June 22 - 30 2010 mailing list messages

2010 Archived Messages

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From: john Stanley
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] New Book (Was Re: PETERBOROUGH)
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:55

Hi Tricia,
Slight correction; "It is a very good book . . . . ." (apart from your
observed flyer error I'd not noticed)
I know that Steve was trying hard to keep the cost down but for a book of
that stature, quality and size I don't think it's too bad at all. I think
he been researching it for some 20 years and that doesn't happen much in
this time of targets in professional research.
Last Saturday, I was in the Conwy RSPB browsing books on dragonflies that
were nearly (I think) a tenner and and half a dozen of 'em wouldn't have
bulked up to Steve's. Mind you, I don't often buy books by the cubic inch,
lb. or kilo so that might not be a valid point!! ***
Anyway, I reckon I can forego 22 cups o' Costa coffee!
I certainly don't feel short-changed and although I edited many articles for
our CANWOS Newsletter which I now realise were the fruit of Steve's work, it
is providing me with a fascinating insight into an aspect of orchid mania.
I'm not sure if you've had the opportunity to peruse the book itself − worth
while I think!
The OT forum seems very lively at present − congrats on your efforts.

*** footnote; Brings back memories of Ronnie Barker's cell mate in Porridge;
remember it? "I read a book once − it was a green one." and then there's
that universal Christmas logic of similar vein; "Don't buy 'im a book . .
he's already got one." !

> It looks a very good book, John. I picked up a flyer about it at our
> North Hampshire OS meeting yesterday and was interested to see on the
> back that it is "To be published in June at a cost not to exceed £40"
> whereas the price on the front is quoted at £45...

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] New Book (Was Re: PETERBOROUGH)
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2010 09:00

My comments were not meant to imply that I wouldn't buy the book as I
probably will in due course − it's just that my inner pedant got the
better of me! I buy Sander's List of Orchid Hybrids as and when
published, so I am accustomed to paying £45+ for a book :-)

A man needs only two tools in his workshop: WD-40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use the WD-40. It it does move and it shouldn't, use the duct tape. --- Anon

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] New Book (Was Re: PETERBOROUGH)
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2010 09:55

You don't still buy it, surely ? Its not even published in paper now, is it
? If its I can only say I am amazed....

I sold all my paper ones when the first CD issued − I thought it was the end
of paper publishing, and since then have used various data bases on-line.

Orchidwiz is undoubtedly far and away the best ; expensive, but as the man
said , the pain of the price fades away in time, whilst the joy of using
something of quality goes on and on... ( It was Thomas Jefferson , the US
president some few years ago who said that, but in very much more elegant
language.)
He also said that the joy of buying something cheap was soon forgotten, and
the dissatisfaction of using something cheap and nasty and generally shoddy
carried on as long as whatever it was remained in use − again in more
elegant language ( and if anyone can refer me to the original language ,
I'd be glad to re-read it ).

Ps re the WD40 and duct-tape − as I heard it, that was all they took on the
moon-landing expedition, to cover emergencies....but that was from a
stand-up comic on a cruise ship !

From: Tony Watkinson
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Fw: How about this one
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2010 10:30

> Hi Tony
> I was just in the Everglades and saw this one in full bloom, Polyradicion
> [Polyrhiza, Dendrophylax] lindenii.
> We waded in 3' of water for a mile r so to see it. Believe it or not the
> temp in the glades was 93 degrees but in the sl;ough where the flower was
> it was 73 degrees. The slough water acts as an air conditioner.
> I went with the park service guys so we had a ladder to get the good shot.
> You can pass this around if you wish
> Jay Pfahl

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] New Book (Was Re: PETERBOROUGH)
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:40

Geoff is gobsmacked that I still use Sander's List of Hybrids in book
form. In some ways I'm still a bit of a Luddite − going through the
books feels more like 'proper' research somehow...

That said, I would happily buy Orchidwiz if they produced a Mac
version. Yes, I know I could install Windows on my Mac but why on
earth would I do that just to run a couple of programmes! For now I
just download the PDF files from the RHS and print them in booklet
form to use alongside the books.

