Kitchen Table Kibitzing is a community series for those who wish to share part of the evening around a virtual kitchen table with kossacks who are caring and supportive of one another. So bring your stories, jokes, photos, funny pics, music, and interesting videos, as well as links—including quotations—to diaries, news stories, and books that you think this community would appreciate. Readers may notice that most who post diaries and comments in this series already know one another to some degree, but newcomers should not feel excluded. We welcome guests at our kitchen table, and hope to make some new friends as well.
I have inherited many beautiful Cymbidium Orchids from my father. He was an avid gardener. Dad was able to have a dead stick grow and flourish. Beyond the orange tangled threads will be photos and some verbiage.
Cymbidium Orchids are grown outside and are easier to maintain than their indoor cousins. They don't like extreme heat nor cold. In the San Francisco Bay Area/East Bay, we have very temperate Mediterranean climate. Which is ideal for the Cymbidium Orchids.
A few years ago, an experienced orchid gardener split, and gave supplements to the orchid plants. It took the gardener 2 whole days to split them. I'm very protective of the orchids. Only experienced orchid gardeners are allowed to touch them. Originally there were 3 large half barrels. Now there are 4 large half barrels and 2 small ones. They are in Wente Winery oak half barrels.
Before splitting
Orchid bulbs after splitting. These were extra bulbs that allowed me to have additional plants. Most folks would have thrown the bulbs away. The bulbs looked dead, and it was an experiment to plant them in a new container. Thankfully they survived and are flourishing.
Something growing. :o)
Cymbidium Orchids~ getting ready to spike/bloom
Not all of the orchid plants bloom/spike at the same time. Which allows for a nice growing season. Typically they grow from mid to late February through early May.
The last flower to bloom on the spike is the tip.
Click on an image for a larger view. All photos are mine. Do you grow orchids? Indoor or outside orchids? Other exotic plant or flower? Or lovely rose bushes? Another Spring bush or flower? Let's chat.