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March 10th, 2008
03:00 pm - Orchid delirium!
Last week, phone in hand, I made arrangements for Laura and I to visit a private orchid greenhouse, one of the finest in the nation, located about an hour drive from our house. We set out yesterday morning, armed with cameras and energy drinks, and over the hill and through the wood, to The Orchid Station did go.
Paul, the owner, and I had met a little over three years ago, at an art show I did located near his greenhouses. Laura and I had stood huddled together in the pouring rain the next morning, before the art show re-opened to the public, waiting for him to show up, just to get a peek inside. It was there that my fascination with orchids began.
From the outside, nothing too fancy:
Inside, however, is another story. This is what I think the Elysian Fields must look like:
Three greenhouses total, filled to the brim with all varieties of orchids, most in bloom:
I was so awestruck, I had a hard time holding the camera steady. All in all, I took over one hundred photographs, and probably close to an hour of video...
Since orchids play a big role in some of my upcoming work, I felt it important to take a few home for "research." Here's Laura holding up one of our new babies:
Here I am with Paul, the man with the Official Best Job on the Planet:
Here are our newest additions, safely back at home:
I downloaded the video when we got home last night, and quickly chopped it together into a little movie I could share with you all. Enjoy!
Ok, enough goofing around, I gotta get back to sculpting orchids!
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Comments:
Great post, baby! It certainly was a fun visit, and I think we made some wise choices with the two we took home. Next time, we'll get one of the yellows and a scented one (duh-rool).
I can only moderately object to the pic of me here -- it's just natural that I would look so "challenged" next to all that beauty. I'll blame my 'tarded look on the pretty orchids...yeah, that's it...and the fact it was so darn bright in there it made me squint.
You, on the other hand, look fab. I'm glad I caught one with Paul smiling, too -- it's only fitting for the man with the best job in the world (although I can't say I envy him on those hot and humid days in the summer).
I was going to post and comment that you are incredibly beautiful. LoL. Beautiful bone structure and the face a painter would yearn for!
Okay, I'll stop now before it gets weird. Wait, it already is! LoL.
Now you can see why I call her "The Muse"!
Yep. I think she should be posing for Vermeer or Da Vinci. Or, well, you! *blows a kiss*
I've frustrated a few other artists who have approached me about "borrowing" her for some modeling; I always tell them that she only wants to pose for me. I've gotten a few dirty looks, but oh well...
You look beautiful as always! Yes, a scented one next!
Those are some healthy looking Orchids! and the man that sells them is cute and I want him to be my friend! :P
Do you have a website?
xo
Funny, though I've never met you, and have never been to Australia, I had a dream the other night that you and I were chasing some giant bird, with a long spring for a neck and high-top converse sneakers on its' feet, across a field somewhere in the Outback...Weird, huh?
My website is (sadly, no orchid sculptures up there yet!):
www.faraonistudios.com
That IS weird :P Was it some sort of mutant Emu?
AND... most importantly... did we catch it? :)
Ha-ha, no, unfortunately we didn't catch it! Hopefully we'll have better luck next time...
![[User Picture]](http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/97660833/9452612) | | From: | ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) theirea |
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| Date: | March 10th, 2008 10:28 pm (UTC) |
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Wooooow! Beautiful orchids!! We have a white one but it has lost all the petals at the moment. But the leafes are still green and maybe it will flower again :)
Thank you! Sounds like you have a phalaenopsis orchid. It is normal for the petals to fall off when it is done with the blooming cycle. Wait until there are no more buds, then trim the flower stalk (the long thing the buds grew off of) back to about an inch from where it starts, at the base of the plant. Keep the pot moist (I water them usually twice a week), and fertilize lightly at least once a month. It should flower again about the same time next year. Let me know how it works out, and don't hesitate to ask any questions; if I can't answer them, I'll send you in the right direction!
| | From: | theirea |
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| Date: | March 11th, 2008 01:50 am (UTC) |
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awesome, ill do that, thanks :)
Beautiful orchids, beautiful people! I've been considering buying my first orchid but honestly, I've killed every plant that I've brought home. *whines* I don't wanna hurt the pretty flowers!
For now, I'll just keep on admiring everyone else's. (That was the best part of touring the greenhouse at Biltmore-- they had a small room of orchids in bloom!)
Aw, you are too kind, Nicole! When you do decide to buy an orchid, stick with a reputable grower; the ones at grocery or home improvement stores are forced to flower and have a very short life expectancy. I'd love to visit Biltmore some day; I'm looking into shows in the North Carolina area, so I'll keep you posted as to when we might be down your way!
xxoo
Ken
Wheeeee! You're coming to NC!!! WHEEEEEE!!!!!!!! At the rate I'm going, I'll NEVER make it to Virginia!! There's lots of shows around here! Ehm... I can't name them off the top of my head but there are LOTS of them! LOL. The only thing my little town hosts is the Apple Festival in October. But there are big craftsman shows in Greensboro in April and November, I believe.
Anyway...LET ME KNOW!!!!!
I'm definitely keeping my eyes open for good fine art shows down there, hopefully we find something we can do this year. Laura and I have also talked about making a long weekend of it and exploring Asheville and surrounding areas, there is supposed to be a nice gallery scene there. Are you far from there?
We're about two and a half hours away from Asheville-- but there's a great gallery scene there and near-by Black Mountain is really an artisan community. It would be worth the trip to spend a weekend in Asheville!
I'll make sure to let you know ahead of time when we plan on coming down so that we can all get together; that will be worth the trip alone! |
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