Joe's Orchids & Perennials

New Additions to the Collection

2009-09-24T17:16:00.004-06:00

This past weekend I had the opportunity to buy some orchids, the first in a couple months. Actually, it was a pair of opportunities. AOS judge Betty Berthiaume donated her entire collection of some 10 000 plants to the Orchid Species Preservation Foundation in Edmonton. The Foundation pulled from the donation what they needed for their collection, and the rest are being sold to the general public - still thousands of plants! Thus I visited the Muttart Conservatory on the weekend to attend the sale. I picked up a number of plants, all at incredibly reasonable prices. One of those plants was in bloom and is pictured above - the first photo - Bulbophyllum lepidum. This, together with the Bulbo. leptanthum that I acquired at the sale, are the first two Bulbos to grace my collection. They are very interesting plants. Bulbo. lepidum is also known as Cirrhopetalum lepidum, and is furthermore known also by the specific epithet andersonii for either genus. Such is but a taste of the confusion that plagues the genus of Bulbophyllum, which is the largest genus in Orchidaceae with some 2000 species - all quite different yet similar - and those species have been variously placed into different genera by different taxonomists over the years. But I'll go off on that tangent some other day.

The other plants pictured here I purchased at the OSA September meeting, the next day. They are, from top to bottom: Doritaenopsis Kenneth Schubert, Phragmipedium (Taurus x schlimii 'Nad'), and Phrag besseae ('Haven' x 'Smokin').

Dtps. Kenneth Schubert is a rather famous Phal hybrid because of its floriferous spikes of blue-violet flowers that fade to pale lavender - uncommon colors for Phals and most other orchids. It is also infamous for being difficult to grow. The previous owner of the plant told me that they like higher light than other Phals, and that is the trick. I guess we'll find out!

The Phrag schlimii cross is a pretty little miniature that I couldn't resist. Small Phrags can be tough to find. Even Phrag besseae gets quite big with age, and often, so does schlimii, which has small flowers but long leaves when mature. But hybrids with schlimii, fischeri, and the small green species like pearcei can be quite compact. As an added bonus this little guy is sweetly fragrant, a trait that none of my other Phrags share with it - even though schlimii can be fragrant (hence the fragrance in this progeny), none of my cultivars of it are fragrant in the slightest!

The besseae is an Orchid Zone cross, and anyone who knows slipper orchids knows that the Orchid Zone has some of the best examples of Paphs and Phrags out there. Terry Root's breeding sets the standard for tropical slippers, and this besseae demonstrates that. I have been hunting for a nice besseae for a long time, and I finally got one. This one was sitting next to another, inferior cultivar, also in bloom. This one has redder color, flatter and wider petals, and a larger pouch than the other one. I am excited about it - it will make a great stud plant in the future.

I joined two societies in the past week: the Orchid Species Preservation Foundation (OSPF) and the American Orchid Society. Now I am a proud member of 3 orchid societies!

In less than a week and a half I will venture to Calgary to take in the FOS' annual show and sale. I will be taking my camera!

Phew!

2009-09-04T12:31:00.010-06:00

What a summer! I worked full-time this summer at a local nursery. I was so busy between work and all of my interests, that I did not get the time to make a single blog post! Now that summer has come and gone and school's back in, my focus is changing yet again. I finally have some time to post an update to this blog. For this post, I have included some photos of plants that bloomed for me over the summer (mainly Cypripediums). Soon I will post some current carnivorous plant photos as well.

As usual, it was a long summer without orchids! My orchid society takes a break in July and August, so I always have to wait TWO MONTHS before I can get my next orchid fix after June. The next meeting is coming up, and I couldn't be more excited. I shouldn't say, however, that my summer was completely without orchids. Of course, although the majority of my tropical orchids are typically out of season during the summer, the Cypripediums bloom in June out in the garden. Their season is short but sweet. The photos are, from top to bottom: Cyp montanum, Cyp Ulla Silkens (flavum x reginae), Cyp Emil (parviflorum x calceolus), Cyp parviflorum var. pubescens, and Cyp Gisela (parviflorum x macranthos).

The Beauty of Native Plants

2009-05-15T10:23:00.003-06:00

Native plants can bring so much beauty to your garden, sometimes beauty you wouldn't expect. Corydalis aurea (golden corydalis) is one of those native plants that triggers people to say "THAT is a native plant!?". Corydalis are popular collectors plants that are just coming into the mainstream gardening world. They are closely related to Dicentra (bleeding heart), but grow generally lower to the ground and have more tubular flowers. The ferny, blue green foliage and yellow flowers of this species are to die for. Pictured is one of a number of seedlings generated from the mother plant just before it died last year. It was a huge plant rescued from a construction site just outside of town that suffered from severe transplant shock. Luckily I have these seedlings to be assured that the plant's death was not in vain. They are forming a beautiful carpet of blue-green and yellow in my new rock garden.

Woodland Waterlily

2009-05-15T10:19:00.005-06:00

The tiny, double white flowers of Sanguinaria canadensis f. multiplex 'Plena' (double bloodroot) remind me of little waterlilies. Previously considered a rare collectors plant, this plant, although still a specialty item, is now much easier and less expensive to obtain. Both the Latin and common names come from the red, blood-like fluid that drains out of the rhizomes when cut.

A Work in Progress

2009-04-15T16:33:00.002-06:00

Here is the newest section of my alpine/rockery garden, which I started work on last fall. Now that the ground is thawed, I have started the continuation of the project. I have put in part of the path, to make it easier to work in the mud, and some fencing to keep the dog out. When this section is finished, Sempervivum and various mosses and other carpet-forming plants will fill in the empty gravel between stepping stones.

Signs of Spring

2009-04-15T15:54:00.004-06:00

The alpine garden is always host to the first emerging plants in my yard. I am expanding this section of my garden currently, and there are many new plants that were put in last year that are emerging. From top to bottom:

1. Aquilegia jonesii (Jone's columbine) is a rare alpine species that grows to only 4" in diameter and 2-3" tall but covers itself with large soft violet-blue flowers in the spring. Always one of the earliest plants to emerge in my garden, the blusish lacy leaves are a welcome sight.

2. Pulsatilla patens (prairie crocus) is a native plant in my area and new to the garden as of last year. It is supposedly among the earliest spring flowers and so far it is living up to its reputation.

3. Sempervivum spp. (hens and chicks) is an evergreen and as such is always among the first visible greenery in the garden after the snow melts. I love these plants because they come in so many different forms and they are easy to grow. I added many new ones to my expanding rockery garden last year and many more will come this year.

4. Lewisia rediviva (bitterroot) is a native plant for my area and another new addition to the garden as of last year. It is a bit of a collectors plant, but I think it belongs in everyone's rock garden. Soon its enormous pink flowers will make this foliage invisible. Above and below the plant in the photo you can see seedlings of Corydalis aurea (golden corydalis), the offspring of a plant I rescued last summer.

5. Species tulips are in my opinion undervalued and I actually like them more than the more common hybrids. They are fantastic rockery plants and I added a couple new species to the rock garden last year to join the existing T. tarda. Pictured is Tulipa pulchella, which will soon have pink flowers.

EDIT: I had forgotten that Pulsatilla patens flowers before the leaves emerge; therefore that plant won't be among the first spring flowers in my garden this year, because it is already producing leaves! Hopefully next year we'll see some flowers.

2009-04-15T15:49:00.002-06:00

Some of my early started bulbs (top) and vegetable seeds (bottom) are spending the afternoon outside in the warm sunlight, in my cluttered potting area. This year I am expanding my vegetable garden, and I am bringing in lots of new perennials for the new flower beds.

Spring Clean-up

2009-04-15T15:40:00.002-06:00

It has been mostly quite warm the past week, with above average temperatures (although we went from afternoon thundershowers the other day to morning snow yesterday), and with the snow melted and the ground thawed, I've been doing some spring clean-up around the yard, and starting work on the landscaping that I started in the fall. By the end of May I plan to have the yard completely revamped, with a new pond, and a new alpine/rockery garden. Once it's all finished, there will be little lawn left, most of it replaced with native plants and low maintenance perennials, although as one might expect from me there will be no shortage of exotic and unusual plants.

Pictured above, the main Cypripedium bed may look barren right now, but in 6 weeks time it will be full of orchids about to bloom. I can't wait!

Every Challenge Has a Reward

2009-04-08T09:08:00.003-06:00

Paph bellatulum, pictured here, is one of the more challenging Paph species to grow. It is from subgenus Brachypetalum, which is well-known as a difficult group of plants. It's worth the effort though, to see such unique beauty. The whimsical spotted flowers of this plant droop over the edge of the pot or rest on the leaves, unlike most Paph flowers, which are borne on erect stems. The key to growing Brachys is good quality water, strong light, good air movement, and careful watering techniques as they are prone to crown rot. They should be potted in a coarser medium than most Paphs and should dry out a bit more between waterings. Some sources suggest calcium supplements as well, though I have yet to use one.

Eye-Popping

2009-04-07T14:27:00.002-06:00

This is Phrag Memoria Dick Clements, one of the earlier Phrag besseae hybrids and likely the first red hybrid. While I have never been a huge fan of the form or smallish size of the flower, it does have really nice color, and it is easy to grow.

