Musings & Threads. True Confessions.
True Confessions
About Orchids and Related Matters
I had this idea... I would find a source for "small" (read less expensive) but high quality and potentially beautiful and unusual orchids. I love orchids and I am known to be good with them, having a number for many years as I am the one that people give their orchids to when they are sure they "killed it." Then when I get them all happy and blooming again, I give them back… well I try to give them back... but more often than not, they say, "I will just "kill it again, you keep it." (Not mentioning any names but you know who you are!)
So wanting something positive to nurture, cultivate, and to bring joy--need I explain why? I think not--I thought I could "develop" these pee-wees to the point of "spike" or even "blooming," put each in a pretty pot, and give them for holiday or other gifts. Having recently moved, I miss our gardens and puttering around. I miss having many orchids in bloom at the same time, and as noted above, I just needed to do something "beautifying."
So here's my system. I researched the suppliers... and checked the orchids available, reviews, pricing, and I settled on one I thought seemed the best. Their orchids looked beautiful and some of their descriptions of the species and care instructions were downright funny. Sense of humor is so important these days! I ordered 5 or 6 over the course of a couple of weeks. Well, I already had more than that number, where would I put them all? I am still working on the light thing with the move and all. I decided to use baseball as my model, and have a farm team and an active roster. I located the farm team upstairs in a bedroom with bright southern light, cooler nights and warm days when it's sunny, and the "stars"-- those in bloom—on a bench between our living room and dining room, in full view when you walk in--although no one is walking in these days... Then when blooms fade, active list orchids, just like baseball players do from time to time, return to the farm team table upstairs to receive some extra TLC.
The company knows they have a budding hobbyist (pun intended) on the line and they send me the nicest emails-- everyday in fact-- with photos of new orchids and what they will look like in full bloom with tags like, “Only a Few Left” or “In Spike Now.” I am not going to tell you how many are up on the table, but suffice it to say, I better get busy getting them ready for the active duty bench (yes, pun intended again, I cannot help it!) or to give away—don't tell anyone, but I'm expecting three more to arrive tomorrow--species I've never seen before! The anticipation is so fun and exciting. Truth be told, I have to tone down my exuberance some so I am not labeled an “Orchid Lady”—you know the type—nice but a little nuts. HA!
And why am I telling you this? I must have a reason, other than just a ramble, right?
I do. I think that at this time of complete and utter angst and heartbreak, we need to find something different, that we can devote positive, totally unrelated time to through nurturing, learning and caring about (think rescue dogs and cats too!). Maybe even worrying about here and there, but the really basic stuff... Too much water? Pot too small? Will it bloom by Christmas? How does it look in that pot? We need it to keep our sights on something positive, joyful, maybe a little challenging, but mostly possible. We really need it… good and possible.
Photo: From the “Active List.“ This guy just burst into bloom, a kind I’ve not seen before. It seems to like it here, and that makes me feel hopeful. And so it goes.
