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2005 Archived Messages


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Links to all the Photos and other images accompanying the list messages can be found on the Images page.

MONTHDATEDATEDATEDATEMONTHDATEDATEDATEDATE
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

December 22—31

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Pictures ...
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 08:25

Thanks for your post Mark ; I like your site layout „ very clean and neat (
I‹m just talking about the appearance „ its so easy to end up with a
mish-mash of colours and images which just looks a mess). I had not
considered a blog, and in fact never looked at one ; it was just a word, and
whilst I vaguely knew about them I‹d not thought of doing one. Now I will.

I‹m really waiting for a migration number (MAC) from my current ISP before
switching , and of course still looking for the perfect place to switch to !

I would not mind a pay-for service „ it doesn‹t have to be free „ after all
I can get 1Mb or maybe even 2Mb broadband for half of what UK on-line are
charging me „ for a service which often clocks out at ½ MB „ and the balance
will surely pay for it. Its just a question of wqhere to go.

I guess I‹ll leave this now , and return later when I have done something a
bit more immediately productive, like some repotting.

Geoff.

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From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Pictures ...
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 11:35

In article ,
Geoffrey Hands wrote:
> Thanks for your post Mark ; I like your site layout " very clean and neat
> ( I mish-mash of colours and images which just looks a mess). I had not
> considered a blog, and in fact never looked at one ; it was just a word,
> and whilst I vaguely knew about them I will.

Geoff, if all you want is to notify visitors of updates why not use a RSS
feed? Very simple to set up. See http://www.orchid-talk.co.uk/rss.xml for a
simple one I have just put together. Feel free to borrow the source if you
fancy a play :-)

I have to admit I am biased as blogs crash my preferred browser...

--
Tricia

If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

-------------------------------------------------------------

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Fwd: Pictures ...
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 11:40

My web-builder ( Adobe PageMill) allows me to test pages on Netscape and
Internet Explorer , which gives me a good idea of whether they will work ;
and since it either works directly in html ( or htm which some servers seem
to demand − or at any rate ignore the fourth letter of any suffix) and
allows me to do more programming in Java than I'm capable of anyway , I hope
there is no problem − after all, there is not much point in spending a very
great deal of time building a website ( and I do know how much , having been
doing it on and off for 8 years now ) − and then finding that people don';t
look at it for some reason which I could have avoided .

Geoff.

jan wrote:

About your website, a small prayer: Please stick to pure standard HTML −
Microsoft Frontpage in particular will, if left to its own devices,
produce webpages that are almost useless on all other browsers than
Internet Explorer, which means that an increasing number of people in
the world will only be able see a poor representation of what you
intended. Oh, and no Flash, Java, Javascript etc etc − I was just about
to say 'no graphics' as well, but that could be an impediment to Orchid
photos, I suppose...

/jan

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From: P G Hieke
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Pictures ...
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 16:50

I do not have broadband and I'm still running on 800x600.

Broadband is var too expensive here in SA.

Kind regards

Peter from Bloubergstrand

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From: Mark Macklam
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] RE: Fwd: Pictures ...
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 19:05

Hello,

A bit late entering this thread of discussion. My screen display is
1024 by 768, on a 21 inch screen. I am not familiar with PageMill, I
use Dreamweaver myself, but I would really recommend that you
investigate using css for styling your pages. Easy to learn and
implement and it will give you exact control over presentation that you
cannot achieve with pure html. Plus makes altering multiple pages a
snap.

Mark
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Dendrobiums and other matters
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 21:55

I had actually turned my PC off and switched all the bits off at the wall (
monitor, scanner, tower, printer, etc., ), packed up my lap-top , shut down
everything etc . read y for an absence ( the taxi is coming at 6.30 am
tomorrow ), but, since I didn't want to wash-up either, we went out for a
meal, and now returning a bit earlier than I thought, I just stopped by to
read my e-mail , and then had one or two thoughts to pass on.

