Last But Not Least

This is a Rhyncostylis, as given away by the longitudinal limes in the leaves.  Could be one of a number of species, but it has a spike developing so I will know soon enough.  I will post pictures when it is open.. 

Trichocentrum (Mule Ear Oncidium)

A Trichocentrum (these used to be known as Mule Ear Oncidiums).  Almost impossible to grow in Melbourne, so I will see how I go here.  Could be one of 3 or 4 species, including T tigrina as per the picture in the top right.  I will happy to get it onto flower which ever one it is.

Lashing Out

The "Lash Out" purchase was this plant, though you would not guess it to look at it.  It is almost certainly either Dendrobium densiflorum (see the picture top right) or Dendrobium thyrsiflorum (see picture bottom right).  Both plants I have always liked, and there is one struggling on for years in the glasshouse in Murchison.   This one has 5 nodes swelling up so it should be s spectacular sight soon.  I paid the princely sum of 1,200 baht ($40 Australian) for this specimen plant.  I will go hungry for a few days (as if!).

Nigrohirsute Dendrobium Number Two

This is the second nigrohirsute type Dendrobium.  This one is Dendrobium Formosum.  (for mum....  this is the plant we once had under the name Dendrobium infundibulum).  Seven buds soon to open on a very healthy little plant.  Bit similar to the previous one except a larger lip with yellow markings.  I will post another picture when it opens.

Nigrohirsute Dendrobium Number One

One of two 'nigrohirsute' dendrobiums I found.  Not sure which one it is yet, but it is magnificet either way.  Pictures have headed to friends to get a real identification.  Flowers are about 8cm across and the orange in the lip is really striking.  I couldn't grab it fast enough.

The Special Of The Day

This was a lump of wood with two distinctly different colour morphs of Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi mounted on it.  These geat little plants flower for a very long period with a new flower opening as the last one closes.  The mount is great and the two plants are fantastic.

Another Spathoglottis

A second Spathoglottis.  Almost certainly a hybrid, but nice anyway.  Its a 'for later' plant.  With some soiul preparation, you can grow these in the garden here.  When I buy a house its likely there will be a few of these in the garden.

First Real Orchid Splurge.......

The next series of posts are the result of discovering a nursery that advertised orchids out the front.  I wandered into a shadehouse out the back and stumbled into a treasure trove of what appeared to be species plants.  Nothing was named and the owner had only a basic idea of what some of the plants were.  I spent about an hour helping her name some plants that I could identify.  Suprisingly, a few plants came home with me.  Generally the price was about 300 baht ($10 Aust) per plant, although there was one lash out purchase (see above).  All together all the following group of plants cost me 4,000 baht ($140 Aust) along with some cocnut husks for some repotting work.

Tolumnea (Equitant Oncidiums)

More rescues.  At the end of their flowering so about to head for the back blocks were these three Tolumnea.  These used to be known as "Equitant Oncidiums".  They are tiny little plants that give a great reward if grown properly.  I would like to get a few more of these and will have my eye open for good ones.

Rescue Mentality

This little plant was hanging under a bench in a nursery.  It is officially identified as a WTFK plant....  Who The F... Knows what it could be.  Left where it was, the only sure thing was that it would soon be dead.  I rescued it for some measley amount of money and we will hopefully see one day what it is.  Probably at least one or two years away from finding out though.  That's part of the fun of growing these sort of things.  I am hoping it is one of the local Aerides species.

Food Must Be Good Here

Thailand has a reputation for great food, and I would agree with that claim, but surely this frog should consider eating a little less of it.  Notice the roll of skin/fat that even comes up over the head.  The orange markings are brighter than the photo suggests as well.

Katy Did It Big!

At home I have heard these bugs called Katydid, no idea why.  If its true then Katy did this one real well.  It was obout 8-10 cm long.

The First Orchid Find

Not sure if it is a pure species or not, but is very close to it.  My guess is Spathoglottis kimballiana but very hard to be sure.  It was waiting for me in a little nursery and came with a special extra.  When I got it home I discovered a frog had made its home in amongst the roots.  A small plant, but give it some time and hopefully it will flower more strongly.

Delta Wings Were Invented A Long Time Back

About 5 cm across.  This "delta winged" moth was adamant that it wanted to be inside.  Each time I put it out it came straight back in again.

The Difference Between A Frog And A Toad???

If the other picture was a cute frog, I guess this is a toad.  I like the markings though.  This one measures about 9cm end to end.  The croak was significantly larger.

Flowering Hard Cane Dendrobiums @ $1.20 each

One of the enticing thing about Thai weather, apart from what it would do for my rebuilt body, was the ability to grow many of the orchids I always wanted.  I dropped into a nursery on the main road that had a lot of orchids out the front.  They had benches of flowering hard cane dendrobiums for sale.  They might as well be cut flowers here, where in Melbourne you need heated glasshouses to grow them. They are all hybrids and not the sort of thing I really want to grow, but they are a good splash of colour and hint of the possibilities every time I go past.  And to make every Australian orchid grower go green with envy.....  this set of five flowering plants cost the equivalent of $1.20 each.  And no, that is not a typo.

Listen at dusk on any night, especially after rain, and you will know that there are plenty of frogs around.  This one was sitting on the outside of the window.  It was almost translucent and sat still for a long time while my sister Jenny and I tried lots of different ways to get a picture of it.

Bugs Do Things Differently

The bugs do things a little differently here.  There are so many of them they have to do special things to stand out from the crowd.  Notice the extreme flattened legs and upturned abdomen.  It was tiny (large ant sized) but interesting.

First Visitors

I have always used Ghost Geckos as a barometer of my location.   They can be found in slightly different forms all through the pacific and tropical asia.  If I can see Ghost Geckos or hear them chirping at night, I know I am in a warm place.  This one is at the entrance light of the house I rented for the first three months while I look around.  A quick and bad photo, but a good omen.  They are not uncommon though.  Turn on a light after dusk and you will quickly find one or two looking for an insect that makes a mistake of checking it out.  They turn up both inside and outside and its hard to believe such a little beast can chirp as loud as these ones can.

Phang Nga Bay

While Jenny and Dave were visiting we spent a day out in Phang Nga bay in Sea Canoes.  Canoing through the caves, hongs and khasts.  A must do if you come to visit.

Location, Location, Location

If you want to find out where I am at the moment, just go to Google maps or something similar and serch for Wat Chalong or the Big Buddha.  Both are close by.

The FBT

Thai traffic is "interesting".  After a few days driving in a small rentacar, it was clear I wanted to be able to see what was going on up ahead, and have a bit of road presence.  Thus the FBT (f....ing big truck).  Bit different than the race car, but a hot rod in its own field with a three litre turbocharged intercooled diesel.  Would pull out a stump or two if you could get the traction!

The House that Jack (actually Pong) Built

A couple of views of the house I have rented for the first three months while I look around and start thinking where I would like to buy. The street is close enough to a main road for easy access to the world, but far enough away to be quiet, except for the frog chorus!  It has one significant problem in that it is two storey.  My legs and stairs are not a good mix.  It will do as a short term base though.