Starting Early

2009-04-06T16:28:00.005-06:00

Spring is definitely here where I live - it is 14 C outside and the snow is melting away! Soon early spring flowers will poke out of the ground, but inside seeds and bulbs I have started early are already poking through. This year I am expanding my vegetable garden, which will boast a full array of classic and ethnic veggies. I have also purchased a number of new and exciting spring bulbs, including lilies, columbine, trillium, dinnerplate dahlias and more. All of these plants are growing with a couple tropical orchids in my new coldframe, which is currently sitting in my bedroom until it warms up outside a bit more.

This coldframe is not reliable in night temperatures that are much under freezing, which will still exist for the next couple of weeks. I hope to get a good coldframe soon that might be a reliable storage space for plants in early spring! I simply couldn't pass this one up because it was so cheap, and the other one I have like it is failing.

Paph. delenatii

2009-04-01T15:27:00.003-06:00

This is the same Paph. delenatii that I posted on some weeks ago. The first flower on the spike was malformed, with two pouches. This one is normal, albeit a little smaller. This is a first-bloom seedling, purchased from Paphanatics last fall. It was quick to flower for me.

Spring Has Arrived

2009-03-30T14:07:00.004-06:00

Finally my garden has seen some decent spring weather the past week, and the snow is finally receding. As more and more patches of bare earth are revealed, I know that I will have spring blooms within the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, I have this gorgeous Oriental lily to enjoy. Its strong fragrance fills the house, and reminds me of the summer when the lilies in my garden fill it with the same perfume. These bulbs can be forced to flower in the early spring by storing them in dry peat in the basement over the winter, or in the fridge if your basement isn't cool enough. They require several months of temperatures around 2-5 C in order to flower.

Paph Yi-Ying Green Coral

2009-03-23T09:03:00.002-06:00

This is a new albino Maudiae hybrid, and likely my favorite of this breeding group. I love the way the dorsal ends in a sharp point, and the color is sharp and uniform. This photo was taken with my new DSLR camera.

A Pair of Paph villosums

2009-03-15T17:28:00.004-06:00

Illustrated above are two separate specimens of the same species - Paph villosum. You can see the variation possible within this species. Paph villosum is an old standard species that finds itself in most serious slipper orchid collections. It is easy to grow and its varnished look is quite unique.

Cypripedium reginae

2009-02-28T09:23:00.002-07:00

Cypripedium reginae, or showy lady's slipper, is a native Canadian orchid whose range extends from Saskatchewan into the maritimes, and south into the midwestern and eastern US. It was for a long time my favorite plant in the world, and it is still very high up there on my list. This is not the nicest reginae I have flowered but it remains very pleasant. I bought it in leaf at the OSA show last weekend; it flowered out very quickly (as Cyps do). It was forced out of dormancy to bloom much earlier than it normally does. In pot culture it is possible to do this by altering the plant's growth cycle. I will likely keep it this way, rather than planting it out, so that I can show it every year.

OSA Show 2009 Haul

2009-02-23T16:14:00.003-07:00

This past weekend was my local orchid society's annual show and sale. I picked up the following plants:

Paph Yi-Ying Golden Slipper (in bud)
Paph Yi-Ying Green Coral (in bud)
Paph micranthum
Paph vietnamense (X2)
Paph druryi
Paph fairrieanum
Paph sanderianum
Paph rothschildianum
Paph emersonii
Paph bellatulum (in spike)
Paph (micranthum x jackii)
Paph Wossner Vietnam Star
Den loddigesii 'ROC' AM/AOS (in bloom)
Den New Century 'Happiness' (in bloom)
Den nobile (in bloom)
Den victoria-reginae
Den parishii
Cochleanthes candida
Leptotes bicolor (in bud)
Cyp reginae
Cyp Sabine
Otaara (LC Psyche x Ctna. Why Not)

Ecuagenera did not bring the Selenipedium aequinoctiale I pre-ordered, which flabbergasted be, especially after all the anticipation. However, I did pick up lots of great plants. There will be some photos posted soon!

Update on the Paph. delenatii

2009-02-19T19:01:00.002-07:00

It has now been a month since the first photo was taken of this plant, on its way to flowering for the first time. Atop a now 8" spike, the first bud begins to expand.

Tomorrow is my local Orchid Society of Alberta annual show and sale, this year entitled "Orchid Dreams". Expect lots of photos to be posted from the show and from new plants!

White Amaryllis

2009-02-06T14:16:00.003-07:00

I like to grow amaryllis bulbs during the winter; they are some of the most beautiful indoor plants and are very easy to care for, and you can store them during the summer for reuse. The good ones (like this one) have huge flowers - the flower pictured is over 7 inches across. The tall stalks can get top-heavy and sometimes need staking. To find a good-quality bulb, buy from a reputable garden centre, in bulk. Usually the cheap ones at Wal-Mart, etc. are not very good. As well, the special Christmas "kits" usually turn out quite poor. A strong bulb will be nice and big, probably around 5 inches or so in diameter. Smaller ones will have smaller flowers the first year but should get bigger if you keep them as perennials. Better cultivars and older plants will produce multiple flower stalks, as well.

The cultivar pictured is Hippeastrum 'Intokasie', from the Netherlands.

Another delenatii Update

2009-02-05T15:27:00.003-07:00

It has now been two weeks since I first pictured this plant (in sheath), and the spike is now about 3 inches long.

It's Coming Along...

2009-01-29T10:46:00.001-07:00

The Paph delenatii spike I posted on exactly one week ago has grown an inch. There appears to be a second bud forming underneath the large one.

Coming Soon: Selenipedium aequinoctiale

2009-01-27T10:32:00.002-07:00

Selenipedium is a genus of only a few species of slipper orchids from Central and South America. They are gargantuan plants with small flowers, and very difficult to cultivate, so they are very difficult to find on the market. However, I think they are really special, and I am determined to become one of the few people in the world who owns one. As such, I have pre-ordered one from Ecuagenera, the only company in the world I know of that sells them, for delivery at the OSA's show next month. This species has orange and purple flowers, and grows 5-6 feet tall on slender, reedy stems. I am currently collecting information on the cultivation of this plant. More on this soon!

Extensive Website Updates

2009-01-26T14:13:00.001-07:00

There have been some major updates to the website at http://members.shaw.ca/jgadbois. There are now several articles downloadable. Check it out!

It is Finally Up, I Promise...

2009-01-25T16:00:00.002-07:00

Over the past year or so I have gone through several attempts to get a website up and running, which would have more features than this blog. These have all failed - until now. After finally investing in a web design program, I have designed a website that is online. The address is http://members.shaw.ca/jgadbois - bookmark it! Perhaps one day I will have my own domain, but for now this is the best I can do. Over the next little while I will be getting all the features of the site working. The site will feature tons of downloadable content, including articles (in Word format) and maybe even wallpapers and video tutorials. The possibilities are nearly endless! Currently only very basic introductory information and a few photos are live, but check back often for updates!

Artificial Vernalization of Potted Cypripediums

2009-01-23T21:28:00.004-07:00

A few days ago I took my Cyp. reginae f. albolabium seedling out of vernalization. This is the only Cyp that I have growing in a container currently, and I'm doing this because it is a fragile young plant - I never plant seedlings out until they are 2-3 years old. Anyway, I wanted to discuss the issue of dormancy in Cypripediums when you are container growing. This applies to seedlings and mature plants alike. Because Cyps are temperate plants, they require a cold winter dormancy in order to survive. During this period the plants die to the ground and rest for 3-4 months. Obviously in the garden nature takes care of this, but if you are container growing, you have to simulate it. The best option with mature plants, if they are hardy in your region, is to sink the pots into the ground for the winter. But if you are growing seedlings, this is undesirable as conditions outside are quite harsh for such tiny plants (although some people simply plant them in protected sites). As well, some people like to have mature Cyps growing at specific times of the year, ie for shows and such. Finally many people grow the more tender species in northern areas and can't overwinter them outside. In these cases, we use a method called artificial vernalization, in which basically the plants are refrigerated for a few months.

Cyps do not need freezing temperatures during their dormancy; in fact this might kill them in pots. Outside, the plants are insulated from the cold by the ground, mulch, and snowcover. In pots they don't get this insulation. So, temperatures of around 3-5 C are adequate for dormancy. Any standard refrigerator works for this. The next thing is soil moisture. Although the plants should have significantly less moisture during dormancy, they should still not be bone dry. As dormancy approaches (signalled by the yellowing of the leaves), gradually reduce watering so that by the time the plant is brown it is just being kept slightly damp. Now, place the pot in a Ziploc bag and seal it, and place it in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. This will create a humid environment so that the soil doesn't dry out, and the bag should help keep fungi out. However, as there is moisture and there are cool temperatures, you could get mold growth on the soil so watch for this throughout dormancy and pick it out as it appears. I like to prick holes in the Ziploc bag to vent it, which I find helps reduce mold growth. This doesn't work as well for everyone though, I've heard. Also throughout the dormancy, check the soil moisture every once in a while and dampen it a little if it gets dry.

With mature plants, it is usually not feasible to refrigerate them because the pots are too big. For them, you probably have to store the pots in the garage (unheated) or a really cool room in the basement over the winter. In the case of an unheated garage, simply cover the pots really well with blankets, etc. to keep it from freezing.

And that's basically it! All you have to remember besides that stuff is that the plants need 3-4 months dormancy depending on the species (and formosanum appears to only need 2 months). When the time is up, just remove the pot from the fridge and start watering it (put it in a bright location). If the plant starts emerging from the soil while it is in the cold treatment, remove it immediately. I'll be posting pictures of my seedling in the coming weeks.

Spring is Coming...