Since a couple of my dendrobes are really going to be most spectacular (
whilst I am away , I expect , so that I cannot take pictures ) − D.
fimbriatum v oculatum with 15 spikes , D. amethystoglossum with about 7, .it
seemed to me to be to be time to try Yamamotos again with the combo (
culturally) which I can now give them − Cattleya conditions in the summer -
then a 6 + weeks period outside on the patio. Not the same as I have ever
given before , but thinking about those deep valleys where D. .nobile comes
from − almost gulches , it gets pretty hot in the summer, and is
surprisingly cool in the autumn.. just what I can provide ! so I
thought I'd buy me some..

Probably difficult.

So I thought to go to Yamamoto direct. I see they will do a box of 30
"mixed clones" for domestic customers − I'd accept that many , although
perhaps sell some duplicates , but alas − domestic means continental USA.
And moving to an apartment in NY for a few weeks/months until a box arrives,
and then doing the CITES bit twice ( US export/UK import) is far too
difficult. ( It would be fun − but who will look after my plants whilst I
am away ? )

But for international customers − me − it turns out I have to buy a minimum
of one box, taking 500-800 plants . The charge is $150 per order, plus $10
per box ( does anyone take more than 1 box ? ) − apart from the cost of
the plants − which varies between $1.50 per plant and $13 per plant -
according to size . The latter figure $13 is the size I'd buy − fills a 5
inch pot which is also stated as a multi- caned -budded plant,) . But 500
is a "few" too many for me − maybe 475 too many . And I don't think I could
sell the rest.

It needs a good dealer − One with a good trade, who can order on this scale.

Does anyone know where I can buy any of these plants on a more modest scale
?

My last posting for a time -perhaps ; the cruise ship I'm on has some
hot-spot facilities − so I'm taking a lap-top with a wireless card , and if
( what a big word that is ! ) all works according to plan , I'll log-on .
whilst dearly beloved is doing her hair before cocktail hour tomorrow , in
Bridgetown, Barbados, before we sail.

Geoff

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From: Theta Sigma
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Name please?
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 01:25

Thanks for a name!

Regards,

-=mark=-

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From: andy
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Christmas
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 15:35

Hi

This is just to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year

From

Nina Chandler

From:
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Christmas
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 18:25

Thank you Nina and the same to you and yours and all our members. Jean

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From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Name that plant.
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 19:25

Hi Theta Sigma,

Guess that 'Theta Sigma' is an anagram, so you asked the question, IMAGES THAT look familiar to me, are a miniature type Cymbidium, and I do think that it is a very nice plant.

Wonderful clean foliage, flowers well spaced out, and a nice attractive yellow.

As to putting a name to it, I would just say that I would be pleased to own it. Probably came from Holland???

Kind regards, Rocky.

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From: jns tropic
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Christmas
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 19:40

And I would add (as an orchid grower) good weather to
you all. The picture is my Christmas gift to all. I
will have 4 plants of this clone in bloom by Christmas day,

-------------------------------------------------------------

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: Name please?
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 23:00

In article ,
Theta Sigma wrote:
> Thanks for a name!

I've been trying to remember it all day and it has just popped into my head
- I think it looks like Cymbidium Golden Elf. Does it have a perfume?

--
Tricia

Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.

-------------------------------------------------------------

From: Theta Sigma
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Name please?
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 23:35

Thanks Tricia -

It does have a light perfume − a fresh scent (during the day). I'll
check it other times too. It definitely is a Cymbidium and diminutive
in nature. The name suits it.

Regards,

-=mark=-

-------------------------------------------------------------

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Cattleya.
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 09:20

Hi 'Jns',

Now that is a very nice Cattleya. Reminds me of 'Bob Betts' or 'Bow Bells', does it have any of the parentage in it?

Question for you. Is the flower growing from that psuedobulb on the left of the picture? The one that is just slightly shrivelled. If so it looks like a monofoliate, but then I can't see all of the other bulbs.

My problem is this. I love Cattleyas and grow a lot of them with very good success, but I still have trouble with the tall thin caned types. Any ideas?

Kind regards, Rocky.

