Total Pageviews

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

My Orchids : Blooming Recently..

           An unknown Eria species blooming for the first time, I think it is something special because of the strikingly coloured lip..I like it very much..! I've tried searching on the internet but couldn't find it. Usually Eria species are not very colourful,  Smells something like an orange zest or a little like Dendrobium farmeri to me..if anybody knows what Eria is this, please leave a comment..TQ..

           Spesis Eria ni baru pertama kali berbunga minggu ni..Saya rasa bunganya istimewa sikit sebab lip warna orennya tu..Tak taulah apa namanya, cari dalam internet pun tak jumpa..Baunya sikit macam kulit limau oren atau macam Dendrobium farmeri sikit..Sesiapa yang tahu, boleh tuliskan di ruangan mesej..TQ..













For Eria species this flower has a good contrasts, big lipped plus strikingly coloured...Very pretty...!

Bagi spesis Eria, bunga ni mempunyai kontras yang baik..'lip' pun besar tambah lagi dengan warna oren..cantik..!





The smallest flower is a thought, a life answering to some feature of the Great Whole, 
of whom they have a persistent intuition.
- Honore De Balzac
 

New Layout..

Welcome to my new blog layout..! 

          To regular visitor here... We are still in early 2012, so I think it's about time to update the look..I redid the background using my own orchid (pic below), change the layout and colour. I chose muted colour scheme, makes it cooler, a lot less strained to the eyes. This less colourful design will highlight all the colours from the orchid pictures that I've posted..which I thought have more than enough colour already..Until then, see you in my next post..!



 

The time was ripe for Flower. The vibe was right. - Jody Watley
 

Sunday, January 22, 2012

10 reasons..

        This post is just my opinion on entering orchid in competition based on the situation in my country, Malaysia..I don't know about other country..maybe they are the same or maybe they are not..here it goes..
        
         Entering orchid competition/shows In my opinion is a must for orchid hardcore, like me. As far as I can see there's a good reasons why I want to enter such competition..Of course, not every orchidist will agree with me. Some, don't feel the need to do it, and if you ask them they have their own reasons. Some of the excuses, like they don't have time to bring in their plants, Don't know how to enter the competition/shows, feeling afraid or in doubt that their plants is not good enough..or the most unfortunate one is that, they want to but there's no local orchid society around..

         For my part, when there's a competition/shows, I don't want to see a good flowering orchid plants of mine sitting quietly in my garden  and soon watching the flowers wilt with the passing of time..such a waste..This is even sad if it is you and you alone who appreciate orchid. Orchid needs to be shared and loved by many..



         Pos kali ini hanya nak memperkatakan tentang pendapat saya mengenai pertandingan orkid berdasarkan situasi di Malaysia..Tak tahulah dengan negara lain, mungkin sama dan mungkin juga tak..

         Pada pendapat saya memasuki satu-satu pertandingan orkid adalah satu kemestian bagi peminat orkid tegar..Banyak kebaikan yang boleh kita dapat..Tapi mesti ada yang tidak setuju dengan pandangan saya, biasalah tu..Bagi yang tak suka atau tak setuju mereka ada alasan masing-masing..masuk pertandingan ini bukan satu yang penting..Antara alasan yang saya biasa dengar ialah tak ada masa nak datang bawa pokok, ada juga yang tak tau macam mana nak masuk bertanding, lagi ada yang rasa pokok orkid mereka tak setanding dengan peserta lain..Tapi yang paling malang ialah tiada kelab/persatuan orkid di negeri/tempat mereka walaupun mereka ingin nak cuba masuk bertanding..

         Bagi saya la, bila ada pertandingan orkid, seboleh-bolehnya tak mau la tengok orkid tu kat rumah saja, lepas tu layu..sungguh merugikan..Lagi sedih kalau di rumah tu kita saja yang minat orkid..Kecantikan orkid perlu dikongsi dan dinikmati oleh semua..



My reasons that I can think of are..antara alasan saya ialah..


1. Easy Money.. : ) - (For ordinary orchidist like me..to the super rich ones this reason may not apply..lol ) Usually in my country, cash was given for each winning plants. The amount depends on the sponsors from organizers be it from government or privates..For big shows, means that lasts for 1 or 2 weeks, usually the prizes are more. You can get your money back, from the 'investment' you've made when you bought the winning plants...at least you make your orchids profitable rather than just the 'orchid growing satisfaction'..You got both ! Of course, you don't make a living with the winning prize, cause this is a seasonal events and the unpredictability nature and orchid flowering..Actually, showing your support to the orchid society by entering your plants in competition is more important. With the  winning money you can use it to buy new plants, fertilizers or any other orchid related materials..less pressure on your wallet..

