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Mary & Friends - Orchid Daze 2019

by Bethany Plonski February. 25, 2019 525 views

Meet Mary, my orchid. This post is long overdue, because I’ve had her over a month now (but to be fair, you’ve seen her before in black and white).  

Mary was a gift from my sister-in-law after we lost our dog Quinn, and she is my first orchid. I like to garden but don’t consider myself especially skillful with indoor plants, and orchids are known to be more of a challenge that a typical house plant. So when I got her, I was happy to have such a beautiful flower but also pretty sure I was in over my head.

Fortunately, Photoblog is home to the world’s most wonderful orchid whisperer, Andi! Not only does she know everything there is to know about orchids, she is generous with her time and an absolutely delightful person who always manages to give me something to smile or laugh about.

Thanks to Andi’s patience and instructions, I think Mary has a fighting chance at survival. And now that I’ve learned a little more about caring for orchids, Mary may even get herself a companion orchid one day…I can definitely see why people say orchids are addictive. 

About 6 weeks later, she's lost two of her flowers, but Andi assures me I don't need to panic! :)

About 6 weeks later, she's lost two of her flowers, but Andi assures me I don't need to panic! :)

While I’m on the subject, I’ll share some pictures from the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Orchid Daze display from this weekend. I only had a short amount of time to visit, and there were tons of different kinds of orchids and a tropical frog feeding session to see during that time, so it was a little overwhelming trying to see everything and take photos. I hate being rushed, so I plan to go back again on a day when I can enjoy browsing through things more slowly. 

I wish I'd been more careful to note the type of each orchid. Doh!

Thank you, Andi, for all your help and for introducing me to the wonderful world of orchids!

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There are 31 comments , add yours!
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Sigrid Strohschneider-Laue 11 months ago

Beautiful set. Yes, Andi did a great job in explaining what's best for orchids!

11 months ago Edited
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Bethany Plonski Replied to Sigrid Strohschneider-Laue 11 months ago

Thank you. Yes, she is a force to be reckoned with, and always makes me smile. smile

11 months ago Edited
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Lee Santiva 11 months ago

Beautiful photos thanks for sharing

11 months ago Edited
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Bethany Plonski Replied to Lee Santiva 11 months ago

Thank you, Lee! Glad you enjoyed them.

11 months ago Edited
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Jolien Dekens 11 months ago

Orchids are beautiful, I never knew there were so many different kinds! open mouth 
Also Mary looks wonderful!

11 months ago Edited
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Bethany Plonski Replied to Jolien Dekens 11 months ago

Thank you! smile I had no idea either. Apparently there are over 25,000 different species! They all look so different too.

11 months ago Edited
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Susan Wilde 11 months ago

I love orchids. Great collection of photos.

11 months ago Edited
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Bethany Plonski Replied to Susan Wilde 11 months ago

Thank you, I am really growing to love them too. smile

11 months ago Edited
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Heike 11 months ago

Nice pictures, although I'm not a big fan of orchids, I'm impressed by their diversity. You have captured them really great!

11 months ago Edited
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Bethany Plonski Replied to Heike 11 months ago

Thank you, Heike! smile  I was blown away by how many kinds there were too. It was an impressive exhibit!

11 months ago Edited
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Andi Saw 11 months ago

I WANT THEM ALL ! blue heart 
Mary is really gorgeous! 
BRAVA Bethany! 
You did a great job! +1

11 months ago Edited
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Bethany Plonski Replied to Andi Saw 11 months ago

Thank you so much! I don't want to know what would have happened without your help. It would have been bad!blue heart I just found out the botanical garden has an orchid market once a month, so one day I might have to go look and see what they have. smile Wish I could take you with me!

11 months ago Edited
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Andi Saw Replied to Bethany Plonski 11 months ago

It was a real pleasure! blue heart 

Thank the Almighty Gods I cannot be there... Once a month I get my paycheck and once a month I spend it at the botanical garden! smile

11 months ago Edited
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Bethany Plonski Replied to Andi Saw 11 months ago

smile I can imagine! So many amazing orchids, not enough paychecks!

11 months ago Edited
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Sherry Hill 11 months ago

gorgeous.. why Mary? 

and orchids intimidate me

11 months ago Edited
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Bethany Plonski Replied to Sherry Hill 11 months ago

Thank you! They intimidate me too. It’s a completely different ballgame from normal plants, for sure. Thank goodness for Andi because I’d be lost without someone to answer all my questions!
For her name, Mary kept coming up the week that I got her. The day we put Quinn down was the day my grandmother (Mary) passed 29 years before, then two days later one of my favorite poets Mary Oliver died. It also takes me a ridiculously long time to decide on names, so it was nice to have one that felt like it was given. smile

11 months ago Edited
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Sherry Hill Replied to Bethany Plonski 11 months ago

i'm curious about a poet i've never heard of, will go check out Mary Oliver.. 
and i pick names so the opposite.. i go with immediate response, like the name will pop into my head  & that's it..

11 months ago Edited
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Bethany Plonski Replied to Sherry Hill 11 months ago

I think you might like Mary Oliver. Her poems are very nature-focused and dedicated to simplicity, but they still have depth. She has so many great poems, but a few that always stood out to me are Wild Geese, In Blackwater Woods, The Swan, The Journey, Sleeping in the Forest. Ah, I love poetry!
I will have to try the immediate response thing with names sometime, it's good to be in touch with your gut instincts. blush

11 months ago Edited
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Andi Saw Replied to Sherry Hill 11 months ago

If you want to try, you know my email address! blue heart

11 months ago Edited
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Sherry Hill Replied to Andi Saw 11 months ago

smile, thanks Andi..

11 months ago Edited
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Antonio Gil 11 months ago

So much beauty throughout the post. Congrats

11 months ago Edited
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Bethany Plonski Replied to Antonio Gil 11 months ago

Thank you, Antonio! It was overwhelming to see so many amazing flowers in such a short time, but still glad I got to go. smile

11 months ago Edited
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Björn Roose 11 months ago

Mary looks really great against the black background in #1 smile

11 months ago Edited
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Bethany Plonski Replied to Björn Roose 11 months ago

Thank you! I’ll tell her you said so. grinning Black backdrops really seem to bring out the other colors in a photo.

11 months ago Edited
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Laurie Madsen 11 months ago

Beautiful series Bethany!
My husband has one, it's grasping for life by a thread,
I'll have to see what I can learn to resurrect it!

11 months ago Edited
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Bethany Plonski Replied to Laurie Madsen 11 months ago

Thank you, Laurie! Glad you enjoyed it, and best of luck with the orchid too. smile Andi has some really great tutorials posted on her page, maybe there is something there that can help.

11 months ago Edited
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Laurie Madsen Replied to Bethany Plonski 11 months ago

Thanks Bethany, I'll check it out today.
(I'm finally feeling better)

11 months ago Edited
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Bethany Plonski Replied to Laurie Madsen 11 months ago

Glad to hear you are feeling better!

11 months ago Edited
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Jay Boggess 11 months ago

Exquisite specimens & photography..........WOW!!!

11 months ago Edited
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Bethany Plonski Replied to Jay Boggess 11 months ago

Thank you, I'm glad you like them! smile I felt like my head was swimming when I left, so many stunning sights!

11 months ago Edited
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Jay Boggess Replied to Bethany Plonski 10 months, 3 weeks ago

Your work=My pleasure!!!
I can imagine!!!

10 months, 3 weeks ago Edited
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