Julie and I have signed up for our society's annual junket to the Chicagoland Orchid Festival , Sept. 23-25. We have two bus loads of 'orchid crazies' from Minnesota headed down for three days of orchid shopping and fun. Are there any other forum members planning on attending?

Hi, Ross!

Too far for me but do take pics for us! :D Have fun!

Wish I could go. Have fun. :-dance:

Nope too far :( Well, let me talk to the wife, I am sure she would like to visit some friends up there.... :evil:

No, wish I were. Have fun, Ross and Julie! Buy lots! :D

Yes! Live in the suburbs and can't wait!

Have you gone in previous years?

I'll be there but I'll be there before you so don't expect there to be any Paphs left :twisted:

I'll be there but I'll be there before you so don't expect there to be any Paphs left :twisted:

A-ha! That's the spirit!

Unfortunately it's not actually true. I'm unlikely to buy much this year if anything. But that's OK! :-dance:

I wish!!! My sister lives there. I have been to Hausermann's and walked around like I was in a dream the whole time! I couldn't get off for the festival this year, but hopefully in the future!

Yes! Live in the suburbs and can't wait!

Have you gone in previous years?

This will be our fourth year in a row. It's always a blast, especially being able to go with other members of the society. Our meetings always seem to short, so this gives us the opportunity to talk and have fun at a more relaxed pace. The bus also makes it less of a hassle. We don't have to deal with the Chicago traffic. Oh, and I forgot to mention, we always buy more than we planned on!

I'll be there but I'll be there before you so don't expect there to be any Paphs left :twisted:

I've already got flasks ordered from Sam Tsui and Chick Ackers (a bonus stop on the wat to Chicago), and Julie's got her mini's ordered from Ecuagenera! :cheeky:

I've already got flasks ordered from Sam Tsui and Chick Ackers (a bonus stop on the wat to Chicago), and Julie's got her mini's ordered from Ecuagenera! :cheeky:

I think it's cool that Julie is into something too - I mean, I could see it giving you more power in the long run - "you can get this one, if I can get that one" or maybe "hey, you ordered more Pleuros? That means I'm due some more Paphs!"

Actually, I shouldn't complain, Dr. Oblivious has been pretty well, oblivious lately. I told him the other day to check out the new blooming Lebaudyanum, and he replied first w/ "which one is that?" (there are only two currently blooming!) and second with "it looks just like the other one, except the sack is green." :roll: The what?? Geezzzz.....:disappointed:

Hmmmmm, yes

Criteria number 4 - must like Orchids :)

I've gone twice, and it was such fun. Also very eye-opening to see the different greenhouses and the different ways of growing orchids. Both times I went, I came back with way too many orchids :D so now I don't dare go this year :!: Besides, gas prices are so high, and I don't live nearby. Besides, I've run out of room :(
But I certainly would encourage others to go -- it really is worth the trip, but be sure to go to all the greenhouses on the circuit. That means, take two days to get the most out of it.

Ross, when do you stop at Acker's? Is it Saturday or Friday? I work only five minutes away and could pop over to say "Yo!"

In any case I'll be at the noonish picnic at Oak Hill.

Ross, when do you stop at Acker's? Is it Saturday or Friday? I work only five minutes away and could pop over to say "Yo!"

In any case I'll be at the noonish picnic at Oak Hill.

We usually hit Ackers around lunch time, Friday. To minimize crowding with two buses, one will probably go to Ackers first while the second stops for lunch at the Culver's in Waunakee. We will then reverse postions. Boy, some people really don't understand competitive shopping! :roll: I hope I'm on the bus that goes to Ackers first. They sometimes have some nice division available.

We're just loading up to go to the Cities. We leave on the bus for Chicago at 7 AM :Party: I'll report back next week on our acquisitions! :Party: Sam Tsui gave me some hot tips on this to buy. I hope he got my extra order. :Party: I feel like a little kid, again. :Party:

Have a great time, Ross! :D

Great luck and shop hard!

Go do some damage Ross :thumbsup:

Remember, those compartments under the bus can hold more than you think :Grin:

It's all yours! I'm not going after all so feast, feast on the slipperly delights without restraint!

Awww, Shady! Why aren't you going??? I was looking to photos of the tug of war!!! :(

I was suppose to be going but my wife announced she needed to attend a seminar this weekend so I have parenting to do instead :(

I was scolded by Ki and told that since I'm visiting family, oh 5 minutes from Hausermann's, I simply must go :-) Though she's trying to make me visit Oak Hill Gardens which is a real far ride, from what I see on the map...

John, I would recommend Oak Hills. They have very great plants, great price and great service. :D

John, did you see the other thread also? More info there.

John, did you see the other thread also? More info there.

Heather, I thought this was the other thread :poke:

John, I hope you make it to Oak Hill. I would love to go there myself one of these days.

