July 8-14 2005 mailing list messages

2005 Archived Messages

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From: Dr Chong-Yee Khoo
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Orchid Photography
Date: Fri, 08 Jul 2005 09:30

I am currently using a Nikon D70 digital SLR, which can do both manual and autofocus (this particular photo was probably taken using autofocus).

I have used other digital cameras before (e.g., Nikon CoolPix 4500, Coolpix 3200, Coolpix 850) with successful results. My Trophy and Medal winning photographs at WOC Dijon were taken with a Nikon Coolpix 4500, for example.

My feeling is that the equipment matters less than the knowledge of how (best) to use it. Of course you need a basic knowledge of photography, a good eye for composition and some common sense - but that's really all there is to it.

Remember with a digital there is zero additional cost in taking several shots of the same subject, perhaps changing exposure (bracketing), composition, etc and choosing the best - so that it's probably easier to take a good shot on digital than with good old film.

P.S. See also http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/mpmyth.htm on the Megapixel Myth (really, the Great Megapixel Lie)

>Hi there Chong Ye,
>
>My mistake..........I meant to say that it was a 'HARD-LEAVED' Dendrobe.
>
>As usual your photography is first class.
>Just to jog my memory, what type of camera do you have, and is it a SLR/see through the lens focus type of digital camera.
>
>Kind regards, Rocky.

From: aeranthes
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: thank you
Date: Fri, 08 Jul 2005 14:20

Thank you Jean Paul and jns. The whole world does indeed have much in common in these sad days. My other big hobby (other than orchids of course) is to write poetry and I wrote this yesterday and thought I'd share it with everyone.
London July 2005

From: Gordon Walker
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Help required
Date: Fri, 08 Jul 2005 21:20

From: Dr Chong-Yee Khoo
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Help required
Date: Fri, 08 Jul 2005 22:50

Do you know about the Orchid Register search at http://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/registerpages/orchid_parentage.asp?

From: Peter Fowler
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Help required
Date: Fri, 08 Jul 2005 22:55

From: Orchids
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Help required
Date: Sat, 09 Jul 2005 03:25

From: Max Redman
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Help required
Date: Sat, 09 Jul 2005 04:15

From: Robert J. Richter
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Help required
Date: Sat, 09 Jul 2005 04:25

Robert J. Richter
Owner
Bob's Computer Services
283 Elm Street
N. Reading, MA 01864
Tel: (978) 664-4380

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Help required
Date: Sat, 09 Jul 2005 08:05

From: dennis READ
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Help required
Date: Sat, 09 Jul 2005 08:55

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Hard leaved Dendrobes.
Date: Sat, 09 Jul 2005 09:05

Thanks, Rocky. On examining my Den. phalaenopsis I see what you mean. I
suspect I was over-complicating it!

From: Gordon Walker
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Help wanted
Date: Sat, 09 Jul 2005 09:25

Many many thanks to all who responded to my query re laelia cross.
I did type in the names in Google but could not get a complete answer.
Gordon.

From: suzy
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Zygo success
Date: Sat, 09 Jul 2005 12:45

A while back you guys were ruminating on the best way to keep zygos. I had
a zygo that I had bought from Homebase a few years ago when I first became
hooked on orchids (as a result of having cymbidiums for my wedding bouquet).
This zygo did nothing since it stopped flowering and languished unhappily
looking limp no matter where i put it. However now it has two new shoots
with two flower shoots full of fat buds and will shortly make my bathroom
stink of sherbert (my husbands words). On the advice of you guys I moved it
to the south facing bathroom in April where it gets full sun but is shaded
by a net and I always leave the bathroom window open at night so its gets a
bit chilly. Has worked a treat. Thanks you guys.

Secondly, I have a rather pesky pest which is reaping havoc with my outside
orchids. It pulled up my Bletillas, shredded a Wilsonara, pulled the bark
out of a oncidium and was caught red handed stealing a phaleanopsis complete
with pot and trying to empty it all over my living room. What is it? Its
not a snail, slug, rat, mouse or aphid, its my Jack Russell Alfie. I think
he thinks I spend too much time (and money) on my new hobby.

I have learn't that orchids are amazingly tolerant and adaptable. My
wilsonara (now there are three) has survived but I think it will be a while
before they flower.

From: Sharon Williams
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: den type ID please
Date: Sat, 09 Jul 2005 19:00

Hello, another question about the classification of a Dendrobium. This one is Den. Golden aya (aphrodite x capillipes). I could not find the answer anywhere.
Also, will Den kingianum, Den. nobile and my mini cymbidium only require 6 weeks of cold treatment? I live in zone 3 and it would be very expensive for me to heat my 6.5 x 12.5 foot greenhouse throughout the winter. I do imagine I could keep the nights to 8-10C for a 6 week period though, beginning in September. As our winters last forever, would I be able to bring it into my intermediate growing room after the 6 weeks of cold and have any hope that it might bloom?
Thanks for any and all help as usual
Sharon in Calgary
Yahoo -it's Stampede time!

