OK, who went to Redlands and what did you BUY??!!

[Rhonda_in_FL]

I went Friday and had a terrific time. Awards tent was amazing (as usual!) Where else do you see orchids so large they have to grow them in plastic milk crates?

I was disappointed they didn't have any funnel cakes in the concession stand, that's what I REALLY go down for.

Other than that, always a good time. See lots of people and have lots of fun. Left some of my money in Homestead, but that's the price you pay for beauty!

[justatypn]

Sounds like you had a great time, plans here to go but it just did not work out like I had hoped:mad: Did ya take some s You know someone's gonna ask

[Rhonda_in_FL]

LOL...I didn't want to waste my carrying capacity with a camera. I should have, lots of people snapping photos.

[Marco]

i didnt buy anything

[IdahoOrchid]

I had Mahon looking for stuff for me but he could not find it in the quality he was satisfied with.

[Tindomul]

Marco, I wonder how you expected to buy anything unless you were down there this week. I want to see pics!!

[justatypn]

My thoughts exactly Tindo.... Marco, plan on a trip here during WOC ...

Pat has a great taste for plants Steven he would not steer ya wrong...I over his s and knowledge, such a young lad with an orchid dirction

[cb977]

Don't worry, Marco...
I gotcha

[Mahon]

Redlands was pretty good! Four hours is not enough for the typical collector...

The one thing that made me mad was the bareroot plants. I could tell that many of them were wild collected. Here, we're aimed at conservation, and they're ripping these out like weeds (and being supported to do it)! I am sure all had to be legally collected, and perhaps some of the habitats were being destroyed (rescue plants), but they at least need to advertise that. Sometimes, conservation through cultivation works best, but not in these massive amounts...

I saw very large, BS plants of Grammatophyllum speciosum for only $100! I asked for info about the plants, and had to pass; they were collected while "hunting for other orchids to sell"...

I looked through Ooi's tent. I talked with Benjamin Ooi (pronounced 'WEE') about the Paphs. for sale. ALL were wild collected, mostly from Thailand. The plants looked freshly collected, and I am sure most will not live. They offered Paph. sugiyamanum (new species), but they were bug-eaten. I was afraid of touching some of their Paphs., in fear I would catch a disease! I am sure the plants had a lot of stress to deal with during the trip, and I am almost sure Ooi has better plants back in Penang, Malaysia... I would like to try their Paph. ooii that will probably be released for sale in the US next year during the WOC...

Anyways, my pre-order haul consisted of Pleurothallids and odds and ends. It was the most expensive show I have been to... I didn't buy much else, though I should have grabbed all the odd things I have wanted or never seen offered at such a low price...

Did anyone see all those Cattleya moissae var. coerulea at one of the first tents near the parking lot and food stands? Only $35 for a nice sized blooming plant!

-Pat

[Rhonda_in_FL]

Hi Pat,

I did see those C moissae var coerulea, they were nice, but I hate dragging around potted plants and then bringing them home simply to repot. Four hours is certainly not long enough...

I did well with bare root Catt species--that's what I went for. Last year's schomb's are doing very well.

Each year I always get mad with myself for not buying more, but I try to show restraint. I made every effort to get down for judging on Thursday, but life was working against me. I was there Friday a.m. For me, I really dislike buying stuff that has been manhandled...I expect most of those orchids felt violated by Saturday afternoon! By Sunday afternoon, can't imagine anything worth having is there--no matter what the deals are.

Spent this morning potting my happy a$$ off. Life is good here, despite ruined nails.

What I NEED to do is drive up to Cainaima and shop there in person. Micheal is great and his plants are always wonderful.