1. Duit  : ) - ( untuk peminat orkid yang biasa macam saya ni lah..yang kaya raya tu mungkin alasan ni tak leh pakai..) masuk bertanding ni selalu hadiahnya duit..Siapa tak mau duit? Kalau 'show' besar besar la jumlahnya, yang penting pokok orkid kita dibawa masuk bertanding sikit banyak mesti lekat dapat hadiah punya..Kalau nasib baik lagi dapat la modal kita beli pokok tu balik. Duit tu juga boleh beli pokok baru tak pun barangan lain untuk kegunaan penanaman orkid..Tapi sebenarnya yang penting ialah kita datang memberikan sokongan kepada persatuan yang telah susah payah menganjurkan pertandingan orkid..kuranglah sikit 'tekanan' kepada poket kita tu..




2. Friends - It is here in the orchids shows that you can meet other orchidist, getting to know other people with the same interest, different races, backgrounds and making a lifelong friendship..

2. Kawan  - Memang kalau kita masuk bertanding kita akan kenal banyak orang,, dari pelbagai bangsa dan latarbelakang. Tak rugi pun.. mungkin ada yang boleh menjadi sahabat baik seumur hidup..




3. Knowledge - Tips and orchid growing methods are different from one to another, so you can learn by watching and chit-chatting with other orchidist about orchid culture, there are always someone who likes to share their experiences..and you also can gain more info about orchid species and hybrids especially their names and crossings..it helps a lot ..

3. Ilmu pengetahuan -  Cara penanaman orkid ni sebenarnya tak sama bagi setiap orang, kita boleh belajar dengan melihat bagaimana orang lain menanam pokok orkid mereka, tak pun boleh sembang-sembang selalunya mesti ada yang sudi nak kongsi petua dan tips-tips yang boleh kita cuba..Lagi satu kita boleh tahu nama, kacukan orkid yang dipertandingkan..



4. Showing orchid growing skill - By giving the best care that they can provide, you can see magnificent plants or specimen size plants on competition that shows the owner growing skills. This is not something that you can achieve in a short amount of time but with love, patience and experience. Even better if it is your plant..if a person says 'wow' that's worth all the time and effort..You'll some sort of giving other orchidist some inspiration to be a better orchid grower especially to new hobbyist.

4.Tunjukkan kemahiran menanam orkid - Untuk mendapatkan pokok orkid ditanam menjadi spesimen bukannya mudah..Kena ada pengalaman, usaha dan kesabaran..Kalau ada orang berkata 'wow' kat pokok kita, segala usaha kita selama ini untuk menanam pokok tu berbaloi dengan tenaga dan masa yang kita habiskan untuk menjaga pokok tersebut..Sedikit sebanyak ia memberi inspirasi kepada orang lain untuk menjadi peminat orkid yang lebih baik.




5. Generate public interest - Flower power..Growing orchid is an old hobby, since the Victorian era, during that time orchids are the luxury items..Nowadays everybody can afford to buy one. Orchid competition do attract large crowds certainly with a hope that it can 'recruit' a new hobbyist, 'refreshed' the old ones and keep peoples interest and appreciation of the flower.

5. Tarik minat orang ramai - Kehebatan bunga..menanam orkid ini adalah salah satu hobi yang boleh saya kata 'antik' sejak zaman Victoria di England orkid telah popular ke seluruh dunia.. Pertandingan orkid menarik minat ramai orang, dengan cara ini ia boleh menarik penggemar baru dan mengembangkan lagi apresiasi orang ramai terhadap orkid..




6. Getting new plants - This is one of the place where you can get good quality plants. Either from orchid vendors or other orchidist..It is where all the hardcore ones get together and display their orchids. Don't be afraid, just ask if you like certain plants, the owner might have more of it, or you can have cuttings with or without charge (if you are lucky). If they refuse, well.. better luck next time..

6. Mendapatkan pokok baru - Pada masa pertandingan ini la kita boleh melihat dan mendapatkan orkid yang berkualiti..sama ada dari peserta pertandingan ataupun di jualan gerai..Kalau nak dapatkan dari peserta pertandingan kena lah berani tanya kalau nasib baik dapat free 'cutting', nak bayar pun boleh harga ikut 'owner' lah..kalau dia setuju nak jual..kalau tak cuba lain kali...



7. Business opportunity- Meeting people sometimes accidentally opens you to generate orchid related business, usually it started small like selling 1 or 2 plants, but who knows, soon it might be your main source of income..or may be not just orchids but other things too..

7. Peluang perniagaan - Berjumpa dengan orang ramai pada masa ini kadang-kadang boleh membuka peluang bisnes tak kira la kecil ke besar ke..kadang-kadang yang kecil tu jadi besar..tak kira la pasal orkid atau benda lain semua ada kemungkinan..