From: John W Stanley
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Jpg file size. something interesting forever
Date: Sat, 09 Jul 2005 20:20

Re;jpg file size.
May I suggest that your popularity might wane if you load us all up with RAW
files!
The problem is not simply in the opening of the attachment (which we can
choose to avoid) but in the length of time to download the email with its
attachment (which we can't bercause we don't know what it is until we
receive it!).. Even a high res file of a size that might do justice to a
largish print will slow email delivery down. A file size of about 600 x 800
pixels gives a pretty good image on a computer screen and loads fairly
quickly. A RAW file won't.
There has been quite a lot of correspondence on this issue over the last few
months and, to my knowledge, the problems have all been with sub-raw file
sizes.
Just tryin' to help!
John Stanley

> When I posted the two pictures one was half the size
> of the other. But when I saw the email the download
> of the pictures were identical, as were the
> thumbnails, although the file sizes were different.
> Yahoo must limit the size of the picture. When I have
> a raw picture with a large file size I will post it
> with the identical picture that has been edited to
> lower the file size. The subject line of that email
> will be 'LARGE FILE SIZE'. I am trying to get the

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Zygo success
Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2005 10:45

A good, if drastic way of dealing with pests of this character is to train a
small machine gun on the site, and when the villain is seen use a whole
magazine ....If there are holes in your leaves, tell your friends it's the
new swiss cheese plant.
But then I'm not an animal pet lover ( I almost wrote " animal pest
lover"...)

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Help wanted
Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2005 10:50

N0o, its not google you need - it's the RHS Registration site - which I
assume is always up to date , since that's where registrations are made.

The CD is better, in that it gives family trees, progeny etc ; but the
problem is keeping up to date, and I'm not even sure that a new disc has
been produced since the web-site was introduced. If there has been, I'd be
glad to know.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] den type ID please
Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2005 11:05

Our problem in UK is that we have no experience to guide us about your
winters - and although I have been hearing zone 3 etc all my horticultural
life, the zones have little meaning or value in UK because we alternate
between an Atlantic ( mild , cloudy, windy, wet ) climate, and a Continental
climate - with more decided and maybe reliable seasons . So anything we say
should be taken with a pinch of common-sense and the question " might that
work for me ?"

I have kept dendrobes in the cold all winter , i.e. from mid-October until
say mid February , in an unheated house - or at any rate one with a frost
stat supposed to bring the heating on if the temperature dropped within 2 or
3 degrees of freezing ( Centrigrade degrees - say below 40 if you are
Fahrenheit ). But those kind of heaters are a bit unreliable, and anyway I
tended to leave the windows open and forget.

That winter, the plants were in hydroculture, standing in an inch of pure
water ( no nutrients) .. Some suffered . They all stayed plump , and the
ones which were best were absolutely covered with flowers.

The following year I did the same but it went too cold - down to minus
something for a bit too long, and lost a lot. I had taken some in earlier ,
as part of my experimentation to see how much cold was needed, and the ones
which just had 6 weeks, did just as well as any I ever grew- and shortened
the risk period too !.

Late-Oct-Feb day temperatures in UK would probably range from say 10 as a
high ( except for rare windless and sunny days when double figures would
occur , down to minus 2 or 3 in cold spells ; and night temperatures would
range almost as widely - a cloudy night in November or December can have the
same temperature as the day - at least if you are within 25 miles of the sea
( and no-one is more than a 100 miles form the sea in UK ). But the thing
about our weather is that we can break three records every month - I can
recall a Januaruy when we had minus 20 deg.C for several weeks ; and an
October when we sun-bathed in temperatures over 20 C - but the fugures
suggested a bit earlier are our norms.

The dendrobes I grow/ and grew were a lot of nobile hybrids, nigro-hirsute
or formosae species and hybrids, the Aussie species and hybrids from
Kingianum etc, and others.

Golden Aya I did not chill - the parentage indicates not ; and
D.phalaenospis types are merely dried off for a month but kept warm , with
repotting and full watering in maximum heat as soon as new growths appear.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: THE RULES of this Group - apply to all members.....
Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2005 11:20

No RAW files - absolutely no RAW files . John is quite right , and anyway ,
someone is mistaking the need/significance of RAW.

RAW are your original negatives , to be kept unaltered and unchanged, but
NEVER used .( best burnt to a CD as your back-up , with a set of thumbnail
prints ; you can just about get 36 on a good CD , from one of the better
prosumer cameras ( 18Mb files) .

What you do is make a duplicate to use, and then - if you use the
professional tools, save it as a PSD file -Photoshop Document -( which makes
for fastest and best processing in Photoshop ), Do all your cropping,
levels, curves, balances, layers work, etc , whatever you want in that
format . Save it as a TIFF file , for your prints, calendars and whatever
else you want, and again as a maximum size file.If your gear is good enough
. the pic will be at 300dpi or 400dpi , and that should be retained for the
TIFF ; quality print journals like Orchid Review etc want that definition -
but we are talking big files - some of mine are as much as 60Mb and I have
evn had ones over 100Mb when I save all the layers without flattening.

ALSO and at the same time, reduce to the size we want for List , or anyone
else wants on the web , which should be say 300 pixels wide and 300 high as
the normal maximum,. And save at a resolution of 72dpi in JPG with
compression to give a file size of 50Kb MAXIMUM. This give a a good picture
and does not take too long to download , for those with restricted speed
connections. If you have the facility use "Save for Web" which gives
automatic slicing and simplifies downloading.

