A friend's question......

[MrCym]

My friend from Mexico, asked me a challenging question today. He essentially asked me what will happen when I fall off my perch! Fair question, here's my answer. Firstly, it's not something I pay much heed to. I hope to pitch over in the greenhouse if possible, any prolonged illness will hopefully not strike me.

Clearly, we are transitioning more these days to commercial clients with whom we have royalty agreements. They are honest people, carefully chosen, so my potential widow will enjoy ongoing income. Patty never wants to talk about this but the files are detailed. It will all be trade names at the commercial level from now on out. I hate the slimy pirates whether they practise their trade in Taiwan or Europe or anywhere else. Trade names will deter them selling at a higher price into the hobbyist market..... Cym "Novoflor Gotcha" may only be a few months away. Advances in technology may well include some lethal genetic addition to multiplying tissue from a mother plant, that makes all clones secure from any further proliferation. Hell, I'm so busy hybridizing, the technique may well already be available and have escaped my knowledge!

The other thing that I am expanding is sharing pollen, propagations, advice to budding orchidists in Colombia etc and where possible, even further afield. Pedro and Miguel are the youngest locals (my age when I started) but there are significant other local enthusiasts who have integrity, enthusiasm and energy. And it's easy to interact locally. It would be wonderful if one could send plants internationally but remember it is assholes like Philip Cribb from the UK who are responsible for the burdensome, nay stupid, paraphernalia involved in CITES! He should be hated by all genuine orchid lovers and then add in Mark Chase, a taxidiot of the highest order! For me and many others, it will always be Cymbidium pumilum, Odontoglossum crispum and Odontioda Heatonensis!

Hopefully, nobody can say I'm wishy-washy in these matters!

[sabredance2]

Gosh, some question from your friend. Imagine his question to someone he didn't like.
Now for Pedro and Miguel - how do you propose to counter interest in Antonella and Luciana? Many a young enthusiast has been led astray, and from what you tell us, there are many charmers in Colombia.

[MrCym]

Well, Martin is always asking meaty questions and I never fail to try and find him some answers. It keeps my fading mind stimulated. Just yesterday we discussed the merits of using pumice in his Cym mix whilst I'm imploring him never to add polystyrene which is such an environmental hazard.

Now I'm sure Patty reads the Forum regularly..... apropos the "third testicle" chuckle on FB yesterday, I do not wish to to be continuing here in the minus testicular mode!!! Luciana's partner is a Chef and stands two meters high. I have seen his knives, all sharp..... Antonella is an offshore name and I only have eyes for Colombians.

My Sundays always start with breakfast with my NZ expatriate friends, right around my age. With an orchid show to attend this three day holiday weekend, plus a birthday, plus restocking my two week neglected apartment plus adding in some very big flask orders from all over, methinks I won't have any trouble sleeping....

[Murph]

Andy, my friend, there comes along a point in life/time where if someone makes an offer it would be worth seriously considering. In the finer details make any arrangements to suit you, so that you can continue doing exactly what you’re doing regardless of who owns the plants until…

Just thinking out loud.

[MrCym]

Ha ha, Murph. Nobody's made any offer beyond asking me to continue hybridizing! I would be bored not doing what I'm doing. Today started typically (ignoring four electricity shutdowns in El Retiro) with lots of clouds and then things warmed up a bit, the forecasted rain didn't come and I ended up cleaning up the plants which went to the Cali Show whilst I was in California and I've got at least ten new hybrids that I intend to make tomorrow.... I came home on a high, did essential, shopping and bought an iced treat that I'm going to eat as soon as I finish typing. A great day. Plus the excitement in knowing that the Ruiters will fly in from Holland next Tuesday and all the orchid talk we will be enjoying during their visit.