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From: aeranthes
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: jns
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 12:05

What a lovely photograph of your Cattleya jns. Is it Hawaiian Wedding? Thanks for sending it around − a cheerful sight. A Happy Christmas to you and yours. Jean

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From: pop3.ukonline.co.uk
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: orchid in the wild
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 21:10

This is really just an experiment . Having brought my lap-top on holiday ( for various reasons − one being to download all my pics, day-by-day , rather than buying endless memory cards or alternatively entrusting my precious images to a shop to burn a CD for me − and maybe mess them up because they can't actually handle my camera's version of RAW or whatever )- I thought I would go one step further and see if my machine is compatible with the hot-spot on the ship , and send/receive e-mail.
So here's a pic I took earlier today , at about 1800ft up in a National Reserve here on the island of Domenica ( Leeward Islands, not to be confused with Republic of Domenica).

I reckon its probably an Epidendrum species. Canes up to 12 or 15 inches long , some new buds sprouting from the top just like they do on Dend.kingianum ( of course its not a Dendrobe- they are not American orchids ) one large pod − almost 2 inches long. New growths starting too from the base. This is a very wet area − 350 inches of rain in a year !

Any temptatiojn to do a bit of collecting was soon quenched when I saw the largest scale insects I have ever seen on the underside of the leaves , but the plant was certainly healthy.

I must try and find Orchids of the East caribbean when I get home to see if I can put a better name to it.

Geoff.
p.s the ship is charging me £16.50 per 100 minutes of hot-spot use − so I guess I will just send and receive in that room ! Replies, maybe, but prepared elsewhere .

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From: pop3.ukonline.co.uk
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Name please?
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 22:00

Its a cymbidium. Certainly a hybrid.. To go furthyer , you need a crystal
ball I'm afraid.

Geoff

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From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: orchid in the wild
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 23:35

Glad you are still in the loop Geoff, but it seems your hot-spot doesn't
send attachments.

Happy hols,

--
Tricia

Anarchists of the world disunite!

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From: jns tropic
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Cattleya.
Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2005 01:55

C. Bow Bells was very important in the 40's Only
wealthy growers could get one. C. Bob Betts was the
new star in the 60's and the large number of seedlings
in the market place made them affordable. Then came
Bc. Mt Hood with some Brassovola in its background.
The lip was much better for the use of the brasso.
But most of them were light pink. I have one of the
pink ones and it shows up now and then in my site.
But my clone 'Mary' is white. It was given to me in
the 80's. I grew it into a very large plant and when
it started to linger I broke it into 10 plants. At
this time I have four plants in bloom(one flower has a
red mark on the lip), The jpg that I posted earlier
has about 7 psudobulbs and the flower comes from the
bent bulb. It grows hanging in a tree and some time
it gets fairly dry. Today I will post the old large
plant that produced all that I have now.

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From: mojca klancic
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] orchid in the wild
Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2005 10:15

Dear Geoff,

I was happy to recieve your mail, but there was to photo attached.

Wishing you a nice experience,

Mojca from Slovenia

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From: Dr Chong-Yee Khoo
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Christmas Greetings!
Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2005 11:30

Download QuickTime (if it's not already installed, http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/), turn up the volume, and enjoy!

Made a Mac (of course!), using Keynote...

Chong-Yee

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From: aeranthes
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Geoff
Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2005 12:00

Hi from Tamworth in Staffs Geoff where I'm using my laptop to communicate with you somewhere on the sea! I still marvel at all this technology. Glad the hotspot works there but they certainly know how to make money so yes that's the wisest thing − just send and receive while online. Your photo didn't come through for some reason but your message did. Have a happy day. Jean

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From: P G Hieke
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Dendrobium crumenatum
Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2005 16:50

What a surprise this Christmas Morning when I went into the hothouse and
found Dendrobium crumenatum in flower with 48 glistening pristine white
flowers.
I still do not know what makes it flower. It can flower 2 or 3 times a year.
It is said that bad weather with unusual low temperatures makes it flower
within a certain number of days. However I do not have bad weather in
my hothouse and the temperatures are fairly constant.
Does anyone have a better explanation?
Merry Christmas
Peter from Blobergstrand