Jean ; I have noted with some interest and sympathy what you say about lots
of us have broadband, and maybe we could do bigger pictures , but I think we
need to survey members first . I understand that some browsers do in fact
download some kind of large file with all attachments - there is a
distinction between downloading and opening you know ! and could take
forever with big pictures , even if the recipient does not want to see them.

But the earlier parts of this message must be taken as the RULES of this
group ; JPG essential , anything more than 72dpi is a waste of download
time, and bigger than 300 x 300 we do not want at the moment at least.

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: The Group Rules/Guide
Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2005 19:30

It costs nothing to take copies of your original files - e.g. one for
reducing to proportions suitable for the list and one or more for
processing for other purposes. It is the file *size* which is important.
Please be aware that your software may scale the view so that what you see
on the screen as a reasonably sized picture may in fact be enormous! Find
out how to discover the file size in kilobytes and reduce if necessary.

You might find it useful to review the Subscriber Information, Guidelines
and FAQ pages on the website. If anyone has any suggestions for additions
to these pages, please let me know.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] The Group Rules/Guide
Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2005 20:05

And the other thing to remember about RAW is that the name is very
descriptive . A RAW file is what the CCD etc actually recorded , without
ANY adjustment for white light balance, contrast variation, tone adjustment,
sharpening etc . Most RAW files are a bit dull and muddy , no contrast ,
don't even look sharp. The whole point of them is that the experienced
photographer then gets to use the adjustments which he/she selects, instead
of the ones the camera does automatically. But in general, a RAW file is not
to be seen or shown ; it is raw material , not a finished product.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Photos.
Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2005 20:55

I have just read Geoff' comments about how we should all try to send our photos.

I am sure that this 'Standard' should be tried by all, and then a set of figures should be adopted by all.

From: Ron Bower
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Saving Posts
Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2005 21:40

Hello all,
There is now much interesting and increasing number of posts from the list members and this gives me the problem of what to do with them. Shall I keep them or delete them, will I want to refer to them again and if I keep them how do I store them and index them so that I can easily find them should I wish, this year, next year or when ever, and how should I index them, by date, or topic or by sender. I might add that I am not adept at filing as such for during all of my working life my correspondence ect was taken away, only to reappear, when requested, as if by magic.I wonder if any one else has the same problem and if so, what do you do?
Regards, Ronbw.

From: aeranthes
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Geoff
Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2005 08:25

I don't really see a need to send larger ones Geoff. As long as they are big enough for people to see what we need them to see. I would have thought that 350 X 300 or somewhere around that would be adequate. I was really worried that I had caused a problem of very long downloading for those without Broadband. I remember a South American very sweetly sent me pictures of his orchids (3 or 4) and they took almost an hour to download in the old days when I used a telephone connection. I normally always send them as jpegs at around the 350 pixels and then reduce by 30% in PaintShop Pro. It doesn't detract from the quality unless it is above 30%. I had made the mistake of keeping the smaller ones with the large ones and had hit the wrong icon. Lesson learned! Jean

From: "WOOD, Michael \(WG\)"
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Epiphyllum oxypetallum !
Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2005 08:30

My plant is about to bloom for the first time ! and i can't wait ..... from it's humble beginnings - as a single leaf sent to me through the post from Jean-Paul Pichardie one of Orchid talks members in France ( thanks J-P ! ) - it has grown considerably into a plant which has almost taken over a room in my small flat !

i hope to witness it bloom - but as it supposedly flowers only for a couple of hours - and overnight - i forsee not much sleep in the next few days ! I hear the scent alone is more than worth it !

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Saving Posts
Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2005 08:35

You can always refer to the archives on the website, which I try to keep
up-to-date. I fell behind during the first part of this year due to various
problems not computer or orchid-related but they are OK now. The plan is to
upload every week as it is completed.

Each page holds one week's worth of messages and has links to the rest. I
changed the format of the links this year, with them listed at the top of
the page instead of down the side. I am investigating a search facility to
make finding a particular subject easier - Google do a free search but at
the moment they say they only have two pages of the site indexed!

From: Andy Mckeown
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Photos.
Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2005 13:20

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Photo
Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2005 15:20

Your picture fills my (19 inch tft) screen and looks good - Bifrenaria
harrisoniae (?) twice as large and four times as beautiful as in real life
.. Pity the perfume can't be digitised.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Encyclia and Bifrenaria.
Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2005 16:15

I have always been interested in Encyclias, but this is the first time I have seen a good plant of Encyclia radiata. This will go on my 'Wants List. Is it scented?

Now on to my Bifrenaria. Not a good story. I bought it a couple of years ago, from where I cannot remember. It did produce that lovely flower, but since then it has just sat there...........................how many times have we heard this tale???

I am tempted to take it out of the pot and examine the root system, as the two much smaller growths which were there when I got it have done absolutely nothing at all.

I would just like to hear from some of you, as I do not want to loose this plant.

From: Jean-Paul Pichardie
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Epiphyllum oxypetallum !
Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2005 16:20

Congratulations Mike. The flowers are just out of this world--a flurry of
white feathers of unbelievable delicacy, a swan in flight over a torrent of
fragrance--for one night.

