The Homestead Hobbyist

I'm headed to Al's Orchid Greenhouse today with a friend from the local Gesneriad Society chapter, so I thought I should finally post the photos I took from my last visit!

If you've been wondering about the lack of posts in the past week, well, I was busy last weekend. I usually have time on Saturday or Sunday to set up a series of posts for the week, but last weekend, I went to Maryland's Eastern Shore for my niece's seventh birthday, wrote a freelance news article, and staffed a DC State Fair information table at a farmers' market. So, I ended up being quite busy. Plus, I quit my job. I'm on vacation this upcoming week, but the following week is my last one. While I'm unemployed, I'll be focusing on tending my gardens, freelancing, and finding a full-time job--but only after I spend some real time just relaxing, which I haven't been able to do in more than a year and a half, what with all the international moves and employment turmoil I've put myself through.

So here are some photos of Al's greenhouse from mid-April.

Cattleya schillcriana

Dendrobium loddigesii

Haworthia cooperi var. truncata, just like the one I have. Except this one is starting to grow tall! And flower. I hope it's in bloom when I get there today, but it's probably done by now.

This Hoya was probably moved to a better-shaded location after receiving too much sun--thus the red leaves.

Hoya flowers

Paphiopedilum hainanense

Primulina of some sort. I feel like I should know the variety--I believe this might even be the same plant from the terrarium that first struck my fancy back at the NCAC show in 2010, when I was convinced to join the chapter.

A beautiful Chrysothemis 'Black Flamingo.' Yes, it's a beautiful gesneriad!

Chrysothemis 'Black Flamingo' flowers

Columnea 'Lava Flow'

Columnea 'Lava Flow' flowers