Phal. Naples nights x (Petite rose x Glad melinda) First Flower!

This is one of my project orchids for a growing experiment on orchidgeeks.com The best part is this is the first one to flower in the group. This morning I went outside and the bloom I had been waitng for has finally opened. Here are a few of the pictures from this morning.

Encyclia tampensis or Butterfly orchids Flowers Beginning!

These Encyclia tampensis or Butterfly orchids are beginning their show. The flowers are beginning to open and they are stunning. This is the first time I have seen this orchid bloom and the showing is going to be very impressive. Just days away. Here are a few teasers of some of the first flowers to open.

Volunteering at Heathcote Botanical Garden, Day 4

This week seems to be the hardest work we have encountered yet. Aaron and myself are still working on the backside of the "Palm Walk". We arrived at 10 a.m. and did not leave until 3:30p.m. I don't know if I work this hard in my own yard, but the hard work will be worth every drip of sweat shed. So this week they asked us to remove a few trees, some invasive vines, and plants. Along with trimming back branches off of the Seagrape Tree. I have some before and after pictures of todays work. The last pic is standing back looking straight on at the area we have been working on and the path to the back entrance to the "Palm Walk". Next week we might finally make are way inside the walk and start cleaning along the paths. Then we will be getting into some pretty interesting palms and cycads.

This Weeks Heathcote Botanical Gardens Plants!

Each week I during my volunteer day I am taking pictures of the palms or plants that are in the section that we are working on. This week I have a few common palms and a group of Bromeliads that are all in spike or starting to bloom.

Pics 1&2 are Young Cocos nucifera "Dwarf" Malayan Coconuts 1- yellow and 1- green
Pics3&4 are Chamaedorea cataractarum or Cat Palm
Pic5 is a Young Roystonea regia or Royal Palm
Pics 6, 7, &8 are an unkown Bromeliad beginning its bloom I will find out the name next week and take some more pics of the blooms.

Wild Encyclia tampensis or Butterfly orchids First Flowers!

It is getting very close to an amazing display of wild Encyclia tampensis flowers. These butterfly orchids are showing their first flowers. Here are a few pics of the first flowers to appear.

A Few of My Orchid Bloom Pictures!

Trying to keep up with posting has been hard. I have a few new business ventures that are growing super fast. I have still been snapping pictures whenever I can, and have lots of blooms and projects to share. Now with almost 100 orchids the bloom pictures stack up. So this post is going to be the blooms I have now. So have names, some are NOID's but still just as nice. I will name the ones I know, and if you know any of the noid's PLEASE SHARE! I love adding names to chids' that don't have one.
Spathoglottis plicata
Spathoglottis ungiculata "grapette"
Spathoglottis gracilis plicata "Penang Beauty"
Dendrobium Burana Jade


Some of the NOID's

The Alligator on the Palm Tree Pictures!

The other day I was along the shore of the St Lucie River when I came across an awesome photo opportunity. This area is has a number of Sabal Palms that grow sideways thanks to hurricanes and erosion along the shoreline. As I was taking in the scenery I came across this 4ft alligator laying on the trunk of 1 of these leaning Sabals. Incredibly these tree can have their trunks completely submersed in the water and still continue to grow. As you can see in the pictures it made for a perfect sunning area for the gator. Also perched on 1 of the other palms was a Great Egret.