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From: pop3.ukonline.co.uk
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Name please?
Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2005 22:00

It looked too pale for Golden Elf, to me − but that may just be my laptop −
I have not used my calibration spyder on it as yet , so my colours may not
be true − not that they ever are − but maybe further out than usual.
But the shape is right I think.
Golden Elf is an ensifolium hybrid , and ; and when I say its too pale, it
may e that I am thinking of the awarded cv − called Sun King ? which I grow
, or grew − not sure if its still in my collection . I tried to use
Wildcatt to-search for other possibles,as it seems likely thaat the shape is
ensifolium derived, and there may not be many hybrids from this species, but
I have not yet found any way to to do that- there won't be that many I
should think , and the perceived colour should give clue. Incidentally the
only awarded form in Wildcatt is SunDust − maybe my plant was wrongly named
.
Geoff

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From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Peter's Dendrobium crumenatum
Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2005 09:45

Mornin' Peter,

I know that you are the other side of the equator, and that your seasons are visa versa to us, but do you think it has anything to do with the daylight hours?

Rocky.

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From: Ron Bower
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Christmas Greetings!
Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2005 15:45

Hello Chong,
Your Christmas Greetings won't run on my PC or my Mac. Please tell me why I
should want to have it. MyMac is one of the new mini type and frankly I
don't know how to use it as yet and I don't seem to find the time to study
the on screen instructions. I do wish the manufacturers would supply a
written manual.It seems that these days that is too much to expect, no
matter how much you pay.
Thanks and I trust you, your wife and I think it is your son, have a
splendid 1906. Ronbow.

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From: aeranthes
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Chong-Yee
Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2005 15:50

What a wonderful message presentation Chong-Yee! Thank you. Gosh how your little son has grown! You and Irene must be so proud of him. I had trouble with Quick time which would not open the file so I downloaded it again but still couldn't access it unless I upgraded to a movie type Quick Time for $29. Not to be beaten I decided to try all other programs on my computer and found that it opened with no problems in RealPlayer so if any other member is having problems − try RealPlayer if you have it. Jean

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From: pop3.ukonline.co.uk
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Dendrobium crumenatum
Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2005 21:55

I was told that it was 90 days after a thunderstorm − that was in a little
plant nursery just over the causeway from Singapore into Malaya − I've
forgotten the name of the town − two words I think. The nursery sold plants
generally , but D. crumenatum, was growing even on the telegraph poles
there, which led to the conversation. I alwqys assumed it wqas the drop in
temperature , but maybe a good wetting , when its otherwise ready ?
Geoff

"P G Hieke" wrote:
> It is said that bad weather with unusual low temperatures makes it flower
> within a certain number of days.

-------------------------------------------------------------

From: Dr Chong-Yee Khoo
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: [OrchidTalk] Chong-Yee
Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2005 23:50

Thanks, Jean! RealPlayer opens the file fine on my machine, but doesn't play the soundtrack...Happy Christmas to you! Chong-Yee

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From: Dr Chong-Yee Khoo
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Dendrobium crumenatum
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2005 00:30

Hi, Peter,

The "official" version is that flowering occurs 9 days after a thunderstorm brings the temperature down several degrees. 5 degrees Celsius is the often repeated figure for the required drop in temperature. Remember that in the equatorial tropics orchids don't have the benefit of cues from seasonal variations in day length, precipitation and temperature to tell them when to bloom. So they either flower freely, or rely on cues like temperature drops as triggers for flowering.

Dendrobium crumenatum blooming in the wild is a sight to remember. The temperature drop affects all plants in a particular locality, so the result is that all the plants in that locality bloom at the same time. The flowers on each plant are numerous and fragrant, but very short lasting, less than a day or so. This "gregarious flowering" (the technical term for the mass blooming) creates a spectacular sight.