This plant has an odd story though. Perhaps somebody can sort it out. It was
given to me by an orchid friend who may be a member of this list (Hélène say
hello, if you are). She got it from an old friend who claimed he had brought
it back from Vietnam when it was still a French colony. The problem is that
Epiphyllum oxypetallum is not native to Vietnam--nor Asia for that matter.

Though the plant LOOKS like the real thing, its true identity is still
debatable. I have no digital camera and I am certainly not going to get one
after the--to me impenetrable--warnings and admonishments lavished by the
members of the list who seem to be in the know. I wonder if the culprits
will be banished to some deserted, malaria-ridden island in the Philippines
there to grow their favorite orchids in splendid isolation but without the
comforts of this list.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] RE: Photo
Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2005 16:40

Interesting „ when I look at my own pic, following my prescription (
including web slicing) the pic comes up say 3 ½ x 2 ½ in ches „ yours came
up16 x 12 .

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Encyclia and Bifrenaria.
Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2005 20:30

Bifrenarias are awkward , I agree. I don't know any good answer , but wonder
if a short sharp rest - cold and dry - and then back to warmth , may suit
them ? I believe the plant is quite common in the Organ mountains where Dick
Warren is associated with the Rio Atlantic Forest reserve, but I don't know
the height above sea-level.. or for that matter, the climate there. ( Maybe
I can get a leave permit to go there to celebrate my up-coming 75th birthday
- I'll have to work on "She who must be obeyed".....?)

The Encyc. Radiate ( lovely scent - fills the green house, but only VERY
early in the morning - it was great at 5.30am the other day when I suddenly
thought that I may have left a pump running and had to go and see - mostly
gone by a civilised hour ) was bought in a 5cm pot when OSGB did a coach
trip to two Parisian nurseries a few years ago. I put it in Perlite ( the
equivalent of your grit) and into hydroculture. It doubled the bulb size
each year for a couple of years, then started doubling growths. 8 new
growths now developing at the same time that the four from last year flower.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Difference.
Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2005 20:30

Geoff, your photo of Encyclia radiata, my memory was a bit slow, of course I know of it, in fact used to grow it many, many years ago.

Thing is, yours seems to have a more globular flower head, and do the flowers have the stripes on the lip.

From: Ron Bower
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Curious flower.
Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2005 21:55

I wonder how unusual this flower is.When the bud first appeared I thought it was a leaf that had split and rotated a bit, then maybe a keikei, but it was soon apparent that it was a flower. The plant is a hybrid and has been in flower since December, still has some flower and is growing a new spike. I am curious as to how unusual this is and trust that some one will tell me.
Ronbow.The message is ready to be sent with the following file or link attachments:
DSC00646.JPG

Note: To protect against computer viruses, e-mail programs may prevent sending or receiving certain types of file attachments. Check your e-mail security settings to determine how attachments are handled.

From: Theta Sigma
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Photo Sizing - was: Re: [OrchidTalk] RE: Photo
Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2005 23:00

The detail bit you want to check is the number of pixels wide and pixels
high. The photo to which you refer in your note ("Trial for Club...") is
1594 x 1181 pixels in size at a resolution of 300 pixels/inch when
printed. Most modern screen resolutions are about 96 pixels per inch
(the physical dots on the screen itself). So everything looks fine when
you print (on a 300 dpi printer) and it comes out at about 4" x 5" as
expected, but when displayed on a 96 pixels/ inch screen the same photo
blows up to about 16" x 12.3" (1594 and 1181 each divided by 96). In
case you wondered, printed on a 600 dpi printer the photo would appear
to be half size at about 2" x 2.5".

So what I do when I'm sharing photos with other folks on the Net is to
assume that their screen sizes will be no smaller than a "medium
resolution" setting of 1024 x 768 pixels and so I choose something
slightly smaller that will fit on their screens. Adobe Photoshop permits
the photo's size adjustment in pixels or inches so I set the resolution
to 96 pixels/ inch then either adjust the photo to about 650-700 pixels
in height or about 900-950 pixels in width (maintaining a constant
aspect ratio) -- or I adjust the width and height in inches to suit. All
photo editing programs offer this capability (changing the number of
pixels represented per inch) and it is usually very easy to use (some
even process multiple photos in a batch).

I usually keep the original photo unchanged and use a batch process
(Adobe Photoshop) to make copies that are cut down in pixel size/
display size. When saving as a JPG file I usually keep the "quality"
setting at about halfway - which is usually more than detailed enough
for an orchid on a computer screen display. If I'm sending a photo for
someone to print a good quality one then I modify the original - resized
to exactly fit standard photo paper (4 x 6 or 8 x 10 with or without
margin) and set to 300 or 600 pixels/inch and with the highest "jpg"
quality setting depending on just how good a print quality I'm looking for.

Note: Photos (JPGs) from my Canon EOS 1D come out as 72 pixels/inch,
width=2464 pixels, height=1648 pixels and so are not suitable for use
"as is" (they are too large for display on-screen and too small to print
on a 600 dpi printer). Generally, then, it is not possible for a single
photo (file) to serve both as a computer screen display and for purposes
of printing at the same size - and still keep a) the size of the photo
smaller than the screen and b) the print quality excellent. The reason
and the difference is that the printer can handle 300/600 dots/inch
while the computer screen can only handle about 96/inch. If you need
both capabilities then you'll end up with two sets of files - one for
high-quality printing and the other for appropriate-sized screen display.

