St Swithin first bloom SO EXCITED

[Kim in CT]

I'm so happy to share this with folks who, unlike my immediate family members, actually appreciate the excitement and wonder associated with the first-time blooming of a multi-floral paph. TA_DAAA! I ordered this Paph. philipinense x (roths. 'Jungle Selected' x roths. 'Atlantis') nearly 3 years ago as a $9.90 special from Seattle Orchid (yup), and posted about it in May 2021 when it looked like it was dying. She did nothing for a full year and then just took off. Grown in S/H in my dining room.

I didn't expect this plant to be so BIG -- 24 inches across the leaves, and flowers 13 inches long. I am so inspired by the orchid photographers who post here on Orchid Board, and I tried my best, but it was challenging! The best location I could find was on the back of the toilet.

For next time, is there a way to avoid the 90-degree angle in the flower stalk? It seems so brittle and there is NO WAY I was going to risk snapping it while tying it to a stake. For now the flowers form a nice horizontal canopy over the other orchids below...

So happy!