Happy Holidays, Orchid Lovers!

Here’s what’s happening at New World Orchids…

The Plant Front:

I have a lot of stuff blooming and in bud right now.  When you think about Neos so much, you forget that other plants bloom in the winter!  I felt I should not be the only one to enjoy them, so let me know if you are interested, and I will get them out to you.   Make it a Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukah/Happy Kwanzaa to yourself or another orchid lover in your life.  Click on this link to find the list of new plants, and email me with your order (kristen@newworldorchids.com).  I will add pictures as I can.  My toughest job is staying up to date on the website.

You may have noticed that I am not just carrying Japanese orchids.  In fact, I’m expanding into our name:  New World Orchids.  Ever wonder why a Japanese orchid seller would have such a name?  Originally, Glenn, the founder of NWO, carried South American orchids, particularly paphs and phrags.  He had a greenhouse in Ecuador and spent quite a bit of time down there.  All this changed when a volcano destroyed the greenhouse that afforded Glenn a choice:  rebuild in Ecuador or go in a different direction.  After having experienced the Japan Grand Prix and being introduced to Japanese orchids (which were nearly nonexistent in the US), Glenn struck out in a new direction.  Because NWO was well known by then, however, the name remained.  Now I am re-expanding back into South American species, but with special attention to small species.  I have always had an affinity for tiny things (the best things DO come in small packages), and I admit to loving lots of different kinds of orchids.  I have always had a special affinity for anything vandaceous and all Dendrobiums.  If you feel the same way, you will be happy as you see an expanded offering of orchids.  Because I am growing them alongside my Neos, you can do the same.

 

Michigan Weather:

I don’t know about you southern growers, but those of us who are usually spending all our hard earned money on heat at this time of year have been loving this change of weather pattern.  I am happy to sing “White Christmas,” and think of white Christmases of the past while walking to the greenhouse in my flip flops.  Just saying.  Those plants that needed their blast of cold got it back in October and November, and I am starting to see buds form on some of the choseiran (D. moniliforme) and shunran (C. goeringii) who are enjoying spring-like temperatures in the greenhouse.

 

Greenhouse News:

Speaking of the greenhouse, it’s just wonderful in there right now.  We have put a lot of effort into improving the humidity, and we are seeing results.  Kevin has the woodstove in place and we had one trial fire so far which showed that we need more stove pipe to improve our draw.  Still, we are closer to nice cozy fires.  We are also working on a rainwater collection system.  Right now the rain system consists of two boys carrying jugs of water from the rain barrel at the house into the greenhouse.  This system creates much unhappiness, so I am looking forward to more water availability in the greenhouse itself.

 

Personal News:

On a personal note, November and December have seen a lot of action on the health front.  I had gallbladder surgery right before Thanksgiving (still not sure I’m happy about it—lots of residual pain), my elder son had surgery on his ear Wednesday (second one this year—lucky us), and my father-in-law is now in the hospital with pneumonia and something not yet diagnosed.  Glenn, my predecessor at NWO, had surgery Friday to fix an aortic aneurism.  This is no small surgery at any age, and Glenn will be 82 in April.  If you know him, you know what a kind soul he is, and he would love to hear from you via the Neofinetia Facebook page (where he is most likely to be able to see it) or by email (glennlehr@aol.com).

 

Finally, I want to wish you a happy holiday season, whether you be celebrating Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, or anything else.  I hope it is filled with love, laughter, friends, and family. 

 

Sincerely yours,

Kristen