From: aeranthes
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: various things
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 07:35

Ron B if you have Outlook Express you could make an extra directory box and name it something like 'orchid list' and just drag any really interesting mail from the 'inbox' to that directory. That's what I have done and it's useful having together all the mail explaining things that important for me to remember. I always delete anything which although interesting, is not useful to me in particular otherwise the box would soon fill up.

Rocky - that's the way!lol The smaller one is better for people with a slower connection. I have Encyclia Radiata and they are wonderful plants as the perfume is very strong. The one shown is superb. Jean

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Fwd: Curious flower.
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 08:25

I had to re-send this as for some reason there was another picture of
the plant attached, DSC00650.JPG, which was 556+Kb, 1280x960 pixels.
Clearly Ronbow's email client was telling him he was just sending
DSC00646.JPG. Ideas, anyone?

From: mojca klancic
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Vanda and Ascocenda names
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 08:40

I would like to purchase some vanda type plants, hybrids from a web shop since there is no "live" shop in my neighbourhood. There is an extensive list of meristem propagated plants and seedlings, where only the names of the parents are given. I tried to search the web for their characteristics like flower size, colour,plant habit,.. Is there any resource out there to help me find their parents and their characteristics?

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: mail
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 18:25

> Hello, can anyone help? I am trying to track down a Vanda Coerulea,
> seedling or plant. Does anyone know where I can find one?

Hello Jessica, did you find a Coerulea eventually? If not, try Laurence
Hobbs Orchids on 01342 715142 or 07961 350053. He gave a talk at the Wessex
Orchid Society meeting last Saturday and had some nice Vandas, including
some coeruleas, at reasonable prices.

From: "Schoonjans, Peter-Dieter \(IT\)"
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: toxicity
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 18:40

So far I have been unable to find information about toxicity of orchids.
Are there particular ones which are? We're expecting a little one and
my wife had asked me this question.
I don't think they are. I have eaten some when I was in a Thai
restaurant a few years ago out of curiosity (tasted of walnut).

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Difference.
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 19:30

Yes , the flowers do have reddish-purple stripes on the lip , which radiate
from the column - quite a descriptive name !. The plant came from Marcel
leCoufle - seed raised of course.

From: Ron Bower
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Emailing: DSC00650.JPG
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 19:35

Tricia, Sorry about the big big picture. I must say however that I am not a computer wiz kid, or a kid of any sort and I do not send many pictures, and when I do it usually is just one. Generally when I bring up the picture Widows asks and I accept to make all of my pictures smaller, why this one wasn't I do not know, perhaps some one will tell me. This is the other picture hopefully suitable reduced.
Ronbow.The message is ready to be sent with the following file or link attachments:
DSC00650.JPG

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Fwd: Curious flower.
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 19:35

Some digital cameras - a lot of the newer ones in fact - make a thumbnail
and a large photo at the same time, and in one and the same file. In fact
two of my cameras will do this ; the new Nikon D70S will , and so will my
Minolta A2 . In both cases , it is one of the options available when using
maximum files size ( about 18Mb with a 6 million pixel camera, or even 24 Mb
with the 8 megapixel Minolta - both camera manufacturers realise that you
need a thumbnail to show on your monitor without opening the big file.

What should be done if it is chosen, is keep the thumbnail for internal use
only, and make a new thumbnail - more-or-less , as the web pic.

From: Ron Newstead
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] various things
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 20:10

In Outlook, I store my Orchid items of special interest in a folder
under Inbox, by clicking on File, then on Move to Folder, then on the +
beside Inbox, if necessary, then on Orchids.
Ron

Ron B if you have Outlook Express you could make an extra directory box
and name it something like 'orchid list' and just drag any really
interesting mail from the 'inbox' to that directory...

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Bifrenaria Harrisoniae
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 21:35

Further to my enquiry about my Bifrenaria Harrisoniae, it is still just sat there looking at me, however, this evening I have looked at several of my 'Orchid Books' and none of them came up with any startling information. This is of course what one would expect from most modern books.

One book, the good old 'Richter' book, suggested that although this orchid came from Brazil, that it be treated as Cool to Intermediate, with a good rest after the new growths had made up the bulb.

O.K., so far so good, but, I would have expected my plant to have shown new growths weeks ago.

So, my question is to all of our Club Members, world wide, when does your Biferaria Harrisoniae start showing new growths.

My has always lived in the Warm House, but tomorrow I will move it to the Cool House............although at this time of the year, and with this very hot weather that we are having there is hardly any difference, but we will see if anything happens.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Vanda and Ascocenda names
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 21:40

Also his E-mail address is: cyber_plants@yahoo.co Please note the between the word cyber and plants there is an 'underscore', a line like this _ but of course, Micorsoft always underline the whole address, and so they block out the little line.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Ron's flower.
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 21:45

I have some Phalaenopsis flowers that do not behave themselves, but you can't put the blame on them.....it is all down to the so called 'Hybidisers'.

