Paphiopedilum noid in all its glory!

Don't blame you...that's not a 'just' anything in my book either....beautiful...I'm sure they are actually flesh and blood you know, they just seem so 'animal' to me! :))

Ahh open at last definitely worth the wait, looks fantastic! :o)

That's a bit special meanie!
Reminds me of hot glistening chocolate!

Bravo!

Thanks all!
I only have three named hybrids and four species orchids - I pick them up, named or not, because I like them.
Food again Sticki!!

doesnt it make you think of chocolate?

I actually think that they're a little sinister!

oh yes i can see that! but i was trying to see the pleasanter side!!

outstanding Meanie..

Pleasant meaning food!

I told you it was "showy offy" didn't I Surreylad!

Those spots and speckles on the white lid are just what a water colourist would paint to give the impression of a fox glove or other flower. I wonder if that is how the trap works on these plants.

OK ~ guilty as charged!!!

It's not actually carnivorous Pimpernel, although it certainly looks as if it should be!

Sticki - I must admit to being rather hooked on those triple choc Mars bars!

dont think i have tried that [unusual for me as i try nearly all new chocolates!!!] but i do like mars ice cream!!!

At last the long wait is over it's absolutely fabulous Meani and well worth the wait :o))

Are you sure...? I would not trust it Meanie.

Seek one out Sticki!

It was worth the wait wasn't it Amy! Shame that there is just the one bloom per spike, but it does have two spikes.

It's more of a maze really Pimpernel to ensure pollination.

Oh wow, that is really beautiful.

Thanks Alex!
Are you tempted?

Oh yeah....

This is my species one...............

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/169898-paphiopedilum/member/meanie

..........and Paphiopedilum pinnocchio............

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/190449-paphiopedilum-pinnocchio/member/meanie

They're multiflower stemmed Paphs.
Or you could maybe get away with a Phragmipedium in the garden.

i shall seek until i find ~ i see it only came out in august this year!

i miss these slipper orchids, i might get a few again.. i did have P. Parishii but when i moved i gave them to a fellow grower near me.

That was one spectacular Paph Surreylad!

Amazing, hope the old tooth has stopped playing up now?

Thanks DD!
The tooth has calmed down now thanks.

Great photo! Love it! Congratulations on getting it to bloom. It obviously loves the conditions you have it in.

Thank you Delonix! I'm chuffed with it!

Hhmm...I think I like this one the best.

Now I'm going to be hunting for a Paphiopedilum.

A little tip then - if you can find a plant that is reduced because it has already flowered buy it. It would be a real bummer to pay top dollar, get it home and watch the flower drop off after a day or two! Only ever buy plants that have new unflowered (leaf) crowns - each crown only flowers once and then dies off.
Although they love humidity, never mist them. Water collecting in the crown can lead to rot and the death of the plant.

Thanks for the tip Meanie. I haven't seen any of these for sale here....I will have to ask if they sell them......oh boy, that will mean I'm going to have to pay top dollar for it. I'll see, there are always other ways.

I learned my lesson the hard way about water collecting in the crown......
remember, I almost killed one of my Phalaenopsis last year. The plant has a new flower spike now, I really thought it was going to skip this year.

Alexandramou:

What, this isn't a commonly sold orchid there?

Delonix,
Argh......nope. ;o(

Alex - I do recall the "occasion" now!
They're not that common in retail outlets here either Delonix.

Well, you both would love to shop here. Orchids are a HUGE business here...they're available by the many thousands of varieties. Some of the big box stores now have areas of many hundreds in one area.

Oh stop it with the thousands and the hundreds!!! ;o)
I'm lucky if I get to choose between five or six....ten the most and probably around christmas time.
I just found an orchid I would looooove to get my hands on.

Paphiopedilum [Maudiae x ( x Nappa)] Lady Slipper

That's a gem Delonix!

Check these out!

Paph maudiae "Prieta"................

http://orchidlady.com/photos/oldGallery/photos/PaphiopedilumVinicolor.html

P.sukhakulii.................

http://www.easyorchids.co.uk/shop/Paphiopedilum-Sukhakulii.html

And an absolute pageful!

http://www.slipperorchid.com/gallery_paphs.asp

Meanie:

In the last website...I've seen some those orchids for sale here. Many of these orchids are in the Botanical Building in Balboa Park. Many should be blooming now...as fall and winter are the peak time for orchids to bloom here in San Diego.

We tend to have very few for sale with their names here - they're generally sold as noids. The most common orchid sold as a named hybrid is Dendrobium "Berry Oda". My Phalaenopsis "Yu Pin Pearl" took a little finding, but was worth the effort.

Alexandramou:

You obviously don't have orchids show there, where you live. I've been to a few orchid shows...and let tell you I've never seen so many orchids in my life! There's literally tens of thousands crammed into a huge mall. It's actually quite overwhelming...and I don't get overwhelmed very easily. I never knew there were so many named varieties of hybridized orchids...they go on forever (not exaggerating, either!). Hope one day you can experience one of these orchid shows!

lol...lol...lol...lol
That is so funny, I was watching the orchid guy (youtube)...on an orchid show last night. I'm sure he said the Bay area. I enjoy listening and watching people talk about flowers.

No Delonix, unfortunately we don't have orchid shows here. There are flower shows but mostly in big city's like Athens. I've been to one there many moons ago, it was outdoors. Nothing compared to anything you've seen.

One day......

Yes, San Francisco at Fort Mason has a huge orchid show every year. I went once. There was two huge warehouse buildings full of orchids (many thousands). They used to have the home and garden show in these building, also.

If you love orchids, you must experience a huge orchid show at least once in your life. :>)

Yes, I would really love to go to an orchid show.

That's pure beauty! Lovely colours.

I'm guessing the flight to Athens is pretty expensive and far, for you? (to see a huge orchid show).

We usually drive to Athens once a year....you can get pretty cheap flights sometimes but still expensive and far (to see an orchid show).

Thank you Dwyllis!

How do you drive to Athens? Do you have to take a ferry to the mainland, then drive?