2009-01-22T09:23:00.002-07:00

Although it is bitterly cold outside today, I have hope, because this Paph delenatii, which is generally a spring bloomer, is spiking. This is a first bloom seedling from awarded parents. I am delighted to have it spiking so quickly after I bought it in October at the FOS show. It originates from Paphanatics, the famed Paph breeder. This is a sure sign of spring!

Phrag schlimii 'Allan's Red'

2009-01-19T19:38:00.003-07:00

It's always difficult to get a good picture of these because the flowers are petite and are often held at a weird angle. I have found that this species is quite variable in terms of flower quality. This is my second one, which I just bought yesterday. It's not much better than my other one, but as my other one is struggling and this is a robust division, I bought it. This is a difficult species to grow well - I think the key is to use pure water and keep it wet. I have to try to pay more attention to my schlimii plants so they do better - they are temperamental and need lots of TLC.

This species is quite hard to find, but all the serious Phrag growers/collectors have at least one. It is an old species and is obviously very attractive, and is one of the most compact Phrags there is, and a founding species of both pink Phrag hybrids and compact ones. Whilst being compact for a Phrag, this plant is still at least 16" or so in leafspan, and growing in a 1 gallon pot - they get rather large as they clump up and mature. Characteristically, the sequentially flowering stems are short and few-flowered. The flower is less than 2" across but has a light fragrance. While the single open flower on this plant looks ridiculous with so much foliage, when it clumps up more it will have multiple stems flowering at once which looks quite impressive. A specimen plant of Phrag schlimii is always a magnificent sight to behold. Here's to Colombia's most beautiful orchid (in my opinion)!

Mega Fanaticum and Something Enchanting

2009-01-19T17:45:00.003-07:00

I know, I know... I said I was going to CUT BACK on tropical orchids, but at this weekend's OSA meeting, I couldn't resist a couple exceptional plants. Pictured are Paphs Harold Koopowitz (malipoense x rothschildianum) and Fanaticum (malipoense x micranthum). I call the latter a "Mega Fanaticum" because the flower is HUGE - 4.5" x 4.5". It is in a vase because the stem broke on the vendor's way to the meeting, but he left it there to show off the plant's potential. You can't tell by the photo, but the pouch is actually collapsing from old age. He said the flower had already been open for about a month - pretty much as long as these last.

Harold Koopowitz is an example of what I call the ultimate Paph hybrid - a Parvi x multifloral cross. Paph rothschildianum always produces the best of these kinds of hybrids. They have enormous flowers on relatively compact plants, with great color and form - what more could you ask for? These flowers are nearly 7" across!

I also bought another Phrag schlimii at that meeting, which I will likely post on later. So much for cutting back... maybe I will build that growing room after all?!

A Need For Cutting Back

2009-01-07T22:16:00.002-07:00

Of late I've been finding it increasingly difficult to manage my large collection of tropical orchids in the VERY small area that I have. As such, I am going to be selling off the majority of my tropical orchid collection at OSA meetings. I will be keeping 15 or so of my favorite (and rarest) plants, all of which are compact enough to grow in front of my windowsill. I had been planning to create a larger growing space in the basement, but have found that my unfinished, crawlspace basement is just not going to work out. I'm going to keep the large "plant cart" I've been using for most of my plants for future use, as I plan to eventually go back to a large collection when I move out of my parents' house. I guess it'll go into storage or something (disassembled)... I'm not totally sure yet.

I am going to focus now on hardy orchids (Cypripediums in particular), for which I have almost unlimited space in the garden outside. It's a shame, but I think my hobby will be a lot less tiresome in the long run. I had been hauling 75 plants across the house to the bathtub to water 3 or 4 times a week... now with only a few plants, it won't be hard to take them to the sink and water them. Plus, my plants won't control the house anymore! Of course I will continue to post photos and information on this blog. I am still working on some projects and even have some plants (that I'm keeping) in sheath right now.

I can't wait until Cyp season in May-June. I will get a little taste of the Cyps later this month, for a Cyp reginae albolabium seedling will be coming out of vernalization. This is obviously extremely early for it do be doing this; it's in a bit of a distorted cycle right now. In the next season I will try to get it on track. Then, in Februrary is the OSA show, where I'm hoping to add some Cyps to the collection. The excitement is difficult to bear!

Paph Satin Smoke

2008-11-12T20:45:00.004-07:00

This gorgeous hybrid owes most of its striking charisma to the Paph micranthum parent, which lends its large pouch with contrasting smaller tepals having pink-red stripes to the picture. The primulinum parent adds a slightly altered pouch and tepal shape (more slender), more subdued coloring (the pouch is ivory and the tepals a soft misty pink), a multifloral habit (2-3 sequentially opening flowers per stem), and ease of culture, which is a major drawback for micranthum. So what you get is a flower very similar to micranthum, but in greater numbers and appearing much easier than micranthum! I don't believe any of the hybrids made with micranthum are any better-looking than the species (not even Magic Lantern), but this is an amazing plant well worth seeking out. I have taken three photos of the same flower at different angles so one can fully appreciate the three-dimensional character of the bloom (which is a feature of any slipper orchid but especially with this one).

Phrag Sedenii 'Blush'

2008-11-04T16:25:00.002-07:00

Phrag Sedenii (longifolium x schlimii) is one of the oldest slipper orchid hybrids. It has stood the test of time better than most of the old crosses, likely because for about 70 years during the 20th century there were no Phrag hybrids registered and this was one of the few pink ones available. It is a very charming plant, albeit quite a large one, and can sometimes have a faint fragrance (as this one does). There are a few named cultivars of Sedenii, all of which are superior to unnamed ones, and this is one of the more common of those. It is one of my favorites, along with 'Candidulum' (made with schlimii f. album), which is lighter in color. The superiority of this clone is revealed not only in the proportions and color of the flower, but in its tendency to branch the spikes. It is also quite vigorous. This was one of my plants that was killed in last year's frost disaster, newly replaced from the FOS show a few weeks ago. It is a very promising plant.

Exciting Projects to Come

2008-10-20T19:41:00.003-06:00

As I believe I mentioned in a previous post, last month I pollinated some of my orchid flowers in preparation for an in-vitro seed propagation project. These are now forming capsules. From top to bottom: Dendrobium Thai Jeng x compactum; Doritis pulcherrima var chumpornensis; and Phalaenopsis Baldan's Kaleidoscope. These are all selfings as I had nothing from like genera to cross (although I realzied when it was too late that I could have crossed the Doritis with the Phal, which would have been interesting...). I would really like to cross some slippers in the future and I plan to do so as more flowers open. I already have relatively detailed plans in place for a propagation project of my Cypripediums in the spring, centred around my new propagation bed of Cyp. parviflorum var pubescens. I will posting about all of these projects as they develop.

The Products of Boredom

2008-10-20T18:55:00.003-06:00

After a disappointing turnout of plants for sale at this month's OSA meeting and not a single vendor in town with a slipper orchid for sale, I've got the blues this week. I am very excited about the future of my growing hobby however, as it becomes more serious and I try to mold it into a career. This evening I was poking around my collection and decided to take some pictures of noteworthy findings.

The first pic is of one of my Paph micranthums, in sheath. I have 2 mature plants and three seedlings. This will be the first to flower. Probably the most exciting thing going on right now. If you haven't yet seen a Paph micranthum flower, seek one out!

The second depicts Paph Satin Smoke (micranthum x primulinum, on the left) and Paph malipoense x jackii (on the right), in spike. The former is a gorgeous multifloral with big smoky-pink blooms, while the latter is a very large-flowered Parvi primary with fragrant green blossoms.

The third portrays Paph ang-thong (also known as Paph godefroyae var ang-thong, Paph niveum var ang-thong and Paph x ang-thong), in low spike. This will be an adorable little white flower with maroon speckles.

The fourth displays Paph Winston Churchill 'Indomitable' FCC/AOS x gratrixianum, a complex hybrid which I last posted on last summer when it first bloomed. It is in sheath.

Finally the last two photos are the first I have taken of my carnivorous plant terrarium, my first attempt at growing these plants that seems to be successful (the last couple times I tried I failed eventually). The plants are growing very vigorously and appear to be very healthy. A closeup of a Nepenthes viking pitcher through the glass is the subject of the fifth photo, while the last gives a view of the entire setup from the outside. I will explain this setup some other time. For now, can you identify all the plants in the last photo? Visible are Nepenthes viking (tropical pitcher plant), Sarracenia pstittacina (parrot pitcher plant), Pinguicula moranensis (Mexican butterwort), Cephalotus follicularis (Albany pitcher plant, barely visible), Dionaea muscipula 'B-52' (giant Venus flytrap), and Dionaea muscipula (typical Venus flytrap). There is also an orchid residing in this tank, Leptotes unicolor, a Brazilian miniature which looks like it may bloom soon. There is one more plant in here which is not visible in the photos, Drosera capensis (cape sundew).

Phragmipedium Memoria Dick Clements 'Flavum'

2008-10-18T16:21:00.003-06:00

This is the orange version of the hybrid I posted on a couple weeks ago. It is made with the yellow form of Phrag besseae, Phrag besseae f. flavum (the original cross is besseae x sargentianum). It is blooming on two spikes, and the first two flowers that opened were malformed, likely due to stress in transport. I am very impressed with this first normal flower. It is slightly larger than my regular Mem. Dick Clements, at 3.5" natural spread (the regular one is 3.25").

