Happy New Year!

Happy 2014, orchid lovers! I hope you had a wonderful and safe New Year’s Eve. My husband and I and some of our friends went to the New Year’s Eve bash at Brooklyn Winery and had a real blast!

Here’s some fun news: for 2014, Pantone has chosen Radiant Orchid as Color of the Year. The official press release says, “An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm.”

I have to be honest: I don’t love this color. I do love purple, but I prefer it in a darker shade with more blue in it; Radiant Orchid is a bit too pink for my taste. The simple fact that it’s named after my favorite flower may encourage me to try a couple Radiant Orchid-colored accessories, though. I know the whole “Color of the Year” thing is a marketing scheme, but hey, these Radiant Orchid-colored Phals have been all over the fashion and beauty blogs lately and seeing orchids in the news always makes me happy.

Completely coincidentally, the Vanda that I chose for the cover of my 2014 calendar has a bit of a Radiant Orchid tone. How’s that for a segue into saying that it’s not too late to get a Brooklyn Orchids calendar for yourself or a fellow orchid lover?

On a side note, two of my Phals in spike are now developing buds and a couple other Phal spikes are coming along nicely, so I should have some flowers to show off early this year!

Here’s to a happy and healthy 2014 for all. Cheers!

Phalaenopsis Blooming Season is in Full Swing!

This is why I grow orchids: I currently have five in bloom—four Phalaenopsis and (FINALLY) my Oncidium Twinkle Fragrance Fantasy! It’s such a great feeling to see those buds swell and burst open with gorgeous flowers. Two of the Phals in bloom are ones that I previously mentioned, the mama and baby. Here’s a pic of the mama in full bloom (apologies for the poor lighting):

Mama Phal's cascade of flowers
Mama Phal’s cascade of flowers
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A Very Belated Update: My Orchids, and Visiting Orchid Farms

It’s been way, way too long since I last updated this blog and for that I apologize. I’ve actually been traveling quite a bit this summer: Puerto Rico, San Diego, Minneapolis, and most recently, LA and Santa Barbara. But I’m finally getting settled back in and feeling like I have a moment to write a blog post. Plus, I have some fun updates on my own orchid collection to share with you!

First (and most exciting), my NOID Oncidium from Ikea is in spike! This is the second time that it has spiked for me. There are a ton of little spike offshoots growing off of the main spike, so I’m looking forward to seeing tons of beautiful little fragrant flowers in the next few weeks:

Blooms coming soon!
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“Winter” 2012 Bloom Update!

Winter is the season in which many Phals display their full potential. While it actually doesn’t feel so wintery in NYC these days, my Phals are responding to the season as they should. I have a few orchids in bloom that I want to share with you! One of them is the Phal that opened up in mid January; a few more buds have opened and there are still more to come:

Phal
So many pretty flowers!

The second is a beautiful, colorful bloom on a side shoot of the Phal that my parents sent me for my 33rd birthday last summer:

Rebloom
Birthday orchid

And possibly the most exciting of the three, my Tolumnia from Lowe’s is finally beginning to bloom again!

Tolumnia
Tolumnia bloom opening up

Another one of my Phals and two of my Phal keikis (one potted on its own, one still attached to its mother) are in spike too, so there will be blooms aplenty in the house soon.  🙂