Unexpected frost

Brrr....it's only 31 degrees right now and was probably a bit lower before dawn? Was only predicted to go down to 38 but that was way off....I checked all my epis and orchids and no damage. I hope it doesn't get any colder than this in December and January!

Potinara Eye Candy "Sweet Sensation"

Just picked this up today from Trader Joe's...really cute! The blooms are a bit banged up but there is a new bud and lots of healthy nice new growth.

"Potinara" is not a genus per se. It's a name given to intergeneric hybrids that are mixes derived from Cattleya, Brassovola, Laelia, and Sophronitis. The designated name of "Potinara" sort of reminds me of how the US is a "melting pot"...and so are Potinara orchids!

Hopefully next year the blooms will be nicer for me.

Harald Knebel

Very pretty and a nice November surprise!

Cattleya species

Bowringiana maybe? I've forgotten what it is I've had it so long!

Epiphyllum hybrid "Easter Bunny"

This confused Epi must think spring is here....blooming today, "Easter Bunny"

EASTER BUNNY
Wressey Cocke (Hurst) 1991
"Three rows of white, next row yellow petals. Broad pointed petals. Outer petals bronze. Overlapping cup and saucer form. Flat and triangular growth. {XL} 'Lemon Custard' X 'Reward'. Reg #10917

This is a bloom on a newly rooted cuttting. It's 6" across and the tube is  rather long, about 4".

Black Phoebe

The Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)

The Black Phoebe is a common year-round, breeding resident. They build their cup-shaped, mud nests on the sides of buildings, usually under an overhang. The Black Phoebe is a common resident in southern California, and is frequently found near water (streams, ponds, leaky sprinklers, etc.).

The adult Black Phoebe is black with a white belly and two white wing bars. Juveniles are similar but have two rust-colored wing bars. Like most flycatchers, they are often seen on an exposed perch from whence they will fly out to catch insects and return to the same perch.

Garden today

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Parodia magnifica

Wow what a display! I've had this plant for about three years now. Aptly named.

Epiphyllum guatemalense

Blooming now, a rather pretty flower after all! Not much scent that I can detect, but as they say, the night is young.

Epiphyllum guatemalense (subspecies of E. hookeri)

White wheel shaped flower with narrow petals. Growth is wide and long, flat, basket adaptable, spineless branches. Night bloomer. L

Hopefully it will survive the winter here with a bit of protection, we'll see.

Photos from the next am

September ESA meeting and auction

A nice auction today...I was able to get cuttings of Fern LaBorde, Brown Bear, Smarty Pants, Crystal Flash, Knebel's Liebling, and Heureka (also a Knebel hybrid). Also got a plant called "Appasionata" which is an old Fort and O'Barr hybrid. Here's the auction tables being set up.

We had a panel explain hybridizing; the panel was composed of Evelyn Shiraki, Galen Pittman and Mark Piette. President Loretta Garcia in the background:

This lovely flower blooming off-season is 'Alice Emmons'

'Orange Icing'

'Fringe of Gold' with 'Orange Icing' in the background

And there was fruit to taste....but I brought it home for the seeds. Will plant and see what happens!

"Tequila Sunrise"

Here's a Labor Day surprise....a bloom on a newly rooted cutting. It's in a 6" pot and is about about 7" or so across.

From the ESA Directory of Species and Hybrids:

'Tequila Sunrise' Watts (PITT) 1994. Orange with light rose-pink edge. Outer petals golden orange with slightly lighter midstripe. Overlapping funnel form. Flat basket growth. {L} 'Moon Goddess' X 'Space Rocket'. Reg # 11556

Today's guest; young Allen's hummer

Sticking his tongue out at me!!

"Baby Toes"

Fenestria rhophalophylla

"Fenester" means window. The tips of these "toes" are light windows; a solar collection system for photosynthesis. And the blooms are just delightful too!

Hot August Blooms

"Harald Knebel"

"Fringe of Gold"

"Four Winds"

Today's visitor

This is either a Rufous or an Allen's...not sure, they are hard to tell apart. since it is early for Rufous I'm thinking he's probably a young Allen's.....Enjoy!

Morning visitor

"The Love Plant"

Cute name for this South African native. Darling little blooms. Anacampseros rufescens.

And a Notocactus sp. also....