Paphiopedilum charlesworthii

2008-10-14T21:31:00.003-06:00

Paph charlesworthii is an iconic species that has been used extensively in breeding for obvious reasons. The flower looks quite large in a photo but really it is quite petite - about 2" across. This is a first bloom seedling so the flower will get bigger next time but scarcely so. I am not happy about the color break on the right side of the dorsal - this negates any potential the flower might have otherwise for an award - but it may just disappear in subsequent flowerings.

Phrag Memoria Dick Clements

2008-10-08T20:08:00.004-06:00

This is a cross between Phrag besseae and Phrag sargentianum. It is one of the earlier besseae hybrids, which were the first red/orange Phrag hybrids. It has won numerous awards for its great color. I never really liked it for some reason until now, now that my own plant is flowering.

Foothills Orchid Society Show 2008

2008-10-07T18:17:00.006-06:00

The orchid society of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the FOS, has their annual show and sale in October. This was my first time attending it. Above are some photos I took there. In order they are: Paph Saint Armel, Paph Harold Koopowitz, Paph Lynleigh Koopowitz, Paph Vanda M Pearman, Paph helenae, and Paph charlesworthii. The show was less than half the size of the Edmonton show (which is in my home city) but there were some nice plants. Best of all I finally got the orchid fix I needed in the form of purchases!

Great Blooms

2008-09-21T18:38:00.002-06:00

Finally I have posted a pic of my Paph Pinocchio which is currently in bloom.

Gentiana sino-ornata is a great little gentian species from China which blooms in the fall (which is irregular for gentians). It has needle-like foliage.

Finally we have some pics of some orchids I just bought today, a mini Dendrobium and a Doritis pulcherrima, at the OSA meeting. I also picked up a couple Phrags, Mem. Dick Clements (besseae x sargentianum) and Mem. Dick Clements flavum (besseae flavum x sargentianum). These are both in bud. I can't wait until the Calgary show in 2 weeks, when I can have a real shopping spree! I just ahd to get my orchid fix today though; it's been a long time since the society last had a meeting.

A Great Weekend for Fall Gardening

2008-09-14T19:43:00.002-06:00

There is a greenhouse in my area called the Ellerslie Gift & Garden Centre. It's a wonderful establishment that is known not only for its great selection of perennials and trees, but its nostalgic gift shop and, more importantly to me, its offerings of orchids and carnivorous plants, the latter of which is unrivaled by any other garden centre in the city. I love to shop there for these things and also for their relatively inexpensive and high-quality orchid-growing supplies year-round. Every September Ellerslie throws an end-of-season celebration in which all perennials and trees are 50% off, and many other items are also on sale. As well, they serve free refreshments and boast live entertainment, and a number of organizations from the Edmonton area set up information booths and sales tables. This annual event is known as the "Ellerslie Fall Tea". Notable attendees this year included the Orchid Society of Alberta (of which of course I am a member), the Edmonton Horticultural Society (of which I am a former member), the Alberta Lily Society, the Edmonton Naturalization Group (with whom I am associated), the Alberta Bonsai Society, and the Edmonton Reptile and Amphibian Society (which doesn't seem relevant but oh well).

I was very fortunate to pick up some nice plants at this event, including some martagon lily bulbs from the Lily Society. I'll have some photos of this stuff soon. I was also able to get a substantial amount of work done in the yard this weekend - it's really coming along!

Check It Out!

2008-09-11T15:32:00.001-06:00

I have created a new website. It is at the URL http://monocotman.tripod.com.

The Orchids Are A-Growin'

2008-09-11T13:01:00.003-06:00

I love this time of the year because as the temperatures start to fall, many Paphs start to spike. I grow all my orchids outside during the summer, and bring them in in the fall. Last year my collection suffered some losses from leaving them out too long though; even though they were in the coldframe, an early frost killed off a few of my most beloved plants. Therefore I took extra caution this year and brought all the plants in as soon as it got down to 5 C at night (which was less than 2 weeks ago). Usually it doesn't get this cold this fast, but sometimes it does, obviously. However, the falling temperatures in the second half of August have done some good. I now have two plants in sheath and one in spike, besides the Phrag 4N cross that has been in bloom since May. The two in sheath are Paph Satin Smoke (micranthum x victoria-regina I think) and Paph (Yerba Buena x Golden Days) x spicerianum, a complex hybrid that last bloomed 2 years ago; these are often slow-growing. The one in spike is Paph Pinocchio (primulinum x moquettianum I think), a Cochlopetalum cross which flowers almost perpetually when mature. The last time it flowered was last summer, and it flowered until the spring, therefore it took only a few months break! The first flower already opened on that plant, but it quickly died off due to a mealy bug infestation. Mealy bugs are little white sap-sucking insects which are the sole biggest insect pest for Paphs (which don't get a lot of trouble with pests). These guys love to hide in flower sheaths (as happened here) and in the crevices between leaves. They are easily killed off with insecticidal soap and I think these ones are all gone now. The rest of that plant's flowers should be fine (it will open several more over the next few months). Luckily this was the only plant in my collection affected this time around. This was the third time only in the 7 years that I have been growing orchids, that I got mealy bugs.

By the way, this was my 200th post on this blog!

Another Gardening Season Ending...

2008-09-07T20:59:00.002-06:00

...But hey, fall is a great time of the year! It may not be as exciting as spring, but the autumn is a great time to clean up the yard after a long (or not so long) season, maybe make some improvements to it, and buy some bulbs (which is actually pretty exciting). What's more, is if you are into orchids like I am, the fall marks the beginning of the season for many types. And for me personally, September is the month that my orchid society resumes its monthly meetings which I greatly miss over the summer. Bearing all this in mind and as I begin a new stage in my life with university, I have quite a positive mind about fall right now.

I am doing a great deal of work on my garden at the moment and rushing to have it finished before first snowfall, which in my region can happen any time now, believe it or not, although there is an equal chance that it will remain in the 20s Celsius for the next few weeks. I found it very difficult to get anything done outside over the summer as it was around 30 degrees Celsius (often quite a bit hotter than that) almost every day with very little rain - difficult weather to get hard work done in. Now that it is cooling off I am spending more time outside. I expect all of my projects will be finished by the end of the month weather-permitting. This will include new flowerbeds in both my front and back yards, with space for interesting new plants - some of which are already purchased - and some great new yard art and other geographical features. I am focussing now on xeroscaping as much as I can - this means that I am mainly planting low-maintenance plants (specifically drought-tolerant ones), many of which are native. However, of course I can never resist planting finicky exotic plants as well - that's what I'm all about! In the end most of the lawn on my property will be eliminated as I have found it difficult to maintain a healthy lawn in my neighborhood, where people allow weeds to grow in increasingly large ranks and tons of their offspring sprout on my lawn throughout the year. The money and time required to keep the lawn looking good is not worth the return, I think. Instead a thick and healthy planting of low-maintenance flowers will keep weeds out and look impressive.

Aside from projects outside I am looking to refine my orchid and carnivorous plant growing space indoors so that I can get better results and make more room. For years I had a light-mounted three-tier shelf in my bedroom; this has been moved to the kitchen and a smaller shelf put in its place which now holds my larger plants (which were too large to grow well on the tiered shelf). I am also planning to set up a growing area in my crawlspace basement.

I will be uploading some pictures soon, and hope to make a posting every week at least.

Lewisia rediviva

2008-06-29T13:58:00.002-06:00

Lewisia rediviva, or bitterroot, is a native plant of arid areas of my province. It is likely the most spectacular rock garden plant you can buy - I think the photos are self-explanatory. The huge 3.5" flowers hide the plant itself! It flowers in May - these photos are outdated. It must be grown in gritty soil with the crown sitting on pure sand or it will rot.

What I Look For in a Cyp

2008-06-26T07:26:00.002-06:00

This wonderful Cyp pubescens specimen is in my opinion a model plant for this species. It has five shoots each with a large, perfectly-shaped flower with magnificent color. The shoots are all tall and lean, and very sturdy, not leaning over holding the weight of the flowers. The flowers are also very fragrant. In the future this will grow into a fantastic specimen plant.

Paphiopedilum Magic Lantern

2008-06-17T07:13:00.004-06:00

Paph Magic Lantern is a cross between Paph delenatii, a Vietnamese species with delicate pink and white flowers, and Paph micranthum, a Chinese/Vietnamese species famous for its huge inflated pouch. The result is a perfectly round flower in soft pink shades with intricate staminode and tepal markings. This flower has great promise, having nearly perfect shape and coloring in a first-bloom seedling. The flower size will improve as the plant ages as well, but this young plant, having a leafspan of about 8", has a flower about 3.5" in diameter. It also has a second bud forming. Paph Magic Lantern makes a fantastic houseplant and is also a good choice for beginner Paph growers, who often are eager to delve into section Parvisepalum but lack the experience to grow and flower many of the species successfully. This is a very easy plant to grow.

Cyp Season

2008-06-14T15:45:00.002-06:00

Here are the Cyps. pubescens and 'Emil' that I posted earlier. The 'Emil''s just finished flowering a few days ago, but the pubescens is still going; they have been in flower for about 2 weeks. The 'Emil' I think is much more attractive than the pubescens, though the flowers are only about half the size. I suppose the 'Emil' would have more competition against a more robust pubecens.

Aquilegia scopulorum

2008-06-07T10:29:00.003-06:00

This plant is widely called Utah columbine. It is an uncommon alpine species that I was fortunate enough to be able to source this year. Very pretty pastel blue and creamy yellow tones, attractive blue leaves, what more could you ask for?

