Kenni Judd, co-owner [with husband Mike Baum] of Juno Beach Orchids.
Female, just turned 46 last week. I started growing, on a hobby basis, in
1992

Orchids are a second career for both of us -- I was a lawyer and Mike was a
cabinet-maker/finish carpenter. We decided to make the change in '96, built
the nursery in '97, and hung our first plants in the new shadehouse on
Groundhog's Day 1998. So far, we have managed to survive the economic
disaster resulting from 9/11 in '02 and the hurricane disaster(s) of 9/04
.... but we could get our repairs done a lot faster if y'all would place some
big orders G.

We grow whatever will grow well and easily for us under mostly natural So.
Fla. weather conditions -- no cool-growers, few intermediates, nothing that
requires "fussing over." So we have Catts, Dens, a smattering of Oncids
[only those with sufficient heat tolerance to live here], a nice selection
of Vandaceous, and some Phals.

I really can't identify a single "greatest orchid achievement." We are
very proud of our 2 AOS awards to date, HCCs on both Smbcna. Garnet Glory
'Juno Beach' and Van. [Rhv.] Ocean Storm 'Juno Beach' as well as the 3 Best
in Show trophies our Blc. Golden Tang 'Juno Beach' has collected, but there
are many other moments over the last nearly 15 years which certainly
compete -- the first time we bloomed a plant grown from flask; our first
successful hybridizing [a re-make of Epi. Orchid Jungle which I hope to have
available in compot this coming spring] ... and I look forward to more
"firsts" to come.

I sympathize with Ray over his heater failure. Back in the hobby days, when
I only had 1000 or so plants, I went to bed on a weather forecast predicting
a low of 49F -- no problem, my plants were hardened, they could take that.
When I woke up the next am, it was 37F on the porch and of course much
colder out in the yard. Only about two dozen plants were a total loss, but
many more were set back severely, required lots of nursing, and didn't bloom
on schedule for the next 3 years. So when our gas tank for the heateres
here at the nursery floated after Hurricane Jeanne, I was seriously sweating
it. Fortunately, we got it re-connected the day before we had to use it ...
--
Kenni Judd
Juno Beach Orchids
http://www.jborchids.com


"Ray" wrote in message
...
Ray Barkalow

Male, 52, married 30 years this coming July, 2 kids - one due to graduate
from college this Spring, the other from high school (so I can avoid
missing
a semester of tuition payments).

Have grown orchids for almost 35 years, in every condition from
windowsills
to lights to greenhouses.

Most significant orchid accomplishment? Most would say development and
introduction of semi-hydroponics, but I would say "not committing suicide
after losing a 20-year collection to a heater failure..."

I grow anything that doesn't die under my "care."

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!
.