora is in. I plan to buy a bunch of those in January when I'm in the Philippines. They are much cheaper there.

[Rocinante]

The Gongora is my first hanger. Solay, you have to join a Society, you learn so much from others, make Orchid buying connections and get info you never thought you'd get!

[solay]

I'll definitely consider doing it one of these days. Thanks for the advice.

[patticake]

Nice plants! I've never heard of a Gongora.
I too, would love to join the orchid society around here, but it meets the first Saturday of the month. My weekends are pretty booked up with family stuff. I wish it met during the week in the evening.
Anyway, good luck with the new chids! I'll be watching for shots of blooms

[arleneg]

Originally Posted by solay

I plan to buy a bunch of those in January when I'm in the Philippines. They are much cheaper there.

Ooohhh..I might ask you to buy a few for me, if you won't mind. As time gets closer, let me know when you'll be leaving.

Oh wait...I'll try asking my aunt and uncle who will be coming here soon. Can you tell me where to buy them?

[solay]

I'll PM you Arlene. We go late January/early February. Best time to go. Cooler and not much rain. I'm going to look into bring some orchids back too this time.

Sorry, back to the topic.

[articuno75]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

I got a pretty nice haul from the annual auction held at my Orchid Society meeting last week ($15 each, I shoulda brought more money!):
Left to right:
Gongora gratulabunda,
Cattleya amethystoglossa (Gustavo x Orinoco) x sib 'Herbrita' AM/AOS,
Dendrobium primulinum

Spots! spots! I see spots!!! I can't wait to see the Catt in bloom and the Gongora! Yummy! You'll like the blooms, I have it on my wish list.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by patticake

Nice plants! I've never heard of a Gongora.

Making myself abundantly clear from the start, I LOVE Gongoras. If I was told that I cold only grow a limited number of genera for the rest of my life and forced to choose, gongora would be on the list. Trouble is I don't seem to grow them very well. They need intermediate to warm conditions and very high humidity. They send up these little thread-like roots, straight up into the air and if you don't have the humidity to carry them, they suffer and decline.

But to the reason I love them so: Most of them look like tiny flying dragons hovering like a humming bird. No kidding. See for yourself:

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ra-grossa2.jpg
http://www.autrevie.com/Stanhopea/Go...nHoutte229.jpg
http://users.skynet.be/jmv9874/gongo...claviodora.jpg
http://www.biorquidtropic.com/images/Gongora%20aff.jpg

A few of the species have different shaped flowers but most of them are like the ones I pictured.

[articuno75]

They are also known as the "Punch and Judy" orchids cause they look similar to the marrionette puppets. Here is a pic of Gongora truncata.

[Rocinante]

Jenny, now that you mention it they do look like the marionettes! I just looked up a picture of mine. It's an orangy looking bloom. But I'll have to wait for next spring.

[patticake]

Wow... Thanks, Kevin & Jenny! What a spectacular bloom! I love this forum.... I learn something new all the time.