Lilium philadelphicum

2008-06-07T10:20:00.004-06:00

Lilium philadelphicum, also known as the western wood lily, western red lily, wood lily and wild tiger lily, is by far the most spectacular of the native Lily Family members of my area and the only native member of the genus Lilium. It is, of course, an endangered species as a result of over-picking and habitat destruction. A little bit more temperamental than garden lilies, this plant will thrive in a sandy soil, which I have found is the key to its cultivation. It also prefers a lightly shaded location, but will tolerate full sun if kept moist consistently. It is a dainty plant that only grows to about 16" high, and it has large 4" flowers that really pop out. While it is perhaps not as impressive as the huge OT (Orienpet) or Oriental liles that grow to over 4 feet tall and smell amazing, I still think it is a fantastic plant and am proud to call it native. These usually don't bloom for another couple of weeks, but this guy is early as I just bought it this year. More will be pictured as they open.

My First Phrag Tetraploid Cross

2008-05-26T17:46:00.002-06:00

This is Phrag. Eric Young 'Rocket Fire' 4N x Rosy Charm 4N. The 4N stands for "tetraploid" which means that each cell in the plant has four sets of chromosomes. Normally plants have 2N, or two sets of chromosomes (diploid). By doubling the number of chromosomes, there is more genetic material to work with which means that there is more potential for dramatic coloring and better form. These crosses are superior to diploid crosses in general. I bought this plant yesterday at my society meeting.

Update on Cyp Hybrid Study

2008-05-21T19:56:00.003-06:00

Top is Cyp. 'Emil', bottom is Cyp. pubescens. The 'Emil' will have three flowers (on 5 stems), the pubescens 1. The pubescens so far is taller than the 'Emil' and has broader leaves, which is because 'Emil''s parents are smaller than pubescens.

...And Yet More Blooms

2008-05-21T19:08:00.004-06:00

It's a cool, rainy day and so many of the perennials in the garden are opening their blooms. Dwarf bearded iris (Iris pumila) is a plant that I highly recommend to anyone with a sunny border or rock garden. They come in a variety of colors. This plant grows only to about 6 inches tall max., and it will very quickly form nice clumps that can be divided every 2 years. I bought one plant and after 3 years I divided it into five large pieces and several smaller ones (this was 2 years ago). Then I traded off the smaller ones at the spring perennial exchange held by the EHS, and kept the larger ones. Last year I divided the largest piece again and traded the smaller pieces. This year it doesn't look like I'll have any extra pieces, but I'm sure I will next year. In one of my sunny borders I have four of my five existing clumps, which will put on quite a show this year; these are the first blooms to appear. As you can see these flower a few weeks before other irises (here irises flower in early-mid June).

Ramonda myconi is a very rare plant from the mountainous region of northern Spain. It is often called Pyrenean primrose, or simply Ramonda. Its pretty flowers remind me of shooting star (which is in the primrose family), but the two are not related. It is best grown on a slope or even vertically in rocky substrate, due to its very high susceptibility to crown rot. I just bought this plant the other day.

Lilium martagon is one of my favorite lily species. It has led to a wide selection of beautiful shade-tolerating lily hybrids called martagons.

Solomon's seal (Polygonatum multiflorum) is so-called because the cross-section of the roots looks like the seal of King Solomon. It is an awesome shade plant that will grow in FULL shade and forms clumps of graceful arching stems over time. The tiny green-tipped white flowers are very difficult to photograph. These will be followed by purple berries later in the summer.

This dwarf daffodil has been struggling to grow in a hot, sunny spot in my garden. Here is pictured the single, cute little flower it has produced.

More Spring Blooms

2008-05-19T13:10:00.002-06:00

I have a very pretty clump of daffodils that have been in a shady bed in my garden since I was a little kid. They don't tend to bloom every year; more like every other year. I will never know why (maybe it is the shade) but when they do bloom they are very beautiful. This year the clump made 7 flowers for me.

This brooding black Iris is the darkest one I have ever seen. I just bought it a couple weeks ago. The first two flowers have opened, and as they are squished together, they just look like a mass of black petals. Hopefully I will get a better photo sometime.

Pulsatilla aurea is an alpine Pasqueflower species. The leaves are lacier and less-hairy than is typical, and it has greyish yellow, smaller flowers than other types. Quite a little novelty I think.

Many of the trees in my yard are flowering now, including this chokecherry, which a friend of the family gave us many years ago as a little cutting. Now it is a huge tree, at least 15 feet tall.

Finally we have Pulsatilla vulgaris, the most commonly-seen and grown Pasqueflower species. Its velvety purple flowers never fail to impress.

Meconopsis x sheldonii

2008-05-19T13:04:00.002-06:00

Meconopsis, or blue Himalayan poppies, are one of my favorite perennials. It doesn't get any bluer than this. In case you have yet to see one in person, the photo doesn't lie: they are true sky blue. The unfortunate thing about these magnificent plants is that they tend to be monocarpic in my climate, meaning they die after they flower. In cooler, more humid climates, they will live for 20 or more years, flowering year after year. The M. x sheldonii that I pictured in bloom last year I had bought the year before, and it died after it flowered. This new one I recently purchased in flower, and I am going to plant it in full shade, in the coolest spot in my garden, to see if I can get it to survive. I also bought a smaller M. grandis that should bloom next year.

Reptiles of the Garden

2008-05-14T20:50:00.003-06:00

Arisaema sikokianum (top) is commonly known as dragon arum, dragonroot, Japanese Jack-in-the-pulpit, and snow rice-cake plant. It is likely the showiest of all the Arisaema species, shown here in its variegated form. The last two photos are of a wonderful Arisaema species that I just acquired today: A. kiushianum, or cobra lily. It is oone of the species with the long tongues - simply astounding.

A Study on Cypripedium Hybrids

2008-05-13T21:44:00.003-06:00

Of late, Cyp hybrids have been all the rage with hardy orchid afficinados. According to the lucky Cyp growers who have had much experience with many of these hybrids, they are more robust, more vigorous, easier to grow and have larger flowers than the species. Over the next couple seasons I will do a direct comparison between Cyp. Emil (parviflorum x calceolus, top) and Cyp pubescens (bottom). Both had just one blooming size shoot last year and are growing next to each other. The Emil this year has four shoots, two blooming sized, while the pubescens has just one blooming size shoot, same as last year. I will update my readers on this weekly.

Dodecatheon 'Aphrodite' x meadia

2008-05-13T21:35:00.002-06:00

Dodecatheon 'Aphrodite' is a recently-introduced cultivar of shooting star (I believe it is a hybrid between meadia and pulchellum or something like that) which has much larger flowers and is more vigorous than any of the species. This plant here is something I had previously never seen before: a hybrid between 'Aphrodite' and meadia. I just bought it last week. Hybrid Dodecatheons are rarely offered! This one so far lacks the large size of the 'Aphrodite' parent, but perhaps that will change as it ages. It is a pretty robust plant, has attractive leaves, and the flowers somehow seem more dainty and colorful than meadia. I'm happy!

New Plants for the Season

2008-05-11T15:04:00.006-06:00

I have been lucky enough over the past few days to acquire a number of plants that I've been eyeing for the past few years. I will be showing them off over the next few days.

Corydalis lutea (top) is the seldom-offered yellow corydalis species (the most common corydalis species are blue-flowered, and the popular C. solida is pink to red-flowered). It is quite different from more familiar corydalis varieties, with smoother-cut foliage resembling columbine leaves.

Sanguinaria canadensis f. multiplex (second) is the rare double form of the beautiful native woodland plant, bloodroot (S. canadensis), so named for the red-colored liquid contained within the roots. I find it rather resembles water lilies, and the foliage makes the plant attractive even when not in bloom. They bloom early in the spring.

Pulsatilla 'Papageno' (third) is actually not a new plant; it is in its second year now in my garden. A delightful Pasqueflower variety, it is the first plant to bloom in my garden this year.

The last photo depicts my favorite iris: Iris germanica 'Chivalry', which I have been eyeing at local greenhouses for a few years and I finally bought it last week. It has the most gorgeous shade of blue, and it produces up to 8 flowers per stem. The flowers are also very large and have a wonderful fragrance.

Coldframe Pleasures

2008-05-07T20:58:00.003-06:00

The Cyp pubescens I have been posting about over the past few weeks has pretty much opened its flowers now (all of those Cyps are now in the coldframe). It is pictured in the first pic. The Arisaema sikokianum that has been accompanying the Cyps is also in the coldframe (second pic) and is almost totally opened. The next two photos are of a Cyp 'Gisela' that I just purchased today (not the one I have been picturing - it is darker and is still far from blooming). I very much like this variation and it is a very robust plant. the last photo is of a very uncommon Dodecatheon species, D. dentatum (dentate shooting star). The white-flowered species are always harder to get, and this one also has unique foliage and, as you can see, much shorter stems.

Spring is Here - Finally...

2008-05-04T17:48:00.004-06:00

...and I have been shopping! The bottom three photos show some of the plants I have bought so far, which are currently residing in the coldframe so they can be hardened off before I plant them. Pictured are Iris hookeri, Dicentra 'Candy Hearts', and a bunch of different plants in a group photo. Iris hookeri is sometimes regarded as a variety of the dwarf I. setosa. Dicentra 'Candy Hearts' is a great new variety that I almost like more than 'King of Hearts', my old favorite. In particular I bought a number of lilies, though they are not pictured.

