Have a beautiful Sunday

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Katie's Cattleya

Mounts Botanical Gardens Orchid & Plant Sale

Until 3pm today--

Gorgeous Orchids

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My birthday present from Suzanne S. It's still gorgeous--has not shed one flower now in over two months. I usually don't have a lot of luck with orchids as there is zero humidity in my condo. This was bought at Family Produce, 7620 S. Dixie Highway, WPB from Jamal.

Mounts Botanical Garden Show - Everything Orchids

The Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County is the county's oldest and largest botanical garden situated on 14 acres off of Military Trail in West Palm beach. It has more than 2,000 species of tropical and sub tropical plants. Today is the last day of their sale of orchids and shade loving plants. Hours are from 10am to 4pm.

Orchid Sale at Mounts Botanical Gardens

This is my desktop background photo and has been for 20 years. Because of their ease of growth and sheer beauty, cattleyas are the most hybridized of all orchids, and there are thousands upon thousands of registered hybrids.

From 10am to 4pm September 14 and 15, there will be an orchid and plant sale as well as lectures at Mounts Botanical Gardens. 531 North Military Trail West Palm Beach, Fl 33415 561-233-1757. If you are an orchid lover, hope to see you there.

Day at the Antiques Fair, South Florida Fairgrounds

The Phalaenopsis orchid is a super popular orchid because of its big, colorful and long-lasting flowers.

Went to the Antiques Festival at the South Florida Fairgrounds yesterday (held monthly--fair continues through today)...tickets are $7 general admission and $6 for Seniors. They also offer a $1 coupon on-line for general admission attendees. One of my purchases was the above orchid. As you entered the fair, a vendor was selling all sizes of orchid pots but the one above was priced at 4 for $20.

All of our purchases were anything but antiques:  a necklace for me, a newspaper subscription to the  Palm Beach Post for one, and two in the group will get estimates on accordion storm shutters this week.  To tell you the truth, none of us knew the difference in an antique or someone's piece of junk.

Orchid Society of the Palm Beaches

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One of God's beautiful creations

The traditional name is Cattleytonia Why Not and its known as a great little plant. It is compact, standing only about 8-10 inches tall. The flowers are small, only about 2 inches across, but clustered on 6-8” spikes, so they usually stand well above the foliage and are easy to see. Look to Spring and Fall for  blooms. Although there is no fragrance, the bright red colors will knock your socks off.

Someone brought this to the last Orchid Society meeting--spectacular, isn't it?

6th Annual Tree Festival in Lake Worth

Today's the day for our Tree Festival from 9am until 4pm at the Cultural Plaza organized by our Tree Board. Martin Cybluski, tree horticulturist, will be there to answer your questions.

Come on down and buy trees, bromelaids, orchids and more.

Love and beauty on Valentine's Day

I grew orchids for 26 years before moving into a condo. Orchids need a lot of humidity and other ingredients that only nature can provide. Much to my frustration, I can’t grow these beautiful flowers now. To me, the orchid, and I mean any type, is the most beautiful flower ever created and they seem to take on their own personality. The number of species has been estimated between 10,000 to 30,000; no one knows for sure.

When you buy your first orchid plant, I can guarantee it will not be the last one you ever buy. When you inspect each flower, the magnificence of it blows you away. You wonder how "anyone" could have created anything so wonderful. Most orchid lovers really do get obsessed. When one does not do as well as you hope, you take it to heart.

Being that today is Valentine’s Day, my thoughts automatically went to flowers. The orchid represents, love, luxury, beauty and strength.

The American Orchid Society in Delray that has been in existence for 88 years just announced that it can’t afford to stay open to the public. Membership has fallen nearly in half and the stock market has affected them as well.

What a pity that something as magnificent as this flower with its artful splendor has to take a back seat to the economy.