Tuesday, January 4, 2011

can haz orkid?

On New Year's Day I had some of my distant cousins over for a visit, including their daughter and son-in-law and granddaughter who are visiting from Sweden. It was an enjoyable visit, but they gave me an orchid.


It's rather helpless looking, isn't it? My uncle the florist took up orchid growing after he retired, but I never paid any attention. I learned what plant-craft I have from my grandmothers and my mother.


I suspect it would lean over far enough to topple that narrow pot if it weren't staked. I never stake anything; my plants are welcome to flop if they feel like it.



It's enough of an art piece, though, that I'm going to try to look after it properly. I think its attitude is somewhat cat-like in that regard. It's the part about "draft-free" that has me puzzled. I run the ceiling fans all winter, and in the summer the windows stay open all the time. This makes "draft-free" not available here.

6 comments:

  1. it's beautiful! I love orchids, but have never tried to grow any. I have heard they are simple to grow, and impossible to grow. Good luck ;)

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  2. What a gorgeous flower! I can't imagine being able to grow orchids. I'm glad you had a great visit! Happy New Year!

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  3. I heard today that a friend fell on the ice (see previous posts!) and broke his arm. He's now in rehab (he's in his nineties) and I think the orchid may become a get-well present.

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  4. I've abused the heck out of my orchids, yet they bloom and bloom and bloom. They are not really that difficult to maintain. You can do it!

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  5. Thanks for the encouragement, Daryl.

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  6. Oh - it's gorgeous! (Cousin Leah, who writes the Goat's Lunch Pail, may be able to give you some advice - her husband is an orchid-lover.)

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