On My Walk This Morning 4k

I extended my walk this morning to incorporate two more buildings, and I found a

treasure trove of orchids and other flowers in front of Bldg. 102.  This is a new

orchid tree with all new varieties of orchids on it.  It is right next to a tropical

jungle of "Pink Ginger" plants.

"Anastasia" is a beautiful variety of Phalaenopsis Orchid, which blooms

prolifically and is very hardy.

"Maid Marian" is a very delicate, light lilac Phalaenopsis Orchid.

"Freckle Face" is a variety of white orchid with tiny freckles scattered

across its petals, and with a dotted purple and yellow throat.  It also blooms

with many flowers and they remain for a long time.

"Apricot Ashley."  I think this is the same plant as the one we have seen on Bldg. 5.

But it is interesting here, because there are three stems, and they show the flowers

at different stages of development.  Apparently, when they first open, they are a very

deep copper color, and then as they age, they gradually become lighter.

There are three clusters of "Apricot Ashley."  This group has the mature apricot color

and a number of blossoms.

This is a younger group and is much darker and copper in color.

Three clusters of "Apricot Ashley" Orchid.

"Jennifer Jones" is a very dark purple orchid, outlined in a pure snow white.

"Lovely LaVerne"  orchid continues to bloom into its third month in perfect shape.

"Angelique" is a beautiful purple orchid, with color fading to a cream on the edges.

The throat is a reddish purple.

"Mini Purple Passion Orchids."  They are part of the collection of the man

in Building 58.

"Tawney Tiger" is one of the delightful weeping orchids, with stems that droop

down and flowers opening up all along the stems.

"Daphne's Purple Shower" is an orchid with dozens of mini-blooms opening

along several stems.

"Senorita Ines Impatiens."

This unusual variety is red, edged with a deep purple.  It is quite striking.

This corner of the yard in front of Bldg. 102 is so dense with these "Pink Ginger"

plants that it feels like you are in a tropical forest.  I expect to see monkeys

swinging from vines overhead.  It is lovely.

"Frederika Orchid" is one of the lilac orchids with spots and stripe

and a yellow and purple throat.

"Lady Godiva" is a lovely orchid with big flowers of white covered with small

purple dots as if airbrushed on the surface.

"Flickering"  hangs in a dense jungle-like area with palms and vines,

and the irregular splotches of purple on the white seem to flicker before

your eyes.  The flowers are quite large.

"Midnight Delights" is a mini-dark purple orchid tied to the back of this tree,

and it has sent out two stems, one in either direction to take advantage of

sunlight and moisture.

"Midnight Delights" in a cluster by the tree trunk.

Meanwhile, down below, "King's Mantle" bush is flowering very profusely

right now.  The blue color indeed looks very rich and royal.

This building is trying a variety of annuals, which are more common Up North.

The yellow is a Zinnia, the White is a begonia, and the pink is a Vinca.

This yellow "Profusion Zinnia" seems to be doing the best, I think.  It has bright 

color, hardiness, and good shape.  It is small, perhaps eight inches tall.

These are "Yellow Egg Yolk Pansies."  Pansies have a hard time down here

because of the high temperatures.  They much prefer growing in snow or in a cooler

climate.  The best pansies I have seen are the early spring pansies in

Washington, D.C. sometimes growing in the snow.

 

The "Purple Ground Orchids" are beginning revive after resting for several

months during our "winter."  The big clusters of flowers show they are the newer

variety; the old traditional ones had only a few blossoms.

And the "Magnolia Grandiflora" trees have begun to bloom.  The buds are huge

and fat, and they open into these huge, gorgeous blossoms.  Each flower is about

ten inches in diameter, not quite as large as the "Dinner Plate Magnolias."

"A Magnolia Grandiflora" blossom.  This is about ten inches across.

The huge, 12" blossoms have not appeared yet.

"Strasbourg" is a beautiful midi-orchid of the weeping variety.  The plant here has several

stems drooping down and sporting clusters of colorful flowers.  They are not minis,

but they are not as large as other orchids, so I call them "midis."

A cluster of "Strasbourg" Orchids/

Two more clusters of "Strasbourg" Orchids.

A very exciting  and beautiful day to go walking.   It was 74 degrees.

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