Orchids

the pixie - miniature cattalaya orchid has two blooms and this phalenopsis, which is one of my $12 orchids has put out another spray with two more blooms that are actually darker than the first ones. The first spray has 7 flowers on it. There is another moth orchid in bloom with the lighter colored blooms.
I have been playing with my new photoshop.   The phalenopsis are shot sitting on the shelf of the light garden.  Pixie I moved and shot against the light yellow walls that look too dark on my monitor.   Pixie is totally out doing herself this time.  Huge blossoms.
It has been raining, so I have not been out to the garden.  This is working out okay as I have time to try to get used to my new computer and all its components.  Its interesting, and yet frustrating at times.  I thought Windows XP was just fine.  My new monitor is a pain.  I don't understand the need for these wide screens.  I suppose I could be multi tasking with several things going on at the same time, but that is beyond my capabilities or my interest. 
My techie took one of the orange trees.  I hope it grows up with his family.  :)   We have been with him since he started and he seems to be doing very well.  New home, new young son, dog, cat and a thriving business.  Computers on Wheels is where to find him.  I see he is featuring the Apple Ipad, which I understand I should wait for the next version... and that I would need to get on the list for this next version 2 of Ipad.  I have my wi fi connection with my new stuff.  Everywhere we went on our trip recently, the campgrounds had wi fi available.  We were quite busy, but I suppose we would have used it, if we had an ipad or other gizmo to use.
I have had to learn how to download from my new camera, as its SD card did not seem to kick up the drive on the computer to download.  Now, this download from camera is realatively painless!  I think I may use it all  the time for the new camera, and if I can find the connecting cords for the S3 IS I will use it there too.  I seem to have lost the downloads that went into the windows downloader... ah well I am sure I will find them again some day. 
Our Megashot.net is looking better all the time.  Version 2 is going to be excellent.  We already have the ability to totally customize your own page.Version 2 will have more designs and options, with user friendly customization.  If you want to network, all the features are available.  There is the critique forum for fun and learning.  Contests and communities.  If you want to market your products, version 2 will have a fully operational Home Store.  If you want to communicate with clients,or family,  there is password protected galleries, and private comments. 
Please come and have a look!

My $12 orchid

I bought this orchid when it was out of bloom and on sale, at the florists in the grocery store about a year ago. It is bigger than my other phalenopsis and has more blooms on the spray. Its a gorgeous plant. My smaller dark pink one is also in bloom. I shall have to pay better attention to feeding them.

Yesterday a robin flew into the patio door/window and died. I only had the curtains open a couple of feet. Oh dear, I felt rather sick seeing it die. I closed the curtains. Today, I went out to clean it up, but took a photo or two first. Poor thing. I really did not want to pick it up, but had to clean it up.

I have been a lot of Flickr stuff the last 3 days and have most of the stuff caught up. Of course, the more you get done the more you get to do in commenting, etc. And so it goes.

Yesterday, I made borscht with an extra jar left over for another day. While I was in the soup making mood I made cream of asparagus with our left over asparagus and the stem ends of the new bunch that Pat had just brought home. We had the cream of asparagus today.... yummmm it turned out really good.

Orchids in bloom now

The orchid with the little orange spotted blossoms is blooming for the first time. It is not spectacular. It is more delicate looking and a nice change from the showy phalenopsis. My dark pink phal. is also still blooming and now has a record 5 blossoms on its spray. The light yellow one has only 1 blossom but has another tiny bud coming out.

phalenopsis

This light pink phalenopsis named Etourneau "Ponkan" Rose de Sables is now in bloom. It only has one blossum. I knocked the other one off when watering it. I now have the dark pink phal., the little yellow ladyslipper, and 'pixie' the minature catalyea in bloom. More about pixie in my next post.

We had a feast night of mussels, bagette with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, a spinach/avocado salad, a very nice white wine and lemon zest cheese to finish off the wine. Heaven!

Phalenopsis

Focal length: 66.lmm, flash, 1/60 sec., f/3.5 with Canon S3 IS

This phalenopsis is in bloom again. This time it has 4 big blossums. The light pink Phal. is in bud and so is the Paph. concolor (little yellow ladyslipper). I cropped the full flower to try to get closer to the inner flower parts. I believe I had this on ISO 100, and P plus macro settings,cloudy and Exposure compensation at zero, with my colors set to vivid. The EXIF says that this is sRGB color setting. This Canon does not do RAW, so this is the control I have over the 'temperature' settings. It works for me. It could be sharper, and so I should probably be using a tripod, even though the lens is IS.