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Two Disas
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:45

These pics were taken yesterday in Alan's 'cool' house. Both of the
plants have produced larger flowers this year than previously -
Marguerite Kottel (the orange one) has flowers measuring 9.7cm across
and the flowers on the pink one (Radiant Rachel) measure 6cm across.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Two Disas
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2010 21:40

Superb − I haven't seen such lovely Disas since I visited South Africa and
went to the house of the guy who bred a lot − can't remember his name − Sid
something − his wife was Monica ( it was not Louis Vogelpoel, the other
well-known South African Disa specialist , he introduced me to Sid actually
) − this chap was a Professor of Paediatric medicine , as I remember it, at
one of the Cape Town hospitals − lived at Constantia .

I suppose in one way it was my second visit to him got me started on
hydroponics etc − since he then had a big set-up in which he was growing
Disas for the cut-flower trade , ( intended to be his retirement hobby/job)
using shallow tanks which were periodically filled and emptied again . He
was growing a lot of his own hybrids in an amazing range of colours which I
had never seen before.

My own attempts at this with Disas had poor results and it was only after I
sold the lot that I realised that I was doing things absolutely wrong with
my storage tank for the water ; although it was outside the greenhouse, "so
as to be cool" it was in fact in full sun − so I was bathing the poor things
in hot water.

Oddly enough this is the second time I have thought about that trip in the
last few days − it seems the England football "team" has been staying at a
hotel just outside Cape Town, which is the same one that we used as a base
for our holiday that time. Coincidences ...small world... etc.

From: john Stanley
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] New Book (Was Re: PETERBOROUGH)
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:35

Re; Jefferson quote;
Hi Geoff,
Try
http://www.juntosociety.com/i_documents/tjheadheartltr.html
A lot of dense text which could perhaps have the quotation you seek!
(On the other hand, it could have any quotation anyone seeks!)
However, the man was big into pain and pleasure and this passage could be a
bull's eye
Cheers
John
ps; I'm never quite sure what constitutes a 'thread' and, when I look at the
subject line of this email I have to conclude that this thread is becoming
somewhat frayed at its distal end! jws.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] New Book (Was Re: PETERBOROUGH)
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2010 09:20

I think that this is one of the great things about internet group chatting -
the thread takes you to places which − sometimes − just sometimes − are more
interesting than might have been thought at the beginning...I rather like
frayed threads.

Ps I speed-read the quote ( 1.46 seconds -joke ) but it wasn't there. I
shall find it one day, when looking for something else.

> Re; Jefferson quote;
> Hi Geoff,
> Try
> http://www.juntosociety.com/i_documents/tjheadheartltr.html
> A lot of dense text which could perhaps have the quotation you seek!
> (On the other hand, it could have any quotation anyone seeks!)
> However, the man was big into pain and pleasure and this passage could be a
> bull's eye
> Cheers
> John
> ps; I'm never quite sure what constitutes a 'thread' and, when I look at the
> subject line of this email I have to conclude that this thread is becoming
> somewhat frayed at its distal end! jws.

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] David's Dactyl.
Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:50

I thought the same as Roger, Common Spotted Orchid, or Dactylorhiza fuchsii to give it its scientific name.

> Hello Rodge,
> Going out today, will take a photo ASAP, also it's
> pouring with rain at the moment!! I think he said it was "foxii"
> but cant find it anywhere. It's very small, about four inches high.
> David

From: theta
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Epi. Star Valley x Joseph Lii
Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:25

The "ball" is that size, each flower is about 2 1/4 inches petal
point-to-point.

> 7 inches in diameter... each flower ? ( I didn't think you meant that ). How
> big are the individual flowers, I wonder ?
>
> It's a real stunner , however big !

From: David Martin
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Dactyl's
Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:45

Hello Rodge,
Here's the photo's you wanted. The leaves are about 3 inches by a quarter. There are four plants in the pot that I can see.
David

From: David Martin
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] David's Dactyl.
Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:00

From: Tony Watkinson
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Phalaenopsis − How not to kill them?
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:30

I know I am a bit late with this one, but here are some pictures that might
help those who have problems growing Phalaenopsis.