Most of them are hidious, but now and then some quite nice flowers are seen, but they are ALL really 'mostrosities'.

From: JIM MATEOSKY
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Rodriguezia leaf yellowing???
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 23:35

I have some Rodreguezia (blanco) and the leafes just started turning yellow on some of them. I thought it was too much water but when I look at the roots they are white and green tips. The others are doing nicely. the plants are young, and transplanted 3.5 months ago, possibly the leaves are on the dark green side ( maybe needs more light ), but it is along side several different cats and phals and oncidiums that are very happy, no poblems at all. As far as feeding I try to keep them lean and mean ( i.e. I Feed them but I try to always error on the lighter side...

From: Robert J. Richter
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Vanda and Ascocenda names
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 03:45

Robert J. Richter
Owner
Bob's Computer Services
283 Elm Street
N. Reading, MA 01864
Tel: (978) 664-4380

I would like to purchase some vanda type plants, hybrids from a web shop
since there is no "live" shop in my neighbourhood. There is an extensive
list of meristem propagated plants and seedlings, where only the names of
the parents are given. I tried to search the web for their characteristics
like flower size, colour,plant habit,.. Is there any resource out there to
help me find their parents and their characteristics?

From: jan
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Anatomical photos - a humble question
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 07:05

Now that I have finally managed to wrestle my foot out of my mouth
(don't know why it always ends up there, must feel at home...) I thought
I would ask people on the list something.

I have for some time been designing a database - just a place to put my
own plant related records in, but it seems to grow to absurd sizes all
the same (or rather the design does), and an obvious thing would be to
save illustrations there as well. However, since I am not so much a
'flower person' as a 'plant person', what I want to do is save
'anatomical portraits' of my plants. For each one, ideally, there would
be a series of photos of details that would help determine the species;
the problem is that I am not sure what would be useful. I can get some
inspiration from the determination keys of major orchid floras (except
they seem to have different systems) - but is there some sort of
'standard set' of photos one should always provide? Some rules for what
to include (like eg. all photos should have some sort of measuring stick
to show the physical dimensions)? Would it be of value to save photos
with loss-less compression (to keep as detailed a colour spectrum as
possible)?

When I have finished it 'real soon now' I will work on putting it on a
webserver so people can see and use it, if they like.

From: aeranthes
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: underscore
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 07:50

Those lines are annoying aren't they Rock? I have been able to stop them occuring on web pages I make as it's possible to tell the IE not to do it but I have been unable to find any instructions that will do it in Outlook Express!
Mojca there is a very good website for species orchids that explain the requirements for many orchids and have links to pictures. This is the url for that:

The only thing you can do for hybrids is to go to the search engine at http://www.google.com
and type in the name of the orchid. I have found many this way.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Photo sizes.
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 10:45

As to what resolution you use when you take the picture......who gives a damn, after all it's your choice, your camera.

Then there is the important size of the actual image, and I mean the size as we would measure it. In inches or millimeters.

Then if you use Outlook Express as I do, and it looks as though Ron Newstead does as well, then have a look at my 'attachment.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: off message but maybe someone can help me ?
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 12:05

I need to send a message to 20 members of a group ( horticultural , not
orchid) every few weeks, and I have all their e-mail addresses. What I want
to do is have them all in a set, so that by inserting the name of the set in
the "To" box, the PC will do the rest automatically.

I am using Microsoft Office Outlook as my e-mailer , part of Microsoft
Office Professional 2003 edition. In this, calling up "address book"
brings up a window "Select Names" and choosing "new" , one of the options is
"distribution list" and the option of where to put it -e.g. in "
Accounts.". If I select this, and in the new window which opens, name the
list , and then - rather laboriously with 20 names - type in the details,
and then save the list , I ought to be home and dry. The problem is, that if
the list is saved , I certainly can't find it, and neither can "Find" in the
XP help section. It just seems to disappear.

I have considered just putting all these names and addresses in as ordinary
contacts, and then picking them off one-by-one, but that too is rather
laborious, the way the programme works.

Incidentally this programme does not seem to save any addresses
automatically , unlike Outlook in Office 2000 , so I either have to remember
to make an address book entry every time I send to a new person , or use the
reply function ( which is what I do for convenience,) but since old emails
are deleted automatically after a few weeks, that often means I have lost
the address completely.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Photo size 50mm x 40mm
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 13:45

Odontoglossum Grande. This is my plant which I spoke about some days ago. Can't remember where I got it, but the leaves have some very unsightly markings. Of the three new growths that are developing, one already has the nasty mark on its emerging leaf. The flower spike did turn upwards, and I did stake it, however, five of the seven buds fell off. I knew this would happen as they turned that destictive yellow.

AND, I think I have craked it, so to speak, on how I size my photos, on my computer, using the graphics program that I use.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Odontoglossum Grande. Two photos.
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 13:55

Just to prove to myself that I have masterred how I PREPARE AND SAVE MY PHOTOS FOR YOU ALL TO SEE AT A'CORRECT' SIZE, JUST LOOK AT THESE AND PLEASE TELL ME HOW YOU SEE THEM. Note the KB sizes, as Geoff suggested, kept below 50KB's.

