Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Pretty picture: Paphiopedilum Maudiae Alba NOID


Either what I have is not a cold, or cold medicine is just a gigantic placebo scam, or both. I'm sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, feverish, etc.: basically the whole NyQuil commercial except for the part where NyQuil helps. (That, and: I have no problems sleeping whatsoever, and do so for about 13 hours a day.)

As I write this (Monday morning), we've reached the stage where the inside of my nose has gone all crusty and dry, so it burns when I inhale or exhale, and even though my head is congested, nothing comes out when I blow my nose. (And then for a while after I've blown my nose, my head makes little crackly and squeaky noises while the pressures all equalize.) This is a horrible feeling, but a good sign, I think. Maybe.

Meanwhile: Paphiopedilum. Nice little flower. Maybe sort of anemic-looking, next to the more colorful Paphs, but whatever. It's pretty in its way. And the plants themselves are surprisingly robust: I found one pot in this shipment that contained five individual plants, four offsets on one original plant. Which would be something of a bargain, actually.


5 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's a nice plant. The bloom is similar to that of my Paph.

You've got to love orchids. They're the only plants where you can have this much information: "Paphiopedilum" "Maudiae" and "Alba" and the plant is still a NOID!

I think I've read shorter novels than the name on my Paph's tag. ;-)

I hope you feel better soon, Mr. Subjunctive.

Anonymous said...

Hope you get to feeling better soon. I do believe they have changed the formula of Nyquil. It used to knock you out and cure what ails you, now it does nothing and tastes like crap going down. Unless you take the capsules, then it does less than nothing. Paphs are my favorite orchid, the only ones I will considering buying anymore. They stay small and reflower quite easily and the blooms are long lasting and so exotic. I love them all.
Frances

themanicgardener said...

If you're achy and feverish, chances are you've got flu, not a cold. Take a day off.

And send us all more pretty pictures.
--Kate

Anonymous said...

Love those Maudiaes! My first paph of the season, 'Pinocchio', is blooming as I write. As for colds, no meds will cure them, they just alleviate the symptoms. You just have to drink plenty of fluids, sleep as much as possible, take something that will let you breathe (like Sudafed or Benadryl) and ride it out. Good luck!!!

Anonymous said...

I always find it interesting to hear what some folks find "easy to grow". Personally, I have pretty much given up completely on paphs and phrags -- I not only find them impossible to bloom, but also find them difficult to even keep alive. (And having been an orchid society member for a number of years, I've had easy access to all sorts of growing tips from seasoned paph/phrag growers. Still to no avail.) Fortunately, there aren't all that many paphs or phrags I'd want to have to begin with.

"Easy?" I'd have to go with phals and catts.