I was lucky to witness such a mass flowering while on holiday in Singapore in late January 2004. Dendrobium crumenatum grows on roadside trees and is very common in Singapore. I remember stepping out of a taxi in the rain on Orchard Boulevard, on the way to a shopping arcade, coming face to face with a clump at eye level − and being delighted at seeing the white flowers. I ended up spending much of the day driving around the island photographing the blooms (see attached photos − please excuse the graininess from the bad light). We finally finished late at night, by which time the flowers had started to collapse on themselves.

By the way, the delay after rainfall was first reported as long ago as 1917 by Burkill in Singapore, and Coster concluded in the mid-20's that it is the drop in temperature that is the stimulus for flowering. Prof Joe Arditti reported at the 17th WOC in Kuala Lumpur that more recent experiments seem to indicate that it is the "hydration of the buds" that is the stimulus for flowering (I have no further details of this).

Regards,

Chong-Yee

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From: Ronald Newstead
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Christmas Greetings!
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2005 19:25

Very clever, Chong-Yee!
Happy New Year to you and your family!

Ron

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From: Rudolf Günnel
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Christmas Greetings!
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2005 19:30

Hello Ronbow,

Could it be you are a little too late with your New Years greetings,
aren‹t you??? :-):-)
Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year 2006 to all subscribers of
Ochid Talk.
Best regards from Germany, Rudolf.

Ron Bower wrote:

>Hello Chong,
>Thanks and I trust you, your wife and I think it is your son, have a
>splendid 1906. Ronbow.

-------------------------------------------------------------

From: P G Hieke
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Dendrobium crumenatum
Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2005 14:20

Most likely it is the drop in temperature that triggers the flowering.
However, how many days are there between the drop in temperature
and the opening of the flowers. The only real drop in temperature
I recorded, was in September and that works out to 99 days. There
was one day when the day-temperature was 10 degrees lower than
on average.
I have seen it flowering in Kuala Lumpur during the WOC in 2002.
Unfortunately they were all a bit high up on the trees and could not
be seen that closely.
Thanks everybody who responded.
Kind regards
Peter from Bloubergstrand

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From: Ron Bower
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Christmas Greetings!
Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2005 17:30

Yes indeed, but then better late than never. Ronbow.

Rudolf Günnel wrote:

Hello Ronbow,

Could it be you are a little too late with your New Years greetings, aren't you??? :-):-)

Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year 2006 to all subscribers of Ochid Talk.

Best regards from Germany, Rudolf.

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From: aeranthes2
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Ronbow
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2005 09:55

Hi Ronbow thanks for the message and a Happy New Year to you and all our others members. I'd be really very grateful if you could let me know which urls you were trying for the should all link and if they don't then I need to do something about it. I have had a look but have failed to find any which don't link. I'm just off to have another look. Thanks for pointing it out. Jean

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From: Dr Chong-Yee Khoo
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Orchid Review Christmas Gift Guide
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2005 11:35

I was Googling around to find out when Howard Wood's new Dendrobium book will be published, and discovered that the article I wrote for the Orchid Review (published in issue 1266) as been placed online at the RHS website.

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Learning/publications/orchidreview/orchid1105/gifts.asp

Hope you find the suggestions in the article useful for next year!

Regards,

Chong-Yee

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From: jns tropic
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: Two more pictures of Bc. Mount Hood
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2005 15:05

The blood spot appeared on a division of the pure
white clone 'Mary'. It also had some very light pink
on the right edge of the lip. If you remember the
earlier posting had more rounder petals. I will note
if this is a mutation or if it goes back to the normal
pure white. The second Mt Hood has an HCC/AOS(I
forget the clone name) and is the normal pink color of
the whole cross.

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From: aeranthes2
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: list
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 10:10

Thank you for the article Chong-Yee I shall print it out so that I can refer to it for presents next year. It will prove very useful − thank you.
Jns − wonderful photos, wonderful orchid − thanks for a good start to my day. Jean

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From: denis king
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: horse manure
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 10:25

Happy New Year to all.
Has any one used horse manure with Pleones are there any problems?

Regards

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From: Sharon Williams
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Orchid Review Christmas Gift Guide
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 18:55

Hi Chong-Yee: How do you access the article? There was nothing 'clickable'
when I looked.
Sharon in Calgary

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From: aeranthes2
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: orchid site
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 19:00

If Geoff is still on holiday and doesn't get this could any other member let me have the url of Geoff's orchid site please as the link I have is an old one and I want to update it. Thanks in anticipation. Jean

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From: pop3.ukonline.co.uk
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: problems with message − and other matters
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 19:10

Just to make you jealous I'll tell you that I'm sitting on the balcony to our cabin , looking out at a sparkling sea ; I'm wearing swimming shorts, and the temperature is maybe 31 (C − not like the 31 F it is in UK according to the ship's newspaper ). I went into the rain-forest here, at 1300 feet up ( Tortola, in the BVI − British Virgin Islands) this morning. Saw a lot of bromeliads and epiphytic ferns, but no orchids. There were a few in the small but good Botanic Gardens here, said to be locally collected originally, and if I can manage, I'll add a picture of what I thought was Epi.Parkinsonianum ? It was not labelled.

I had a lot of problems until now, using my lap-top via the wireless connection. Some 3 days ago I had 18 messages ( OE said)and I downloaded the first 8 successfully, but number 9 just went on and on. Since the cost approaches 20 pence per minute via the Ship's system) I stopped it after 5 or 6 minutes − but could not get to messages No 10-18.

The next day I had 35 messages − I downloaded the first 8 − which proved to tbe same 8 as I had got the first day , No. 9 went on and never finished, − and so on.

By the third day it was 60 messages − same again. But I could never get past No.9.

I recall having had this problem with Outlook Express some years ago , and having to telephone the support line and getting themk to delete the offending message. But I did not want to ring UK from the Ship − at one pound per minute, and in my recent experience, of trying to contact my ISP hanging on for 20 minutes whilst getting messages about customer service rpresentatives being busy...

But then I had the thought of trying to get into my account at the web-site of the ISP , and lo and behold my list of e-mails becomes visible, and I have been able to delete No. 9

By the way the offending message was from Chong-Yee subject Den. crumenatum, and was listed at 514kb. Maybe it is a series of pictures , or maybe something went wrong, and you forgot to compress ,Chong-Yee ? It can't have been intentional − 500kb is enoughy for a book, not a message, and in picture terms, I can fill a six foot by six foot screen with a projected image from a mere 100kb file.

But mayebe Tricia can do some sort of filtering and any message as big as this could be cut up into small pieces or just returned to sender ? I don't think I shall be the only person who has trouble with it, and if others have not thought of the web-mail trick, they may still be wondering how to get rid of the difficult one !.

I'll send this message later today -I have a quiet time at the end of the afternoon , between playing Bridge and preparing for Dinner, wjhen I can go back to the site and actually start reading the ( by now maybe ) 80 plus mails awaiting me, and send this one.

Geoff

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From: Ronald Newstead
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] problems with message − and other matters
Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2005 13:15

I use Outlook which seems to handle enclosures of 1MB+ quite easily. Could
Geoff's be an Outlook Express problem?

Ron

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From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Pleiones and Horse manure.
Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2005 18:55

Hi Denis,

As I see that you have had no reply from our members with reference to growing Pleiones in Horse manure, I thought I might be able to give you some help.

No, I have not put my Pleiones in Horse manure as yet. I have four bowls full of them.

I do have some Cymbidiums and Coelogynes in pure Horse manure, and I have some 'Trials' of other items.

All I can say is this, that to plant them into pure Horse manure would leave me with no hesitation at all. Maybe I would also try mixing it in with a normal compost for Pleiones.

I can say this for sure. Horse manure works very well indeed.

I even use it, diluted, and mixed with rainwater as a foliar/plant feed, which I spray all over the plant and around the top of the 'compost' so that it runs/trickles through and enables the roots to grab hold of it.

In our conservatory is a large hanging plant.....Plectranthus australis, and since I have been feeding it with Horse manure water the leaves have turned a wonderful healthy dark green. So have the leaves of my Stanhopea.

If I can furnish you with any more information then just give me a try.

Kind regards, Rocky.

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