The flowers in my vase this week are Cattleya Orchids, from a plant gifted to me several years ago by my neighbor. I have been watching this plant for years, moved it around in the garden – nothing. Finally – three buds appeared, weeks ago. I watched, waited and watched some more, not a sign of opening. Just big, juicy buds displaying a tasty reticence. I occasionally had to chase some leering grasshopper away. Sigh, more waiting.
After a rough couple of weeks, my husband and I decided we needed a change of scene and took a few days to walk on the beach and rest. We packed up Alan the Greyhound and some coolers and headed to a lovely semi deserted beach miles from home.
Of course, I checked the Orchids just prior to leaving and one bud was opening! Sigh, again. Hoping I wouldn’t miss the show, off we went. The picture is sunrise on North Hutchison Island, Florida.
Deciding to cut the flowers was easy, I have two more buds and these were browning on the edges a bit. I’ll enjoy them in the house as long as they last. The vases (three again) were another story. Seeking a simple container for these complex flowers; I decided they needed a backdrop of a big tropical leaf (Seagrapes – Coccoloba uvifera). For vases, I started with a rose teapot, then went to the black vase, then the glass vases.
No leering grasshoppers in my house, but I did bring in a little bee.
The Shrub Queen 
Oh, what a lovely arrangement….peaceful…and I do hope your holiday together proved to be just what was needed.
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Thank you, there is a certain Zen element to orchids.
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Exquisite flowers, I’m so glad you did get to see them.
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Thank you- I am, too.
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Beautiful flowers. I’m glad they waited for you. Some of my best always seem to bloom over vacation.
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Just one of those things!
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What a dramatic arrangement with the black and white. Hope Florence is leaving you alone.
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Thanks, Florence totally missed us.
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Just superb – hope you felt peaceful and happy after your break.
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Thank you, I am ready to continue the break!
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Worth waiting for, and I am glad you managed to take a probably much needed break too – lovely photo of the sunset as well
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Thank you, the new ones are opening faster for some reason…I am not watching, maybe?
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Cattleyas always make me think of old-fashioned ‘grandma’ corsages. 😉 I love the yellow eye against the pure white. Are they fragrant?
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Yes, corsages for Grandma. They are fragrant, I am not too fond of the smell – like Gardenias with a cat pee finish, strange.
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Ooh, not so nice! 😀
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yes,weird. a puzzling scent.
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So elegant and pretty. Hope you enjoyed the change of scene for a few days!
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Thank you, Peter. We did.
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The idea of you staring down a leering grasshopper is priceless! Your Cattleya flowers were definitely worth your patience. I’ve discovered that orchids do take their time to bloom and also that some won’t bloom until their roots are crowded – of course, I learned this after potting most of mine up from the tiny pots the growers had them in.
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Laughing with you, the grasshoppers here are yellow and orange and poisonous. And Jurassic huge. Orchids remain a mystery to me, that one is on a bark mount. Love the potting story, live and learn.
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Is that Ficus lyrata foliage in the background? I don’t see much of that. Cattleyas do not grow outside here, and are marginal even in the Los Angeles region. I think they grow in San Diego, but need attention.
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The leaf is Sea Grape, Coccoloba. I’ve seen them in Hawaii. I think the Cattleyas probably need the humidity.
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Oh, of course! Sea grape! I did not recognize it because I have never seen it before. How embarrassing!
Anyway, the lack of humidity is why we do not grow many orchids here. Only the Cymbidiums do well out in the garden, and only if sheltered from frost and direct sunlight.
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Simply gorgeous Amy. Worth the wait, what a treat. Your holiday beach looks idyllic. Huge, poisonous grasshoppers? Euh!
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Can this be any more stunning? Wow!
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Thank you!
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