today is first day of the rest of the humid hot summer

Too hot and humid to go outside now at 10A. I sprayed the orchids a little before 7. Had to leave the tennis court by 9:30. It is in the low 90's with humidity in the 90% range as well.

The orchids are rehydrating themselves in this weather. Rhizomes and leaves are fuller. Though no blooms from  Ascocenda Laksi 'Chili Pepper'.

a phoenix

I thought this thing had bit the dust. But I remember having read in the early stages of my orchid lust that just because it looks dead doesn't necessarily mean it is dead. Suddenly, forgotten in the thorny bosom of a bougainvillea, this sweet dendrobium began to sing.

Sunny mornings, rainy afternoons
have woken this dendrobium parishii
from dormancy

this species has a delicate candy scent

It is the summer solstice today. The sun will be directly overhead today at its zenith here in the Tropic of Cancer. I wish you, imaginary readers, an auspicious and very merry midsummer holiday-- party on, pagans.

homegrown

I have been asked several times whether my blog design is custom made. It is. I've simply grabbed gadgets and experimented. Emphasizing the plants is my object. Tropical plants are incredible, they are the object of the sentence. The side bar are my shout outs to loved ones and past endeavors.

Plumeria, a pure white is special in the garden

Evidently there are some problems pulling the blog with certain browsers-- please let me know your thoughts on rectifying this. I would be incredibly grateful for any input on how to make the pages more readable / efficient.  Thanks, JMF.

recent rain on the Pandora vine

a southerly thunderhead-- on the eve of the summer solstice 

what are the odds?

How many potted sea grapes (not in bonsai form) are being grown on terraces? How many terraces have 3 potted sea grapes growing in large pots? 10-20-30?? How many terraces on the planet are there? 10,000,000? I'll be generous and say that there are 100 terraces with 3 large potted sea grapes growing on them. 10M/100= 100,000. There are 7 billion people on Earth, 100 gardeners are growing 3 or more sea grapes on terraces; one in 70 million people on Earth are growing 3 or more sea grapes on their terrace. I AM GOING TO PLAY THE LOTTO!!

1 in more than a million?

Lucky number slev