THe Orchid Thief

[honda03842]

Before we retired and began our RV life, our little beach house had Orchids growing in most rooms.

I went to a dinner once where the host had a large dinner table centerpiece of orchids. I was shocked when she told me how easy they were to grow. The little town we were in for that dinner had an old, overgrown exotic plant green house. I was hooked and so began my little family of orchids.

I never became one of those wild eyed orchid collectors but it was a grand little change of direction that still makes me smile. Life is like that wander enough with your eyes open, there is much to discover that is new, a facet that must be developed as a full timer. There is nothing wrong with the old and known, but there is so much to stimulate that is unknown, so much to extend what you are, to make you smile a little before you slip off into dream land.

This week the book club in our Escapee park has selected The Orchid Thief, a relatively new, non-fiction book that contains some of the history of orchids. I will finish this book in a couple of days enthralled by the history and scope of Orchids.

There is so much to wonder about in the world, the ancient, beautiful orchid is one.

[rkbn]

That book was adapted into the film Adaptation. Check it out after the read. Pretty bizarre and intense but also interesting, worth the watch... and takes place here in Florida.

[Paul O.]

Orchids are special and sensual, some are aromatic at night, some in daytime, others just look beautiful. At one time my wife had at least a dozen orchids in our house. We would go to look for unusual ones and visit many greenhouses in VT and NH years ago and always had a good chat with the growers. Also we looked for relief from the New England gloomy winters by going to the spring orchid shows. The supermarkets have the common ones cheap now, mostly thanks to cloning and propagation from cuttings. Some of them are high maintenance (e.g. keeping scale insects at bay and watching for sunburn) and eventually we reduced the numbers and she has a handful of the easy ones now. This one lived with us for decades, it was her mother's before and now it is her sister's, since we did not dare to move it 2000 miles.

[Mike Magee]

So... you had some kids, but they grew up and moved out, so you then got some orchids.

[honda03842]

I'm rushing thru the Orchid Thief. This morning Ginny and I hit the road to Palmer's Orchid just west of our place in Florida. Ginny could have left me there for the day. It was an absolutely marvelous place.

Of course Ginny bought me a Valentine's present and now we have our vey own orchid, I assume the first of many. One advantage of orchids in Florida is when we're traveling we can put them outside and they'll mind themselves.

[honda03842]

My new Friend.

[stude]

Originally Posted by honda03842

I'm rushing thru the Orchid Thief. This morning Ginny and I hit the road to Palmer's Orchid just west of our place in Florida. Ginny could have left me there for the day. It was an absolutely marvelous place.

Of course Ginny bought me a Valentine's present and now we have our vey own orchid, I assume the first of many. One advantage of orchids in Florida is when we're traveling we can put them outside and they'll mind themselves.

:I believe a lot of the street trees in Sacramento are these same flowers.
Stude

[k0wtz]

so you guys think they are easy to grow I would like to see that? I think some of you have very green thumbs I have seen that before and the comment is oh it is soooo easy to grow them.

right???? I love your talent but its not ours!!

bob

[Kenny Strong]

I have had some luck. My Wife wonders why I Persist.

[k0wtz]

Kenny do you sprout those award winning ones?

bob