Pretty picture: Phragmipedium Eric Young x wallissii

Phragmipediums are interesting, and I'd be interested in one if I thought I could keep it going, but the advice I found on-line about their care suggests that if I had one, sooner or later I'd let it get too dry, and then it would croak. (Some species naturally live under water for part of the year, said one source. The same source said that as a rule, if you're in doubt about whether to water one, you should.) They are "not for beginners," numerous sites tell me. Fine then. I do appreciate the above flower, though. Weirdly pretty.

Eric Young is a cross of P. besseae var. flavum with P. longifolium, and then this is a cross of Eric Young with wallissii. There are interesting stories to be told about P. besseae in particular (Besseae is the source of the orange coloration in this flower, and kind of a big deal, if you're the sort of person who can find Phragmipediums a big deal.), but you'll have to wait until January (when there's a P. besseae picture scheduled) to read about that. Or Google it up for yourself. It's a depressing story, alas, though I suppose the ending could be worse.

In any case, I'm going on hiatus, and will be back on the 26th (Sunday). See you then.