Stenoglottis longifolia

that really is quite a sight Meanie...

It is a rather special orchid Surreylad!

It's a very exotic orchid! Can you grow this orchids outside where you live, Meanie?

I think not - this is under glass at the botanic gardens.

I thought this one was a very hardy orchid.

Hardy South Africa is a little different to hardy UK the last two years!!

LOL! Yes, I would guess. I do know some parts of South Africa are pretty tropical, especially the northern parts of Southeastern Africa.

My conservatory should be warm enough!

I'm sure it's nice and cozy for your plants! I wish I had a beautiful warm conservatory for my plants! :>)

Good lord! What more do you want!!!!!

LOL! You're funny!

My plants do need protection from hot Santa Ana winds and the strong southerly storm winds, during winter.

Winter!!
Now I know that you're on a wind up!!!!!!!!

Yes, winter! My plants can blow over and fall down and break in the wind.

Ah............the windy season. I thought you meant the frosty/freezing season!

Where I live, there's no such thing as a frosty/freezing season. However, the hot, extremely dry Santa Ana Winds can sometimes make plants look like they've been through a frost or freezing night, due to desiccation.

My Dendrobium "Berry Oda" suffered from that in our windy weather too.

Meanie:

My orchids typically don't suffer directly from the wind...the wind just blows them off the wall where I used to keep them. I need to move all my orchids under my shade structure in the front yard...it tends to be very protected in there.

It has been unusually windy here this year........

Do you live close to the coast?

A good 50 miles away!

Wow! That's strange to have such strong winds so far away from the coast.

I'm only about 10 miles from the coast and rarely get the strong winds from the coast, even at my elevation: 460ft/140m.

Is it?
They have been far more frequent this year though - they b#ggered up my Erythrina.........

Meanie:

Maybe it's not so strange there where you live.

I know what winds can do...typically, winter winds (Santa Ana or storm winds) blow over my potted plants and break my expensive clay pots. I generally, have to put stakes around my large potted plants.

Delonix - typically winter winds here bring blizzards!!!

Whilst that is a bit of an exaggeration, winds in winter do mean an icy blast.

Meanie:

It's generally the opposite here. The very warm and dry Santa Ana Winds of fall-early spring, bring us warm to hot extremely dry conditions (with humidity levels down to 5% sometimes). It's a lot of stress for plants and people, too.