Many people don’t know that we (Southlands) still own the gift store ‘HOBBS’ in nearby Kerrisdale. When I sold my well-known florist shop next door to it, people assumed I sold them both. Not true ! ‘HOBBS’ is still fun, and this Christmas was particularly attractive, thanks to Brent’s handiwork on the front of our store. He spray painted curly willow twigs a very hip celery green, and entwined them in a very showy snaggle of dark sapphire blue LED lights. Brent is an LED light pioneer – he loved them five years ago. These blue ones (from our huge hardware chain’ Canadian Tire’) are his new favourites as they are super bright !
In one of the windows are a couple vintage ‘Coca Cola’ Santas. These large cardboard display items are not for sale. I bought one at a local firehall’s ‘swap meet’ fundraising sale years ago. The full-body Santa came from an antique shop in Cloverdale, B.C. They just don’t make Santas like these anymore !
With fairly excellent weather the entire month, sales were up and everyone was in good spirits. Last year, Christmas shoppers were trapped in nearly one metre (3′+) of snow ! This year, there was none, and barely any frost. I am keeping my fingers crossed .
December 28, 2009
Christmas 2009
December 20, 2009
Another Day, Another Beauty.
This lovely yellow orchid is one of my favourites of all time. It is BLC Goldenzelle ‘Lemon Chiffon’ AM/AOS . I used to have a giant plant of it, about 2′ across. One night, about 5 years ago, the power went out on the coldest night of the year and almost all my orchids froze to death. It was heartbreaking. Luckily, this wonderful variety had been cloned and was easy to buy again. I acquired a 2″ pot of it and have raised it to flowering size. If you are ever able to go to an Orchid Show, you will probably see vendors there selling this plant as little babies. As a group, Cattleyas are not the easiest houseplants…. you will probably need to create a special grow-light/gravel tray/high humidity area to raise them if you don’t have a heated greenhouse.
The beautiful pinkish orchid is is SLC.Misty Girl ‘Royal Queen’ BM/JOGA , which I bought at the World Orchid Conference in Vancouver in 1999. It was a small clone, and bloomed once in 2007. This year it is amazing ! The scent is incredible. Very fruity/spicy and bold. I have grown thousands of orchids before, and this has to be the most fragrant yet. The wait was worth it ! If you are curious about the name, and initials before and after it, I will explain.
‘SLC’ is short for the three orchid genera involved in this complex hybrid. The ’S’ is short for sophronitis. The ’L' stands for laelia. The ‘C’ is short for cattleya. =’ SLC ‘.
’ BLC ‘ is almost the same , but the ‘B’ stands for Brassavola in the mixture of parentage for the hybrid mentioned. The hybridizer of the pink orchid shown above named and registered this cross as SLC Misty Girl. The second designation, ‘Royal Queen’ was tagged onto one seedling (out of thousands), that seemed extra good. Then, the Japanese Orchid Growers Association awarded this one seedling a BM (bronze medal) at a show or judging meeting. Somebody took it to a lab and had it cloned , and I bought one at the show ! Voila !
The yellow orchid shown above has an ‘AM/AOS’ after its name. This is an award designation - an Award of Merit from the American Orchid Society . (AM/AOS) . These award designations become part of the name of the plant and its future clones – if someone clones it. Awarded plants are worth BIG BIG money and growers can make good money by cloning them. Everyone will want one, and the price comes down quickly once there are thousands, or even millions of identical clones to sell all over the world.
December 12, 2009
Hobbs in Kerrisdale is looking very festive !
With Christmas now over, my other business ‘HOBBS’ is still full of great stuff ! The gorgeous glass tray in this picture is handmade in Italy. Each one takes the artist, Paolo Crisante up to 2 weeks to make . If you are ever in the Kerrisdale area of Vancouver, drop by !
HOBBS
2129 West 41st Ave
Vancopuver (604) 261-5998
December 11, 2009
Orchids are blooming !
In these dreary winter days, it is terrific to see Cattleya orchids in bloom! They are my favourites, and also smell terrific !
This lovely peachy one is LC. George King ‘Serendipity’ AM/AOS . I bought a flask of tiny babies years ago, and sure enough…. they are all blooming on the same day. Talk about cloning !
If you could only smell what we are smelling !
Even though it is winter, there are lots of creative things you can do with plant material…..
We are having fun making lovely Christmas wreaths ! It seems they sell as fast as we can make them . They last very well if kept outdoors, but dry up quickly indoors…..