As you can see from the full plant photo, I did not get the best plant that there has ever been, far from it.

From: "Schoonjans, Peter-Dieter \(IT\)"
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] off message but maybe someone can help me ?
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 18:05

I just tried it, and it did work. Ctrl+Shift_L, then give the list a
name, add the addresses, click update, then save. The list showed up in
my contacts list.
If anything fails, paste all the addresses in notepad, separated by a
semicolumn (;) and then copy and paste that line everytime you want to
send a mail. It is a dirty workaround, but at least it works. Save the
addresses in a file on your desktop for easy access.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Jim's leaves.
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 18:40

I have no idea what the problem is with the leaves of just that one plant of yours, but if it is any help, then I am sure that many of our plants suffer the same symptons from time to time.

Maybe you might just try and keep the plant in a much brighter, warmer situation, and one that dries out very quickly after you water it.

From: Sharon Williams
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] underscore
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 18:45

You can always be sure that if there is a space in a web address that it contains an underscore, as spaces aren't permitted.
Sharon

From: Sharon Williams
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: bad odont Roger!
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 18:55

What an awful looking plant Roger! My sympathies, but perhaps that is a good one to cull.
Sharon in Calgary

From: Ron Newstead
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] off message but maybe someone can help me ?
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 19:55

Geoff
It is easy in Outlook.
Open the Address list and, at the top there are a number of symbols. The
one at the left is a white box. Click on this and you will have the
option of a new contact or new distribution list. Click on the latter,
then click on Select Members and you will be provided with your address
list. Select the people you want to include etc....
But of course, I can show you myself, can't I......
Ron

From: dennis READ
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] off message but maybe someone can help me ?
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 20:05

Geoff, I have the student edition of MS Office 2003 and run a couple of groups. All I did was click Addresses. Then click New, Then New Group, Then transfer the names across. Maybe the cheapie student edition is different. Regards

From: Ron Newstead
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Photo sizes.
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 20:30

Roger
I use Outlook but my favourite software for ease of use, printing and
emailing is IMG Photosuite.
Peroidically, I have a go at Photoshop and Serif but always end up going
back to Photosuite where you tell it that you want to email a photo and
it asks you all the right questions and comes up with a satifactory
answer - and a prepared email.
However, ther is one thing that I have never understood about it, which
is that it asks you how many bytes you want but then asks you the size
of the picture as well, so there must be a question of quality involved.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Photo size 50mm x 40mm
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 20:55

I wonder if the plant you have is actually Odm Rawdon Jester ? It looks
identical to O.grande , but the other parent ( Odm williamsianum - or is it
williamsonianum ? ) seems to change the flowering time.

True O.grande always seemed to make up its bulb , and a few days or at most
a couple of weeks later, start the spike. Rawdon Jester on the other hand,
often holds its spike until the following year.

This is prompted by the thought that this is rather early for true Odm
grande , which often does not even start its new growth until June - my
several plants - all from a flask of "true" grande - which is what the
seller said, and its most likely, since the Rawdon Jester cross is
apparently unrepeatable - have new growths say 5 or 6 inches high , nowhere
near flowering ( which I would expect in say November ).

I think the present heat is causing a lot of cultural problems ; yellowing
buds is part of it , and any water left in a phalaenopsis crown easily means
the loss of a leaf if not of the plant , since brown soft rot develops at an
enormous speed in high temperatures; someone (Tim ? ) once told me the
propagation rate and the graph goes up vertically with temperature. And of
course your marks on leaves are probably all bacterial or fungal . I have
been thinking of spraying everything with Physan to try and check this kind
of thing , but I recall Bob Gordon ( do you remember his books ) saying that
it works like a charm - for today only , but do you want to - do you dare -
spray again tomorrow and the day after and every day.

From: jns tropic
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] location, location, location
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 03:45

My C. harrisoneae is growing in a wood basket and
hanging in a mango tree. This helps me forget that I
can't grow Odonts. There are two more spikes on the
left side of this plant. In south Florida we have lot
of seedlings of harrisoneae that came from an FCC.
This plant is thus the ugly duckling. But it is much
better bloomer. I can live with this old duck.

From: aeranthes
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: odonts and list
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 08:10

Re your list Geoff - would it be better to 'save' it to a new directory just for that list alone? I have quite a number of special boxes for special things. When you have the 'inbox' open, make the new folder and it will be on view in the left hand column and if you have that open when you save your list, with luck it should be there. Or you can drag it from your inbox to the new 'list' file. Have you checked to see if it saved it as a draft?

Rocky - lovely flower. I have a plant like that which I bought from the St.Albans nursery when we went for a visit a few years ago. It doesn't have those spots on it but it has not been an easy plant, losing some leaves although it has made a new growth this year. Some of my other orchids have had spots a bit like that and at first I thought it was water causing it but as new leaves emerged with spots too I think maybe it's just in the genes! Mystery.

From: mojca klancic
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Vanda and Ascocenda names
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 08:40

"Roger Grier" wrote
>
>Hello Mojca,
>
>Have a look at the website of 'Cyberplants'. Cybnerplants.co.uk
>
>This may give you some idea.