No, there's more in the Grande vs. Paul EC thread.

(Are you making coffee or am I?) :poke:

What in the wide world of sports were you two up at 3:00 am for? Yeah I know I was up too, just didn't post too much. Marcus everything is ok?

I had a dream that woke me up in a disturbing fashion, but I don't remember what it was, except that LF Rob was in it.

*YAWN*

What in the wide world of sports were you two up at 3:00 am for? Yeah I know I was up too, just didn't post too much. Marcus everything is ok?

Ya, everything is cool. Pregnant wife was sleeping. I just got up to to see if my plants had grown some more yet :wink:

Thought maybe you put the wife in the car and made her wait while you checked the forum :poke:

I had a dream that woke me up in a disturbing fashion, but I don't remember what it was, except that LF Rob was in it.

*YAWN*

Did you dream about me potting plants? Because that was what i was doing until 2 in the morning. Got two boxes from Orchid Zone, one packed to the top with the latest generation of besseae. *drool* Just released on Monday, as far as I know. I have my clonal names all picked out for my FCCs...

Did you dream about me potting plants? Because that was what i was doing until 2 in the morning. Got two boxes from Orchid Zone, one packed to the top with the latest generation of besseae. *drool* Just released on Monday, as far as I know. I have my clonal names all picked out for my FCCs...

I don't know what it was, but it was orchid related I'm sure. I was potting last night too though, not OZ besseaes. :jealous:
Actually I have a few photos to upload after I get a little more work done.

Thought maybe you put the wife in the car and made her wait while you checked the forum :poke:

haha... I might have to do that. I don't think they have internet access in the hospital rooms.

Rob, how big are those besseaes? And how long before they bloom? :poke:

Thought maybe you put the wife in the car and made her wait while you checked the forum :poke:

haha... I might have to do that. I don't think they have internet access in the hospital rooms.

Rob, how big are those besseaes? And how long before they bloom? :poke:

~10% in spike, the rest should spike soon. So good size. Some are little shy on root development. I'm hoping to be collecting on my FCCs in November. *grin*

This morning, I found a spike on my Beverly Fischer. My first primary besseae hybrid to spike in my care. Just bloomed last Christmas. I wasn't expecting it at all, I really didn't think the growth was large enough yet. It's funny, I check that plant all the time, because it is a real climber, but I guess I'm always looking at the sphagnum wrapped stolon. Spikes about an inch tall and I missed it until this morning!

Congrats on the besseaes, Rob, good luck w/ those FCC's!

Not me, although I'd like to.

Hey, so Shady, you were around yesterday afternoon? Post fest? Have fun? What'd ya get? Did you clean them all out of Paphs? Poooor Ross....:(

Poor Ross nothin! I didn't go (long, boring story) but rather spent a productive/relaxing day at home.

Today it's raining very nicely so I'm looking forward to storing some water between the storms. Yay! :clap:

Here's a partial and highly disrganized list of our purchases at the Chicagoland Festival. Remember this is a team effort: Julie is a real power shopper when it come to orchids, too.

Comp. macroplectron
Lepanthes calodictyon
Lepanthes nummularia
Stelis flexuosa
Flask of Paph charlesworthii
Flask of Paph niveum
Flask of complex white Paph
Masd Highland Monarch
Masd veitchiana
Masd coccinea 'Leywoods' HCC/AOS
2 Phrag besseae (OZ crosses)
2 Paph Vanda Pearman
2 Paph sukhakulii alba
10 Paph Barbi Doll (barbigerum x fairrieanum: they're small and in bud)
6 Paph Barbi Girl (barbigerum x purpuratum)
10 Paph (Barbi's Playmate x Hampshire Nulight)
Paph victoria-regina
2 Paph Kiryu (godefroyae x armeniacum)
Restrepia faulkenbergii
Paph Papa Rohl
Masd Aquarius
Masd (Mary Staal x constricta)
Masd Copper Angel 'Blanca'
Paph Matcheck 'Mars'
Paph Redstar
Dracula chimera
Dracula carderii
Paph bellatulum (can never have enough of those)
plus a couple of Phals and mini Dendrbiums, and another halfdozen minis (Julie's) that I haven't read the tags on, yet.

AND you'll be happy to hear this, Heather. I led four female members of our society on a raid of Paphs in bud at Oak Hill. :twisted:

Hi Ross,

Nice list of new plants you got there! :clap2:

Wow, impressive list Ross :D

I led four female members of our society on a raid of Paphs in bud at Oak Hill.

....corruptin' the wimminfolk..... :poke:

AND you'll be happy to hear this, Heather. I led four female members of our society on a raid of Paphs in bud at Oak Hill. :twisted:

Oh goody!
The more the merrier!! :D

Nice shopping, I'd say you two make a downright dangerous pair! Good for you!!!

WOW nice haul! :-dance: