(no subject)

Forgot to mention this when it happened, but better late than never, and best when I write a post instead of work on a paper!

Anyway, about a month ago I went to the Orchid Festival at Fairchild. Honestly I go to most of Fairchild's events, but the orchid festival is one of the biggest. I've picked up a plant every year for years now, and like every year, I wanted something different. I gravitate toward small orchids, so even though I was tempted by several tiny, adorable plants, I settled on a gigantic purple cattleya. I'm talking, flowers bigger than my fist.

Like many plants for sale, it doesn't have any flowers on it. I buy one with a couple buds, and am warmed not to jostle it or I'll break them off. I make it home without jostling, set it on a table, and... it topples over.

The plant is fine, but the buds snap off like glass.

I stared at it. I just spent $30 for what is now a mass of green leaves. My grandfather assures me it'll flower next year, but I am not convinced. My luck with getting orchids to bloom is hit or miss, really. "I guess I'll go back tomorrow and buy the little purple ones."

I wasn't sure I should go back. Lord knows I have enough orchids. But Sunday morning I have nothing better to do, and trek back over to the garden. The day before there was a whole cluster of these little purple orchids that caught my eye, but Sunday I see just one. I ask if there's any others, because why was this one passed over? Something must be wrong with it, but it looks fine to my eyes.

"Oh. There aren't any more? I guess it must be the last one."

Well if it's the last one I must have it.

I don't know why it was the last one. It's one of the nicest orchids I own.

( cut for pics )