ASOPOMO Eight

A Series of Photographs of My Orchids Number Eight

Eplc. Volcano Trick 'Fireball' (mericlone). This is an Epilaeliocattleya - a hybrid of 3 genera within the Cattleya group. A cross between LC (Laelia Cattleya) "Trick or Treat" and a species Epidendrum stamfordianum. The latter parent is a surprise. A small unassuming Central American Epidendrum that seems unlikely to have such an offspring no matter what the other parent is. Sort like me being the father of Shaquille O'Neal no matter who Mama is. Living up to its name, it produces a "fireball" of flowers on a 30" tall pseudobulb and bloom spike. Lots of sun has this plant that I have had for 3 years in full flower with 3 enormous flower heads that will last for months. It is a rangy plant so not easily adapted to a windowsill. But with the nights in the greenhouse hovering at 50F, it is a very warm spot visually in all this cold.

Bloomed out

The composition seems like a watercolor to me. I am working on a book of 19th and 20th century watercolors and some of the aspects of a good wash seem to rubbed off. Plus all that negative space. Hmmmm - how our own work is affected by the things we see.

In case you are interested in orchids:
one
two
three
four
five
six
seven