From: dennis READ
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Bifrenaria Harrisoniae
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 08:55

Rocky, I've had a Bif. harrisoniae 'alba' for 8 years. It has never flowered but grows with new bulbs continually. I have seen a picture of one growing in Brazil on a large rock face in the blazing sun with a continual stream of water over its roots.I've grown mine cool, intermediate and warm. It is now sitting in the blazing sun. Regards

From: P G Hieke
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Bifrenaria Harrisoniae
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 09:25

Hi Rocky,
If you have access to Rentoul's Vandas, Dendrobiums and Others,
then read from page 229 to page 230 about Bifrenaria's, esp.
page 230.
I have never managed to get Bifrenaria harrissoniae to flower
for more than 10 years, however the alba form flowers for me
every year in the intermediate section with a 2 months dry rest
in winter.
Regards
Peter from Bloubergstrand

From: P G Hieke
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Photo sizes
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 09:30

Hi all,
I think the sizes should not be bigger than 800 x 600 pixels. This size is well
below 50 kb
and it fills the screen nicely.
640 x 480 pixels is also a good size, however Geoff's Enc. radiata with 300 x
218 pixels
is for my liking a bit too small. I think it schould be double the size at 600 x
436.

If everybody uses a size between 640 x 480 and 800 x 600 in JPEG then there
should
be no problem with transmission times.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] RE: off message but maybe someone can help me ?
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 10:00

Thanks Peter , I have printed your mail and stuck it to my monitor, and will
give it a try.

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Emailing: DSC00650.JPG
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 10:40

> Tricia, Sorry about the big big picture. I must say however that I am
> not a computer wiz kid, or a kid of any sort and I do not send many
> pictures, and when I do it usually is just one. Generally when I bring up
> the picture Widows asks and I accept to make all of my pictures smaller,
> why this one wasn't I do not know, perhaps some one will tell me. This is
> the other picture hopefully suitable reduced. Ronbow.

> The message is ready to be sent with the following file or link
> attachments: DSC00650.JPG

> Note: To protect against computer viruses, e-mail programs may prevent
> sending or receiving certain types of file attachments. Check your
> e-mail security settings to determine how attachments are handled.

It was the last two paragraphs which indicated that the email software
wasn't doing what you told it.

From: Robert J. Richter
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] RE: Photo sizes.
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 11:35

Robert J. Richter
Owner
Bob's Computer Services
283 Elm Street
N. Reading, MA 01864
Tel: (978) 664-4380

Roger
I use Outlook but my favourite software for ease of use, printing and
emailing is IMG Photosuite.
Peroidically, I have a go at Photoshop and Serif but always end up going
back to Photosuite where you tell it that you want to email a photo and it
asks you all the right questions and comes up with a satifactory answer -
and a prepared email.
However, ther is one thing that I have never understood about it, which is
that it asks you how many bytes you want but then asks you the size of the
picture as well, so there must be a question of quality involved.
Ron (N)

From: Robert J. Richter
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: location, location, location
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 11:35

Robert J. Richter
Owner
Bob's Computer Services
283 Elm Street
N. Reading, MA 01864
Tel: (978) 664-4380

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: [OrchidTalk] Search the site
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 11:35

There is a new search facility on the website, powered by www.freefind.com
who were recommended by several people. It is similar to the Google
freesearch as it has one or two sponsor links displayed along with the
results but I don't think they are too obtrusive.

I've put search boxes on the home page - just go to
www.orchid-talk.co.uk
and the archive and photo menu pages.

From: Robert J. Richter
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] off message but maybe someone can help me ?
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 11:50

first, to save an address, right click on the incoming email address when
you open the message, and click add to contacts.

then to create a distribution list, in outlook click on file, new,
distribution list, name it, such as "rose growers", and click on select
members (from your contacts list), then save and close.

then when you need to email them, select "rose growers" from your contacts
list in "To:"

Robert J. Richter
Owner
Bob's Computer Services
283 Elm Street
N. Reading, MA 01864
Tel: (978) 664-4380

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: location, location, location
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 12:45

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: The Good the Bad and the Ugly.
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 16:15

Sharon wrote of my Odontoglossum Grande.....
What an awful looking plant Roger! My sympathies, but perhaps that is a good one to cull.

No, I can't do that Sharon, I'll just wait for a season or two to pass to see what happens, and will keep you all informed.

And then 'JNS Tropic' showed us his 'Old Duck'. Is the variety bane by any chance called 'Green with envy'.???

So, JNS, pardon but I could not remember your name, just exactly where do you live in South Florida, as many of our Club Members know of that part of Florida. It will no doubt bring back happy memories and give some information about growing certain orchids.

From: jns tropic
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Jpg file size
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 17:25

Sorry about my last attachment. When I read the file
size I saw 55 and thought that it was fine, only 5
over the limit. But when I saw it posted it was 155.
I am enclosing a thumbnail for people who could not
download the large file. I must admit I don't care
for the thumbnail.

MONTH	DATE	DATE	DATE	DATE	MONTH	DATE	DATE	DATE	DATE
January	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31	February	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-28
March	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31	April	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-30
May	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31	June	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-30
July	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31	August	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31
September	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-30	October	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31
November	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-30	December	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31