Extraordinary creatures

Yesterday I went to the New Orleans Orchid Society Show and Sale, presented at Lakeview Mall in Metairie.

I went with my friend Naomi, who is an experienced orchid gardener and orchid-show attendee. We took in the exhibits of award-winning plants, and here are some of the sights we saw.

Naomi likes Paphiopedilums

We also browsed the vendors, and oh my goodness, was it tempting! Everything was pretty expensive, though there were some bargains to be had.

I indulged but in a moderate way - I bought one little oncidium for $5,

Mature Oncidium in full bloom

Oncidium blooms, close-up

one paphiopedilum in bloom (it also has beautiful foliage!) for $12

Award-winning paph like the little one I got

a large healthy "spent" cattleya for $12.50 - this means it has bloomed for the year, so I have to wait for next year's bloom. It is supposed to be very fragrant. I also bought three bare-root plants - they were five for $30 and Naomi and I went in together, so we got them for $6 each.

I potted them up this morning. One of them is this magnificent thing:

Here's a look at all the other marvels we saw:

Miltonia

 

Miltonopsis

Phalaenopsis

Vanda