The potted Cyps and Arisaema are outside now (at least during the day); pictured are Arisaema sikokianum (second photo) Cyp. parviflorum var. pubescens (third photo) and Cyp passerinum (top photo). The latter I just purchased a few days ago. It is in bud and I am very excited; these are difficlut to get.

More Cyp Progress!

2008-04-30T07:29:00.003-06:00

I am very excited now as the Cyp pubescens (top) reveals 2 flower buds. The Cyp. 'Gisela' (middle) is really coming along too. Not a Cyp, but Arisaema sikokianum's shoot is bursting open as well.

Cyp Progress

2008-04-26T07:18:00.004-06:00

Cyps generally develop quite qiickly once the shoots break the soil. You can see that after another week, the potted Cyps on my growing shelf are really coming along. Pics in order: C. reginae, C. parviflorum, C. pubescens, C. 'Gisela'.

More Cyp Stuff

2008-04-17T07:39:00.002-06:00

The top photo is the Cyp. parviflorum var. pubescens I pictured a week ago, with its leaves fully unfurled. It won't flower this year although it did last year; this I find is common with this species. After they take a year off however, they produce larger and more flowers the following year. The second pic is the Cyp. reginae I pictured earlier, still slowly, as reginae does, emerging. The third pic is another pubescens which I brought in a week ago, just peeking through. This one should (hopefully) flower - it flowered on two stems last year. It seems to have suffered some frost damage from the pot being plunged too high in the hole in the ground. I have also brought in a 'Gisela' which has not appeared yet.

Playing in the Dirt

2008-04-16T07:14:00.004-06:00

Yesterday evening I decided to move my oldest Cyp. reginae plant, which bloomed for the first time last year, to a more favorable location in the garden. I gave it better soil, and a little more shade; the previous area was borderline too hot. It had nice long, healthy roots, so I dug it a bigger hole, as well. Soon I plan on moving my oldest Cyp. pubescens as well; it is getting too much shade and won't multiply.

Early Cypripediums

2008-04-10T19:55:00.003-06:00

Regular readers of this blog will know that I grow a lot of Cypripediums, or hardy lady's slippers. I am experimenting with growing C. parviflorum (second pic) and C. reginae (first pic) in pots, which allows me to "wake them up" earlier in spring than the plants in my garden will rise (these are active at least a month before the garden plants will be). I am also growing some second year Cyp seedlings this year: C. californicum (third pic) and C. reginae f. albolabium (white form of C. reginae - fourth pic). The last pic shows the size difference between the rising C. parviflorum and the fully active seedlings.

Early Spring - Sempervivum

2008-04-10T19:51:00.001-06:00

Sempervivum, or hens and chicks, are great little rock garden plants that spread to form a carpet of this beautiful evergreen foliage, flowering in the summer. I have three different varieties, which are visible again now that the snow is melted.

Signs of Spring

2008-04-10T19:45:00.003-06:00

April in my area is the first month of spring. As the snow melts, the plants are always eager to peek through the soil. By the end of the month, I usually have tulips blooming (although this year is moving along slowly so it will likely not be until May). From top to bottom: tulips, Allium 'Purple Sensation', Tulipa tarda, Aquilegia jonesii.

Coelogyne tomentosa

2008-04-09T07:44:00.003-06:00

Coelogyne are wonderful epiphytic plants from Asia that can quickly form large specimens like the one pictured here. This plant is growing in a 12" hanging basket. I find it quite difficult to keep because I have limited space, but I found this plant at such a great price in the fall and couldn't pass it up. I was surprised and excited one morning to find this spike in bud, and it is now in full bloom. Usually a plant of this size would produce many spikes at a time, but I have just a single spike - probably because I can only provide the plant with so much light. I plan on dividing this plant in the spring so that I can save some space - since it is only producing one spike at a time anyway. Besides the flowers being so attractive, they have perhaps the most pleasing fragrance I have ever observed in an orchid, making this a desirable plant indeed.

Paph. Ho Chi Minh

2008-03-03T07:40:00.002-07:00

I have waited a long time to see one of my Ho Chi Minhs bloom! This is a cross between two Vietnamese species, P. delenatii and P. vietnamense.

OSA Show 2008 (3)

2008-02-29T11:52:00.002-07:00

Cyp. parviflorum var. pubescens (top 2), Phrag. besseae, Paph delenatii.

OSA Show 2008 (2)

2008-02-29T11:48:00.003-07:00

Phrag. Lutz Rollke, Paph. Lippewunder, Paph. concolor, Paph. Ho Chi Minh (delenatii x vietnamense), and a Paph. complex hybrid whose name has escaped me.

OSA Show 2008 (1)

2008-02-29T11:43:00.004-07:00

The OSA orchid show and sale took place the weekend of Feb. 23-24 this year. I took pictures of some of the amazing slippers on display there. In order from top to bottom: Paph. bellatulum, Paph. Satin Smoke (micranthum x primulinum), Phrag. Eric Young (besseae x longifolium), Phrag. April Fool (Cardinale x schlimii), and Phrag. Schroderae (schlimii x caudatum).

A Refined Hobby

2008-02-24T17:39:00.002-07:00

After several months of inactivity in my orchid growing hobby, I have removed some of my unwanted and damaged plants (from the frost in the fall) and replaced them with new ones that I've always wanted. As well, I am cleaning out my growing area and relocating it to an area where it will be easier to maintain. I have also decided to grow only slippers now, and will be focusing on Cypripediums, which are becoming more available in my area (finally!).

This past weekend featured the always-popular Orchid Society of Alberta (OSA) show here in Edmonton, and as always I was an avid attendee. I managed to make a few plant and supply purchases, one of which was an unlikely one: a Mexipedium xerophyticum (more on that later). The show had quite a good turnout and there were some fantastic plants both on display and for sale.

Another couple of great purchases I made at the show were some rare Cypripedium seedlings: Cyp. reginae f. albolabium (the white form) and Cyp. californicum, an amazing multifloral Cyp from Oregon and northern California. This is the only Cyp besides the Central American species (which are not in cultivation) that has multifloral inflorescences. Some pics will follow!

My Orchid Forums

2007-11-09T20:46:00.000-07:00

To all my readers:

I am a member of Orchid Board (www.orchidboard.com) as slipperfreak, and Slippertalk Orchid Forum (www.slippertalk.com) as parvi_17. I encourage all two of you (hehe) to join these forums and chat with me and the other members. This information is now on the side panel.

Misc. Photos 2

2007-11-09T20:37:00.000-07:00

These are also from July. The first is of Paph Norito Hasegawa (left) and Wossner Armenijack (right). The second is of Wossner Armenijack. The last is an unknown variety of Aquilegia (columbine). This was a little plant that wasn't doing much in a shady spot last year so I moved it to a brighter location and it flowered this year. It had been in the original spot since I was a little kid and my grandma worked the garden.

Misc. Photos

2007-11-09T20:31:00.000-07:00

All of these were taken way back in July. The first photo is of Paeonia 'Moon of Nippon', a standard garden peony flowering for the first time. The second is Allium caeruleum (blue ornamental onion). The third is an unknown variety of Lilium martagon. The last is Lilium orientalis 'Casablanca', which grew to over 4 feet tall this year.

Phragmipedium pearcei

2007-11-08T07:28:00.000-07:00

This is a quick photo I took about 6 weeks ago for my records as I bought the plant in bloom. It is a miniature species with these beautiful green flowers that open sequentially. These are not all that easy to get, and i was lucky to get one at a very good price. They like lots of moisture.

Winter is Upon Us... What Should I Do With My Orchids?

2007-11-06T07:42:00.000-07:00

Well the yard has been covered with the first blanket of snow of the year. I guess for people who live in more moderate climates winter is still hiding around the corner, but for us it's pretty much here (and a little later than usual too). The question is though, what is to be done with tropical orchids when the photoperiod shortens and temperatures drop? Well, the first thing that must be done is just that. make sure the photoperiod shortens and temps drop. Depending on your growing situation, this may or may not be a natural change; usually the latter is harder to do in the home. The second thing you'll want to do, for most epiphytic orchids, is decrease water and fertilizer. If you're growing terrestrials (namely slippers) you don't need to do this most of the time (any readers who want to get more specific can ask me). It is also very easy and common for orchids to get confused about the seasons, and you will probably get plants growing like crazy and spiking over the winter. When this happens, just pretend it's summer. What I'm getting at is, it is actually more important to adjust your seasonal conditions following your plants' growth cycle than following the season outside.

Paph Envy Green

2007-11-05T18:37:00.001-07:00

This is a much-loved but fairly rare hybrid that will likely cost you a pretty penny if you find one (not as much as a micranthum eburneum or anything, but more than the average Paph). I really like this particular clone which originates from Paramount Orchids, a (sort of) local nursery that carries some pretty hard-to-find Paph hybrids which is the source of over half my Paphs. It has a second bud forming as well.

Envy Green is a cross between the hard-to-beat Parvi species malipoense and the sequential blooming primulinum.

Paph Wossner Butterfly

2007-11-05T18:28:00.000-07:00

This is a new Parvi cross between malipoense and
vietnamens-e. Slowly legal plants of the striking new Paph
vietnamens-e and its hybrids are creeping into Canadian nurseries, and I am excited to own this one. This is a unique specimen whose flower shape takes after the typical form of vietnamense - it looks basically like a green vietnamense! Most Wossner Butterfly clones I've seen look more like the other parent. Unfortunately this one isn't fragrant, though.

