Goes to an SCA Event, Makes a Side Quest for Orchids

This past weekend there was an event called Twelfth Night, for my medieval reenactor group, in Newport News Virginia.  Last week while I was planning my route to get there, I was looking at Google maps and seeing what all was along my route, like covered bridges or orchid suppliers.  Needless to say, there weren't any covered bridges, but I found an orchid supplier in Norfolk Virginia.  The supplier was a vendor at the Triangle Orchid Show this past September in Raleigh; I had bought two orchids from him while I was at the show.  I reached out to them via email after looking at their website and falling in love with one of their unique orchids.  We coordinated plans for me to visit their greenhouse, pending weather.

Um, hello gorgeous!

Phalaenopsis Joy Fairy Tale

Friday when I left home to head for Newport News, it had just started snowing.  By time I had got on the highway, everyone was losing their minds driving.  By time I got about 40 minutes due west from the house, the snow/weather had stopped, the roads were dry and things were a bit more normal which made things a lot easier for the rest of the drive to Newport News.  The snow and weather finally caught up to us Friday night around 11pm.

Saturday morning, I had reached out to the supplier to see if they were still good with me coming by to pick up some orchids while I was in the area.  Some of the activities at the event I was attending on Saturday got
pushed back a couple of hours, so I had some time to drive over to Norfolk, peruse, ogle and admire the orchids they had in their greenhouse, pick out a couple and head back to Newport News for the event.  My original plan was to go to Norfolk, go back to the rental house, change into my garb and then head to the event.  I ended up changing into my garb, going to Norfolk and then to the event due to timing.  I'm sure the guy at the greenhouse thought I was strange coming dressed as a Viking, but it didn't bother me any. :-D 

in my element

When I arrived to the greenhouse, the first one that I stepped into was full of Vandas, strung across the lower rafters of the greenhouse, along with all sorts of other species of orchids on tables.  Despite being 30 degrees outside, I felt like I was in a jungle or rainforest (which is what you would expect to feel stepping into a greenhouse).  This was my first time being in a greenhouse like this and I was in complete awe.  We talked shop, he showed off some of his prized orchids and I made friends with his doggo.  Seeing his greenhouses made me a bit envious and confirmed that I need to make my dream of a real working greenhouse a reality.  I purchashed six orchids from him, all of them super unique.  I have added them to my spreadsheet, https://sites.google.com/view/orchidjourney/orchids/orchid-collection The orchids I purchased this weekend are listed as numbers 23 - 28 with images of their blooms.  There are some updates I need to make to the spreadsheet, but the key data is listed.

• Cycnoches 'The Grinch's Big Spot
  
  
• Phalaenopsis Meidarland Chambe (fragrant)
  
  
• Phalaenopsis Joy Fairytale
  
  
• Stenorrhynchos speciosum
  
  
• Phalaenopsis tetraspis alba (fragrant)
  
  
• Dendrochilum Formosanum

Most of the orchids I purchased this weekend are either species which have native habitats, but most are hybrids.  One thing (out of many) that I have enjoyed learning about orchids is that there are SO many out there.  When people think of orchids, their thoughts default to just the ones you see in the grocery or home improvement stores, or ones that come in corsages from a florist shop.  Seeing all the orchids that I have seen, whether it be in person or a magazine, has really opened my eyes to the unique beauty of the flowers that exist in our world.  

From the tiniest orchids 

Lepanthes oscarrodrigoi

To the orchids whose blooms are absolutely massive!

an orchid from the Cattleya species

The event that I was in Newport News for went well.  I took my purchased orchids into the event with me so that they’d stay warm since it was so cold outside (I didn't want to leave them in my vehicle).  Had some conversations with folks about orchids (although nothing in the way of historical research) and overall admiration of the flowers they they were showing.

The drive home yesterday was a long one, but I made it home safe and sound.  When I got out of my vehicle and went to get the tray of orchids I had brought home, my husband was coming out to greet me and help me bring stuff in.  When he saw I had orchids, he sighed, and jokingly said "you have a problem."  I laughed and said that I "didn't know what he was talking about."  Once we were inside and settled, he asked what kinds they were; I showed them off and let him smell the fragrant ones.  They are now in my small Ikea greenhouse which is the ÅKERBÄR style, with grow lights over them and a plant heating mat underneath to help keep them warm in my cooler office.  I'll keep them in that greenhouse for a couple of weeks to monitor for transport shock and any pests/problems that may be there.  I really don't think that there will be any issues outside of transport shock since all of their orchids, as far as I could tell, looked super healthy but it never hurts to err on the side of caution.

In other news, another one of my orchids started to bloom.    This one I got somewhere between 2022 and 2023, probably from Lowes.  It has bloomed a couple of times since I purchased it.  It has a couple of other buds on the stem that will be in bloom soon.

Orchids make me happy.  I'm glad that I get to share my journey with you, dear reader.  Stay tuned as I will be posting more updates soon!