Here's to wishing all of us in and near the "cone" of Irma good luck and maybe even a last-minute change of direction out to sea for the storm itself. We work so hard all year to do well by our plants and they repay us with such joy; this is not an easy time, especially for the commercial growers who have little or no recourse beyond hope and crossed fingers. For once, I'm glad that I have a small collection (most of it from Peter). Along with my simplest living supplies, all of my light-garden plants will be tucked into every nook and cranny as needed in my little Honda Civic and driven over closer to the West Coast of Florida. Hope, hope hope!

Best to all,
Walton

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"Constant use has not worn ragged the fabric of their friendship." 

Dorothy Parker

Walton, praying you have a safe trip and your belongings are protected!

Much obliged, Bob. I was born in Atlanta and thought about coming all the way up there to home, but it's just too long a trip.

Walton

_________________
"Constant use has not worn ragged the fabric of their friendship." 

Dorothy Parker

Good luck down there, Walton. The current track suggests it moving way inland as it exits Florida, saving the rest of the east coast.

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Ray Barkalow, Orchid Iconoclast
Using science & logic to improve orchid growing

Will be thinking about you Walton and many of our friends in Florida. Hopefully Irma will change direction to sea by some divine power.

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Peter Lin, Admin
Big Leaf Orchids

How are you Walton?

Doing fine, thanks for asking. A bit rattled, but me and my plants are safe. Ironically, the main reason I left the East Coast of Florida was concern about losing electricity (all of my plants are grown under lights and, following a storm, we usually get hit with blazing sun and 90+ degree heat...). Lo and behold, there I was last night eating dinner with family, Northeast of Atlanta and...the power went out! I drove ten hours to get here and still lost power. At least here, it is still rainy/dark and cool.

Does anyone know how other growers made out, especially down around the Redland area?
Thanks everyone for the good thoughts,
Walton

_________________
"Constant use has not worn ragged the fabric of their friendship." 

Dorothy Parker

Glad you're safe!

Thanks, Bob. Also everyone I know about is safe with minimal structural damage. I still haven't heard anything about the growers around Redland, though... The Bromeliad and Fern people always get hurt by these things badly; if we loose a roof on an orchid greenhouse, we just go out the next day and put shade cloth over it right away. Most of our plants can handle the wind OK, but ferns and bromeliads are basically so mangled that they cannot be sold. At least everyone is safe!
Walton

_________________
"Constant use has not worn ragged the fabric of their friendship." 

Dorothy Parker

Anyone heard from Jay Pfahl, who build orchidspecies.com? He and his wife are in Key West.

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Ray Barkalow, Orchid Iconoclast
Using science & logic to improve orchid growing