Phragmipedium Hanne Popow 'Strawberry Shortcake'

2007-11-02T07:43:00.000-06:00

This plant has a bit of a story behind it. When I originally bought this plant last fall, I thought it was a Saint Ouen because of the way the tag was printed, "Phrag besseae x / Hanne Popow". If you look back closer to the front of the blog you'll see a post with a photo of its first flowering when it was purchased. The second blooming is a bit better (on 2 spikes and with better color and form); I've posted photos around the Net and took it to a society meeting where it won best Phrag at the show table (by default though). A member of the Slippertalk forum, who works for Ecuagenera (where I bought the plant) says that it has to be a Hanne Popow because they don't have a permit to export Saint Ouen. he says the tag must have been cut off where it should read "besseae x schlimii / Hanne Popow". Now that I have the ID straight, I've given it a clonal name too. This plant has been in bloom for about a month now and continues to produce buds. I've had even better color in its newer blooms so there may be more photos in the future.

An Updated List of My Orchid Collection

2007-10-28T13:22:00.000-06:00

I haven't found a lot of time lately to update this blog, but I'd like to start posting at least once a week from now on. I have some news and photos to add to the blog, and I'd like to start with a fully updated, alphabetical list of all my orchid plants. Last month I lost a couple to frost damage, but I've also gained some with a little shopping spree. I'm taking a hiatus on orchid buying for the forseeable future however while I pay off my flute, so the list should stay this way for some time:

Legend of Size Symbols
SDL - seedling; 24 months or less old
NBS - near blooming size; 24-48 months old
BS - blooming size; usually over 48 months old though they can be as young as 36 mos.
Specimen - mature plant with 5 or more growths

Aerangis citrata (BS)
Bletilla albostriata (BS)
Blet. striata (BS)
Blet. striata v. album (BS)
Coelogyne tomentosa (Specimen)
Cymbidium NOID (BS)
Cyp. Emil (BS)
Cyp. Gisela (BS)
Cyp. macranthos (BS)
Cyp. Michael (BS)
Cyp. parviflorum v. makasin x2 (Both BS)
Cyp. parviflorum v. pubescens x5 (3 BS, 2 Specimen)
Cyp. reginae x3 (2 BS, 1 NBS)
Cyp. Ulla Silkens x2 (Both BS)
Cyp. x alaskanum (NBS)
Dactylorhiza purpurella (BS)
Dendrobium kingianum (BS)
Dendrobium NOID (SDL)
Dendrobium Oriental Smile 'Fantasy' AD/AOS (BS)
Miltoniopsis Newton Falls 'Waterfall' (BS)
Neofinetia falcata (yellow form) (NBS)
Odontoglossum Violetta von Holm 'Dominique' (BS)
Odontonia Memoria Martin Orenstein 'Lulu' HCC/AOS (BS)
Oncidium Twinkle 'Red Fantasy' (Specimen)
Paph (Claire de Lune x philippinense v. alba) (BS)
Paph (Dragon Flag x Patsey Boersma) (BS)
Paph (Ho Chi Minh x vietnamense 'Dark') (BS)
Paph (Joyce Hasegawa x victoria--regina) (BS)
Paph (micranthum x jackii) (BS)
Paph (Ruby Peacock x Hampshire Raven) (BS)
Paph (S. Gratrix x bellatulum) x micranthum (BS)
Paph (sanderianum 'Henry' x gigantifolium 'Dark Warrior') (SDL)
Paph (topperi 'Jamboree' HCC/AOS x gigantifolium 'Dark Warrior') (SDL)
Paph (Valerie Tonkin x Maudiae) (BS)
Paph (Winston Churchill 'Indomitable' FCC/AOS x gratrixianum) (BS)
Paph (Yerba Buena x Golden Days) x spicerianum (BS)
Paph (Z4135 x charlesworthii) (BS)
Paph Al Hill (BS)
Paph armeniacum (BS)
Paph Avalon Mist (BS)
Paph bellatulum (BS)
Paph delenatii x3 (2 BS, 1 SDL)
Paph Deperle 'Album' (BS)
Paph Envy Green (BS)
Paph Fanaticum (BS)
Paph Ho Chi Minh (BS)
Paph In-Charm Handel (SDL)
Paph insigne x2 (Both BS)
Paph Joyce Hasegawa (BS)
Paph Lady Booth (BS)
Paph Lynleigh Koopowitz (BS)
Paph Magic Lantern (BS)
Paph Michael Koopowitz (SDL)
Paph micranthum v. eburneum (NBS)
Paph micranthum x3 (All SDL)
Paph Norito Hasegawa (BS)
Paph Pinocchio (BS)
Paph Primcolor (BS)
Paph spicerianum x3 (All SDL)
Paph wilhelminiae (BS)
Paph Wossner Armenijack (BS)
Paph Wossner Butterfly (BS)
Paph. malipoense x4 (1 BS, 3 SDL)
Phal. (Taisuco Kochidan x Yukimai) x self (BS)
Phal. Maki Watanabe (BS)
Phal. Orchid World (BS)
Phrag besseae (BS)
Phrag Eric Young (BS)
Phrag Grande (BS)
Phrag Hanne Popow 'Strawberry Shortcake' (BS)
Phrag Memoria Garren Weaver (BS)
Phrag pearcei (BS)
Phrag schlimii (BS)
Phrag schlimii 'Wilcox' AM/AOS (BS)
Phrag Sedenii 'Blush' (BS)
Promenaea Florafest Cheetah (BS)
Sarcochilus NOID (BS)

This makes a total of 94 orchid plants.

Paph Winston Churchill 'Indomitable' FCC/AOS x gratrixianum

2007-08-31T11:29:00.001-06:00

Ah, fall has arrived (basically), and so begins the Paph season, starting with complex hybrids. This is only one of 2 that I own, and is a recent acquisition. The FCC/AOS in the name means that the first parent, Winston Churchill 'Indomitable' won the First Class Certificate from the American Orchid Society - the most prestigous award available from the largest orchid society in the world. Therefore this grex can be expected to be one heck of a nice plant, and I am very pleased with the turnout. It's a variable cross, and this one has tended towards the first parent (for the most part).

Nepenthes copelandii

2007-08-26T12:03:00.000-06:00

I started out with a single Venus fly trap a few years ago; it died, and I tried another, which also died. However, my third try has been a success, and now I have a little carnivorous plant collection going on. These plants are not easy to grow; I've had more trouble with them than orchids, but with a little research and extra effort, the results are very exciting. I've found that a terrarium is an imperative investment. A standard 10 to 20-gallon aquarium works really well for a small collection. The terrarium creates a microclimate that the plants can grow in. In this microclimate, humidity is high, between 70 and 100%, and temperatures aere warm. I place it in near-direct sun outside during the summer. Of course, the carnivores I grow in it (Dionaea, VFT; and Sarracenia, American pitcher plant), are temperate plants and require a cold winter dormancy, so they must be taken out of the terrarium and placed in the crisper drawer of a refrigerator from November to March. They are then replaced in the terrarium. The terrarium is kept inside when frosts are frequent outside.

And now, to the point of this post. The beautiful plant pictured above is Nepenthes copelandii, or tropical pitcher plant, or monkey cups. It is just one out of I believe around 40 or 50 species of carnivorous plants native to southeast Asia. These are vines that grow in dense rainforest, climbing up trees. They can climb to a great length over time. The leaves form long tendrils that end in pitcher-like adaptations which can boast brilliant color patterns and produce a sweet scent. Both of these features attract insects, which will land on the opening/rim of the pitcher and, in trying to discover the source of the scent, will slip on the glossy surface and fall into the pitcher. There they will land in a pool of putrid liquid and will find escape is impossible due to downward-pointing hairs on the walls of the pitcher. After trying hopelessly to escape, the insect will eventually tire and drown. The pitcher will then secrete enzymes which will digest the insect, and over time the walls of the pitcher will absorb the nutrients in the liquid. This is how the plant receives its nourishment, as it grows where nutrients do not exist in the rooting medium. Many of these plants do not even have roots, as they absorb nutrients through the pitchers and moisture from the air through the leaves. Nepenthes also produce sprays of small flowers.

Nepenthes are fantasic plants which are unusual, attractive, and help eliminate pest problems. They are tropical, and so don't require a winter dormancy period. However, they require high humidity, and are too large to grow in terraria (unless you have a massive aquarium), and so can be accommodated only in a glass case (such as an orchidarium) or in a greenhouse. I use the former.

Nepenthes copelandii is one of two Nepenthes species I own; the other is N. alata.

It's Been a Long Time...

2007-08-18T21:04:00.000-06:00

Since my last post. It turns out I've been really busy lately. However, as fall approaches things in the garden are slowing down, and I can settle down and concentrate on my favorite group of plants - orchids! I have some photos of new plants and of lilies, which I will post in the near future. I also have some now-outdated orchid pics to post. For now, here is a photo of one of my newest orchid purchases, Paph Pinocchio, a hybrid of subgenus Cochlopetalum. This is a very beautiful specimen with three large growths. It is part of a large haul I just brought back from Paramount Orchids, which includes 10 Paphs and a Phrag. I need to update my most-wanted orchid listings, as they are now outdated! This was my most expensive and perhaps most important haul ever, as it includes some very important and rare crosses. They are (not including Pinocchio):

Paph Magic Lantern, a must-have classic Parvi hybrid

Paph Joyce Hasegawa, a fantastic, well-known Parvi hybrid, part of a set of three Hasegawa hybrids

Paph Ho Chi Minh x vietnamense, a new, unnamed back-cross of this unbeatable hybrid into the most striking Parvi species

Paph Fanaticum, a naturally-occuring hybrid that was also artificially created between two large-flowering Parvi species

Paph Winston Churchill 'Indomitable' FCC/AOS x gratrixianum, a complex cross between an antique hybrid boasting the grandest ribbon attainable and a nice compact species

Paph delenatii 'Mighty Fragrant' x self, a selfing of a newer clone of this wonderful Parvi species bred for fragrance (seedling).

