ORCHIDS FROM MY GARDEN

I haven't been sewing much lately.  Yardwork has been calling my name to tend to those "I'll do it later" projects. This is one of my zen things that allows me to spend time to myself and be productive in a way that I can share with others....  My orchids actually have been consuming most of my time in the yard and garden.  Keeping them happy allows them to bloom and provide me with beautiful blooms. 

I remember my first Orchid gift came from an amazing person I worked with "Theresa" whom we all call "Gramma".   I believe it was a gift for my wedding shower about some 18 years ago and was quite amazed how long the beautiful delicate flowers lasted....get this, for three months!  This is when my Orchid addiction started.  From there, I've visited Orchid shows, purchased orchids from the local farm and garden shops where flowerless Orchids were sold for almost nothing.  My goal was to revive them and surprise myself with a bloom.  

Orchid farmers have educated me and inspired me in the care of these precious creatures...the less you do, the better!  Here are a few of my plants that have given me blooms this year:

Mrs. Joanz blooms

What kind of flower do you treasure?

ORCHID

Have you seen anything so unusually pretty?  This is an orchid plant I purchased about two years ago from a local farmer, "Matias", at a nearby Farmer's Market.  At the time of purchase, it had only one bloom and to have two blooms, two years later, plus a bud is very exciting to me. 

I just had to show you this....Don't you just love it...

ORCHID FLOWER

Look at this surprise I found in my garden......I am NOT by any means an orchid "professional"....just one that appreciates the vibrant colors and shapes they come in.....most of all they can last months in my home....some are wonderfully fragrant, too! I got this orchid from my mom who is also an orchid lover....She lives in higher elevation where it's much more moist and cooloer than my home so all her orchids are always blooming for her. This particular flower ("pua" as we call it here in Hawaii) has a label "Lc, Dinard 'Blue Haven'" I can never remember the scientific names of the many species so I'm always happy to see an easy to remember name on the label. My mom is home to my "ORCHIDS THAT NEED HELP".....I'll bring her orchids that seem to be on its last lap and in a few months, wallah.....they are blooming, and ever so healthy again. In the meantime, I "borrow" her plants until they have that "I NEED HELP" look on them ....that's when I drive to my mom......Mom's always come to the rescue don't they....