8. Going to new places- Sometimes orchids competition/shows was held at certain places that you haven't been yet. This is one of the way to discover new venues and new surroundings..maybe there's more to the place that hold your interest in future..

8. Pergi ke tempat baru - Pertandingan orkid ni boleh diadakan di merata tempat, Kalau tempat yang tak pernah pi tu, masa ni lah nak 'explore', mungkin ada sesuatu yang lain yang boleh menarik minat kita pada tempat tu di kemudian hari..



9. See what others have -In competition, usually you can see many types of orchid. Competitors usually brought whatever plants that currently in flower that they have. Not just local orchids but sometimes plants from other continents that can be grown here in your country..there are certain orchids species or hybrids that you might have not yet seen..and you wants it.. and the fun part is that the 'hunts' begins for that particular orchid..lol..

9. Tengok apa yang orang lain ada - dalam pertandingan, ni lah masanya kita nak tengok pokok apa yang orang lain ada..selalunya yang pelik-pelik tu yang menarik perhatian atau pun yang tak pernah dilihat.kena pulak pokok yang kita mau, ha masa ni nak mula 'memburu' pokok tu..!



10. Spending your time wisely- well other than just sit at home sleeping or do nothing, why not go out and have 'fun' in orchid competition, there are lots of things that you can discover (and of course some of the 'discovery' is involving your money..lol) but as long you get the plants you like, all will be fine..you can sleep peacefully..

10. Menggunakan masa secara berfaedah- daripada duduk tak buat apa di rumah, orkid ada tanam, apa kata pi masuk bertanding, banyak benda yang kita boleh jumpa dan semestinya ada yang melibatkan duit..he..he..Tetapi bila dah dapat pokok yang kita nak tu, semuanya dah tak jadi hal..bolehlah tidur lena..




        So to all orchidist, the first step to enter a competition/shows is by joining your local orchid club, Usually, you've got to pay a subscription fees per year but its totally cheap..they will inform you about orchids competition/shows from time to time..but if you have your reason not to, well.. what can I do..you decide..

        Jadi untuk semua, kalau rasa nak masuk 'gelanggang' langkah pertamanya ialah masuklah Persatuan/Kelab orkid yang terdekat..Adalah bayaran sikit, tak luak pun akaun bank tu..nanti ahli akan diberitahu tentang pertandingan orkid dari semasa ke semasa..tapi kalau tak minat jugak nak masuk bertanding ikut suka..apa saya boleh buat..





Just as a flower which seems beautiful and has color but no perfume, 
so are the fruitless words of the man who speaks them but does them not.
- John Dewey
 

Happy Chinese New Year...!

Wishing to all my Chinese visitors " GONG XI FA CAI".. May The Year 2012 Bring for You, Happiness,Success and filled with Peace,Hope & Togetherness of your Family & Friends....
Happy New Year..




This is my greeting card for you..with a Chinese painting concept..just a simple and elegant design..and the orchid illustrated was Cymbidium goeringii..
 made using Adobe Illustrator's software..






                                                                                                 Happiness held is the seed; Happiness shared is the flower. 
                                                                                                                                                         - John Harrigan
 

Thursday, January 19, 2012

From bud to bloom..

        Watching orchids when its started to flower, was very thrilling, especially if its their first. The anticipation was building day by day right until the flower opens. Until then you will want to look at the plants like, everytime..Seeing the progress from the tiny little bud towards their full bloom, brings so much joy..! you felt that your effort are all worth it..The experience was so fulfilling,  when the plants that you care so much began to flower for you to see..This was one of the best part of orchid growing experience..

        Last year when my Dendrobium (densiflorum x griffithianum) started to flower, though not for the first time, but this time with 4 spikes..the plants was still quite new.. The most flower emerging all together at one time. So I decided to take a picture from the time of budding to full bloom.

        Memang rasa teruja sungguh bila kita melihat pokok orkid yang kita jaga akan berbunga, Lagi la kalau berbunga buat pertama kali. Kalau boleh tiap-tiap masa nak tengok perkembangan kudup bunga tu..Berbaloi sungguh, hasil daripada perhatian yang selama ni kita beri pada pokok tu..Inilah antara pengalaman manis menjaga orkid..

         Tahun lepas apabila pokok Dendrobium (densiflorum x griffithianum) saya ni sedang mengeluarkan bunga, walaupun bukan buat pertama kali, tetapi kali ni keluar empat tangkai sekaligus..jadi saya tangkaplah gambar berperingkat-peringkat dari mula berputik hinggalah kembang..














              I was quite lucky actually as this particular plants opens fully in conjunction with Alor Star Orchid Show, though I have to cut one of the spike, because of deformation on a few flowers. Lucky still I won Best Plant of The Show !..The first ever for me..unfortunately I was not there, cause the show was held on a working day..I just passed this plant to my friend for the show..

