Seeing daylight......

[MrCym]

I have really been playing catch-up of late! Preparing a new Germination List for worldwide customers is a lot of work and my eyesight is failing fast so numbers have to be checked and double-checked. But rest assured, I still know the right pollen to apply and am still able to locate (barely) the stigma!

We've been potting and potting and potting.... deflasks to small plugs, small plugs to large plugs and large plugs to 11 cm deep pots. I am continually surprised how many seedling crosses will throw a spike from the 11 cm pots, seeing a new cross just over two years from deflasking is a thrill. It's countdown time for the 6n X 2n tetraploids and the next 18 months will hopefully fly by! I intend to cheat by putting a couple of the front runners of each of the 6n progeny in a warm house just to expedite their growth.

I always enjoy seeing SH blooming season results. It has been very obvious this past SH Spring that the Aussies have discovered modern quality pendulous, finally! No more Paradisian pirated antiques but show winning modern pendulous via Kings Nursery in Melbourne and the Three Amigos in S. Australia. Now that the enthusiasts are able to source quality pendulous, I expect the momentum will be maintained. And when I fall off my perch, it will be knowing that the new hybridizing generation have the nous and the breeding stock to produce exciting new hybrid lines! We are of course sad to see the Guests retire but the wealthy will welcome their addition! ha ha, I have even heard the part ownership of a Melbourne Cup starter is on the cards, Nigel has loose lips!!!

Will be in California next week so orchids, election and the Melbourne Cup are on my agenda. That's a great trifecta.

[Murph]

Any predictions for the US election?

[MrCym]

Too hard to predict from here Murph! Nobody around me in Colombia has any interest in the US Presidential election. Personally, I am gauging Trump has enough momentum to win but I'll have a better idea when I'm in Santa Barbara next week.