Nature's Art

Orchids represent the exotic. They even act in an exotic manner. I can't tell you how often an orchid blossom, being screened by a larger plant, will suddenly and unexpectedly have a fantastic bloom appear, quite nonchalantly. Our orchids are not babied. They live in a nice room where the hot tub and the washer and dryer also live, but it was made out of recycled sliding glass dorrs, window panels...well, you get the picture. I had never even seen orchid plants grow, but some friends from the city had orchid baskets or 5 or 6 orchids arrive in beautiful bloom, directly from the florist, but...when the blossoms were gone, out! went the orchids. I instantly formed the "Orchid Rescue Society" and would add each season's worth of post-decorative orchids to our growing family. We lost quite a few by not having sufficient humidity, by having a too-large heater, by...well, if there were mistakes to be made, we made them! One summer a few years ago, we began the twice yearly task of 'take the orchids outside for the summer, bring them back in for the winter. Now THAT really turned things around! Our orchids, with the addition of a humidifying device (like you walk through in the Southwest for cooling off), not using the 'dragon's breath' too hot and dry heater, and going outdoors for the summer months, have become thriving and oh! so beautiful. This is the time of the year when there is a crescendo of blooms. From time to time, I'll post more, but here are a few...enjoy!