More purpurata buds

This is a Cattleya purpurata v. carnea that will soon bloom on two growths.  This plant is growing in a large clay pot with Hydroton.  The two newest growths are considerably bigger (about 23 inches long) than any previous ones - a good sign.

C. purpurata flamea

I have a several purps, but only two or three are blooming size.  Here is a C. purpurata v. flamea that is going to bloom for the first time.  I can already tell the shape will be poor, as it often is on first blooms.  I'm more interested in seeing the color.  I'll post the flower later.

C. Quinquecolor

This one had a bloom in March and here it is with two blooms and a bud.  Later in the year it will probably put on the real show, hopefully with several growths blooming simultaneously.

Lycaste deppei

is really going strong right now with many flowers and six new growths.  Could put on quite a show over the next few years if I don't kill it.

Cattleya Stonehouse still blooming/hybridization

This is the same plant I posted blooming on Feb 3 and in another post on Feb. 27.  It still has several nice blooms.  Wow!  I decided to cross this plant with two other plants.  I pollinated one flower with pollen from Cattleya trianae 'A.C. Burrage', a famous and very nice form of the species.  Because the parents of C. Stonehouse (Cattleya purpurata, Cattleya mossiae, Cattleya trianae) were semi-alba forms, which are recessive, I expect the offspring of this cross to be perhaps a pale lavender color.  I pollinated two flowers of C. Stonehouse with pollen from my C. mossiae semi-alba 'Blanca' x 'Aurora'. I expect the offspring of this cross to be semi-alba, and have very nice form and fragrance. The second pic is of a developing pod with a tag on it noting the identity of the pollen donor and the pollination date.  When the three pods mature I will remove them and send them to a company that provides flasking services for hobbyists.  About 18 months later I will get some seedlings and if I'm lucky (I'm doing poorly growing seedlings from flasks), I will see flowers a few years later. 

Lycaste aromatica

This is the plant I bought a couple of weeks ago.

Lycaste deppei

Has been blooming for a while, with many new flowers and a
few new growths on the way.  The basket is too big, but is all I had
around when re-potting was necessary.

non orchid pic

I grow my plants on the patio from about mid-April to mid-November.  Here is the view today looking out from the patio towards the backyard.  At this time of year California poppies dominate, but sharp eyes will find catmint, yarrow, rosemary, lavendar, Russian sage, ornamental grasses, roses, crepe myrtle, oak, and grape.