DSC09810 is a phal growing on a cork floor tile. It has been on this mount
for a long while as you can see. The second pic (DSC09811) shows the
original piece of cork floor tile that it was on as a seedling. It has a
small piece of sponge attached to it. As it out grew that, I simply mounted
it on a much larger piece. You can see the flower spike just starting on the
right.

From: Tony Watkinson
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Phalaenopsis − How not to kill them?
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:40

DSC09805 shows a piece of timber about 4feet long with 8 phals attached. All
but one of them have spikes. the non-spiker is partly hidden behind another
and so gets less light. The plants were fixed to the timber by putting a
piece of carpet underlay (thin sponge) over the top of the roots and
stapling it on either side as can be seen on DSC09807. They are watered once
a day (usually) and the roots have gone mad all over the wood. They can be
see sticking out at the top right of the mount.

From: Tony Watkinson
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Phalaenopsis − How not to kill them?
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:50

DSC09801 is a Phalaenopsis sumatrana growing in two pieces of plastic mesh
with some sponge pieces between the mesh.

And just so you don't think that I grow all my phals on mounts, DSC09803 is
where I grow most of my potted Phals. The bottom two shelves have some
carpet underlay under the pots. This helps to keep the pots moist.

And DSC09808 is a rather nice plant with two spikes. The leaf on the right
is 12 inches long. They are potted in a mix of Perlite and pine bark.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: David's spots.
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:55

Because you were calling your spotted leaves a 'Dact' I just took it for granted that it was a Dact, and so did Francis, but something was nagging me.

I am almost certain that your plants are........Early Purple orchids. Or to give it its botanical name, Orchid mascula.

If you do plant them into your garden, they will come to no harm. I have a nice clump in my garden.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Phalaenopsis − How not to kill them?
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:30

I'm not sure whether to give up orchid growing after looking at your pics ;
I'll certainly give up on phals I think..

But ( only slightly more) seriously , your environment looks to be very
unlike an orchid house ; a conservatory ? And air humidity ? below 50% I
think ?

> DSC09805 shows a piece of timber about 4feet long with 8 phals
> attached. All but one of them have spikes. the non-spiker is partly
> hidden behind another and so gets less light. The plants were fixed
> to the timber by putting a piece of carpet underlay (thin sponge)
> over the top of the roots and stapling it on either side as can be
> seen on DSC09807. They are watered once a day (usually) and the
> roots have gone mad all over the wood. They can be see sticking out
> at the top right of the mount.

From: Ron Bower
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Phalaenopsis − How not to kill them?
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:55

How very interesting, superb plants. May I ask which part of the globe you
reside in.

From: JIM MATEOSKY
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Phalaenopsis − How not to kill them?
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:40

>DSC09805 shows a piece of timber about 4feet long with 8 phals attached. All but one of them have spikes. the non-spiker is partly hidden behind another and so gets less light. The plants were fixed to the timber by putting a piece of carpet underlay (thin sponge) over the top of the roots and stapling it on either side as can be seen on DSC09807. They are watered once a day (usually) and the roots have gone mad all over the wood. They can be see sticking out at the top right of the mount.

From: David Martin
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] David's spots.
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:15

Hello Rodge,
Thanks very much. They are in a very large terracotta pot that was semi submerged in his pond. I have put it in my pond to the same level but I was told to chop it into four pieces in the Autumn and put in the garden. I have found a few more as they are well camouflaged among all those other orchids.
David

> Because you were calling your spotted leaves a 'Dact' I just took
> it for granted that it was a Dact, and so did Francis, but
> something was nagging me.

> I am almost certain that your plants are........Early Purple
> orchids. Or to give it its botanical name, Orchid mascula.

> If you do plant them into your garden, they will come to no harm.
> I have a nice clump in my garden.

MONTH	DATE	DATE	DATE	DATE	MONTH	DATE	DATE	DATE	DATE
January	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31	February	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-28
March	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31	April	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-30
May	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31	June	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-30
July	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31	August	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31
September	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-30	October	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31
November	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-30	December	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31

2010 Archived Messages

June 22—30