Paph Wossner Butterfly, one of the brand new primary Parvi hybrids made with Paph vietnamense

Phrag Eric Young, one of the first of the long line of besseae hybrids made after its discovery; a classic

Oncidium Twinkle 'Red Fantasy', a fantastic miniature, chocolate-scented Oncidium

Miltoniopsis Newton Falls, a really nice pink with darker waterfall mask and white markings

I also managed to get some compots of some rare Paph species over the summer from Forestview Gardens: Paph malipoense, micranthum (coming next month) and spicerianum (3 in each). Also, I am now adding a new feature to my blog: a list of plants (orchids - I have too many perennials to do that with) currently in spike/bud/bloom. That's just how freaky I am.

Cypripedium reginae

2007-06-24T19:12:00.000-06:00

This is commonly called showy lady's slipper, the state flower of Minnesota. I bought this particular plant last June. It was a seedling from Heritage Perennials; these seedlings can be purchased from many major nurseries in my city of Edmonton, in the 4" blue pots distinctive of Heritage and with the big, colorful tags. These sell for $30 universally. Many gardeners who live in Canada and possibly the US will know what I'm talking about. Anyway, I've noticed that a lot of people want to buy these but hesitate because of their price and reputation of being difficult to grow. Let me tell you, in one year I bloomed this plant, and it looks fantastic! It wan't hard at all! This was not my first C. reginae. Also, $30 is low for a Cyp, and these will probably bloom in their second year in the garden.

I planted it in part shade (morning sun), on the east side of a building. You can also plant it under a tree. I used a mix of:

3 parts Premier Pro-Mix HP (which is basically 3 parts perlite, 2 parts peat)

1 part cactus mix (which is basically 1 part sand, 1 part gravel, 1 part peat or potting soil)

1 part compost

1 part grit or fine gravel, or coarse sand

1 part fine Paphiopedilum mix (4 parts fine bark, 1 part perlite, 1 part charcoal, 1 part peat)

Dolomite lime for pH adjustment (pH 7-8 required)

This mix filled a hole 12" deep by 12" wide, which had already had a 2" drainage layer of clay pellets added. Gravel or something similar can also be used for the drainage layer. Note also that the exact mix above does not have to be used; we just want a mix of similar consistency, which is free-draining but does not dry out rapidly. A constantly wet/stagnant mix will kill the plant. Yet, a bone dry mix will kill it quicker in the heat of the summer - this plant does like constant moisture. So, I water it enough to keep it moist, but not so much it stays saturated. It also likes lots of nutrients, and lots of calcium. So I apply bone meal twice a year, in the late spring as the plant starts into growth and in high summer after flowering, when the roots are actively growing. I also fertilize during the growing season with Miracle-Gro for perennials, though I hold off for 2 weeks after applying bone meal. This is done every 2 weeks until the fall.

This plant starts emerging in mid to late May in my region (zone 3) and is in flower by the end of June. In warmer regions it can be active up to 2 weeks earlier. It is always later than pretty much all other Cyps. The flowers last about 2 weeks and are fragrant, and large (larger than most yellow lady's slipper flowers). The plant has larger leaves and grows taller than yellows as well, to 3 feet when fully mature and established. Established clumps very commonly develop double-flowered stems. By October the plant is dormant in most regions. This plant will grow well in zones 3-7, zone 2 with protection and zone 8 in a fully shaded spot. It needs a 3-4 month winter dormancy.

Paph Lady Booth

2007-06-18T17:49:00.001-06:00

This is a new acquisition. The flowers on this gorgeous plant are 6" across and 8" long. It had 4 blossoms but only 2 are left.

A New Cyp parviflorum

2007-06-18T17:47:00.000-06:00

I've moved it into a 2 gallon pot, where it will stay for the foreseeable future. It will be showed next year. Nice big, robust division.

Paphiopedilum Wossner Armenijack

2007-06-16T20:00:00.000-06:00

This is a fantastic new hybrid from subgenus Parvisepalum. It has a very large flower. In time, it should turn yellow, but for now, it's a lovely shade of green. It also has another bud coming. The plant is compact but the flower is held high, and it has beautiful mottled leaves with purple undersides. This is a cross between P. armeniacum and P. jackii.

Cypripedium parviflorum Gallery 2

2007-06-16T19:48:00.001-06:00

Cypripedium parviflorum is commonly called yellow lady's slipper. This native orchid makes a great garden plant, and as these photos show, it is very variable!

Cypripedium parviflorum Gallery 1

2007-06-16T19:45:00.000-06:00

Lilies

2007-06-10T09:35:00.000-06:00

Above are two Asiatic lilies which I've bought this year - 'Black Watch' and 'Latvia'.

Some More Pics

2007-06-03T16:57:00.000-06:00

I have no idea what bariety of daffodil this is, but its a cute and attractive little dwarf.
Viola cernuum.
A nicer view of the Dicentra 'Goldheart'. These are all older pics.

Orchids

2007-06-03T16:50:00.000-06:00

Phrag Memoria Garren Weaver. These are all outside for the summer.
Paph. Deperle.
Paph. Avalon Mist. Couldn't quite get a satisfactory photo.

I also have a few in bud: Paph Wossner Armenijack, Paph Joyce Hasegawa x chamberlainianum, and Phal Maki Watanabe. I haven't moved those outside yet, because I'm afraid the buds will drop. Once the flowers open they will be moved.

More Garden Photos

2007-06-03T16:41:00.000-06:00

Dodecatheon meadia, shooting star. A great woodland plant. Some say it grows better in full sun, but I've found they wilt horribly.
Another Cyp. parviflorum var. makasin. These are flowering just before var. pubescens.
Allium aflatuense 'Purple Sensation'. Full 4" diameter flowers.
Cyp. parviflorum var. pubescens, large-flowered yellow lady's slipper. This is a first-bloom seedling, but it still has flowers twice the size of var. makasin. Eventually they will be 3 times the size. This is the first of my pubescens to flower this year.

June 3 Garden Photos

2007-06-03T16:26:00.000-06:00

Lilium philadelphicum, western wood lily. This little gem is really hard to find, both in the wild and for sale. It is a native to my area, a widespread plant of western North America. It is now sparse due to overcollecting and habitat destruction. It's the most beautiful native lily in the west.
Dicentra spectabilis 'Goldheart'. This is a beautiful and vigorous selection of bleeding heart with golden yellow-green leaves.
Cypripedium parviflorum var. makasin, northern small-flowered yellow lady's slipper. Looks almost exactly like the larger variety except much smaller. The pouch is the size of your thumbnail.
Alpine columbine, Aquilegia alpina. While columbines are supposed to be short-lived, I've now had this one for 4 years and it just gets better and better.

Cypripedium macranthos

2007-05-28T20:52:00.000-06:00

This clone is from the Lake baikal area of siberia. It has a very large flower.

Paph Avalon Mist

2007-05-25T15:00:00.001-06:00

A while back I posted a pic of Paph Pinocchio x primulinum. This is the same plant; I've confirmed that its actual name is Paph Avalon Mist (primulinum x Pinocchio). Had the parent's names been reversed as I had originally thought, the flowers would have been darker in color. The photo (due to lighting) makes it look creamy; it's actually a bright white with some cream near the opening. I'll try to get a better pic soon. This is the next flower to open in succession after the one I pictured earlier. It has at least 2 more coming! The form and color are both far superior on this flower to the one it had open when I bought it a few months ago.

Change in Phrag Culture

2007-05-25T14:54:00.000-06:00

I've repotted all my Phrags except Grande into a mixture of 4 parts paph mix (fine bark, charcoal, perlite) to 1 part PRO-MIX HP. This mix drains well but retains moisture. The rockwool is too hard to get, and I found it was too chunky and had to fertilize too often. Most importantly, it MOLDED! I've never had a bark mix mold. The Grande will be repotted as soon as I can get more mix.

Cypripedium Ulla Silkens

2007-05-24T07:49:00.001-06:00

I never did post photos of this class A lady's slipper hybrid when it opened! It's still blooming now but the flower is fading. While I suspect this is a first-bloom seedling, the flower is surprisingly large and the color is great! It also has a great rosy fragrance.

Misc. Garden Photos

2007-05-24T07:41:00.000-06:00

Here we have Pulsatilla 'Papageno' (Pasque flower), a new addition to the garden. I had hoped for a white one, but oh well...
Here is Iris pumila (dwarf bearded iris). I bought four small divisions three years ago and the expanded very rapidly... last year I divided the clumps and sold a couple divisions. This year I have four divisions that I'm selling, plus four large clumps in the garden. It's a great plant and a reliable bloomer.
This is Arisaema triphyllum, Jack-in-the-pulpit. I have three of these; this is my only purple form.
This is Lilium pumilum, coral lily. Its many attractive flowers give off a nice fragrance.