               Saya bernasib baik sebab bunga ni kembang 'cun-cun' dengan Pertandingan Orkid di Alor Setar tahun lepas..tetapi satu tangkai bunga terpaksa dikorbankan sebelum masuk bertanding, sebab ada sedikit bunganya yang cacat..Nasib baik sekali lagi pokok ni menang keseluruhan terbaik, pertama kali saya menang hadiah 'besar', rezeki masa tu lah..Tapi malangnya saya tak dapat hadir, kerana hari tu hari bekerja, terpaksa lah kirim pokok ni melalui kawan untuk masuk bertanding..





The fairest thing in nature, a flower, still has its roots in earth and manure. 
- David Herbert lawrance

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

New in collection..2012

           During the last Parit Buntar Agrofest, there was also a plant sales, including orchids.. Again, as usual, I cannot contain myself..lol..

          Semasa Agrofest di Parit Buntar tempoh hari, ada juga jualan pokok, sudah tentu orkid pun mesti ada..Macam biasalah kalau bab orkid ni, saya mana boleh kawal diri..he..he..














...After carefully selecting ...finally I've got these..a mixture of species and hybrids..
...Selepas puas membelek dan membuat 'saringan' akhirnya inilah yang saya dapat..



      

1. Potinara Thi ti
2. Dendrobium intermediate hybrid
3. Epidendrum floribundum
4. Dendrobium stratiotes
5. Dendrobium intermediate hybrid
6. Dendrobium intermediate hybrid
7. Dendrobium hybrid
8. Bulbophyllum graveolens
9. Dendrobium Tobaen Dawn
10. Phalaenopsis violacea 'Malaya'
11. Phalaenopsis hybrid
12. Broughtonia sanguinea
13. Tolumnia hybrids
14. Dendrobium intermediate hybrid
15. Dendrobium Frosty Dawn hybrid
16. (Not in the picture), Dendrobium chrysotoxum var suavissimum






The flower has opened, has been in the sun and is unafraid. I'm taking more chances; I'm bold and proud.
  - Paula Cole
 

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Parit Buntar Orchid Show ( Agrofest 2012)

         This year started very good for 'orchid show person' like me,  just one week earlier there was Taiping orchid show, now its Parit Buntar's turn, in conjunction of a Agrofest 2012, an orchid competition was held, organized by Perak Orchid Society from 12th to 16th January 2012 at Sungai Kerian Waterfront.  Participants were from Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Penang, Pahang, Selangor and Johore..

         I took these pictures during the late afternoon on a cloudy day, so some of the picture was not clear enough..I have to edit some of it to make it clearer..


         Permulaan yang baik bagi kaki orkid macam saya ni..baru saja pertandingan orkid di Taiping minggu sebelumnya, satu lagi pertandingan Orkid telah diadakan..Kali ini di Parit Buntar, Perak bersempena Agrofest 2012 dari 12hb hingga 16 hb Januari. Bertempat di Sugai Kerian Waterfront, peserta pertandingan termasuklah dari Kedah, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Pahang, Selangor dan Johor.

         Gambar-ganbar kali ni kurang memuaskan, ada yang gelap sedikit, sebab masa ambil dah lewat petang cuaca mendung pula tu, kenalah edit pulak..


 The competition site

 
                               Cycnoches 
               (Anne Kathrin Berger x cooperii)                    Coelogyne multiflora

 Bulbophyllum plumatum                    Ionopsis utricularoides

                     Bulb.  rothschildianum                                 Bulbophyllum lobii

 Habenaria rhodocheila


 Maxillaria chrysantha


 Stanhopea florida                            Ascocenda hybrid


 Cattleya hybrid


 Epidendrum hybrid


 Epidendrum hybrid


 Ctna. Rosy Jewel


                       Paph.  rothschildianum                                      Vanda hybrid


 Paphiopedilum hybrid                    Paphiopedilum hybrid


 Dendrobium dearei                         Catasetum hybrid


 Dendrobium hybrid


 Doritaenopsis hybrid


 Renanthera                               Arachnis/Aranthera ?


 Cattleya hybrid


 Bulbophyllum lepidum


 Anguloa virginalis


Aranda hybrid                          Aranda Broga Giant


 Grammatophyllum speciosum               Brassavola David Sander


 Dendrobium hybrid


 Bulbophyllum pulchrum


 Best Plant of the show,  
Cycnoches (Anne Kathrin Berger x cooperii)


 Second Place,  
Bulbophyllum lepidum


 Best Species, 
Dendrobium finisterrae





By plucking her petals, you do not gather the beauty of the flower. 
- Rabindranath Tagore