L.c. Gold Digger "Orchidglade's Mandarin" on show in my kitchen

Photo of L.c. Gold Digger from the orchid collection of "Arne and Bent Larsen".

Photo of my Gold Digger "Orchidglade's Mandarin"

My L.c. Gold Digger "Orchidglade's Mandarin"

I love Spring! My kitchen is certainly a happy one when my beautiful Laeliocattleya orchid, Gold Digger "Orchidglade's Mandarin", commonly called a Cattleya,  blesses me with her annual flowers. Every family needs a gold digger. This orchid first came into our lives in 2005, when my late Mum, named Hope, won a Rockhampton Orchid Society prize with her. This is according to Mum's meticulous Orchid Diary which I inherited, along with this beautiful orchid. What a responsibility. Mum loved her orchids. Mr. HRK and I relocated Gold Digger  to Mackay in 2008 and according to her records which I have kept updated, she has flowered every year since except for 2011 and 2012, which is probably when I repotted her, or perhaps she just needed a holiday as well. So here we are 11 years later and she is still alive and going strong. What a performer and obviously has an impressive lineage. Have I been watching too much of Who Do You Think you Are by any chance and of course I live with a passionate genealogist as well. Some of it has rubbed off.

 Her parents L.c. Red Gold and L.c Warpaint would be so proud of their descendants which are spread far and wide. My Gold Digger has survived a relocation from Rockhampton to Mackay, quite a few absences by her owners but she is very much admired by all who see her.

I haven't joined an Orchid Owners Group yet, but this is a really nice interest and it brings me a lot of happiness when my orchids produce flowers and then I can bring them into my kitchen and enjoy them as I work, and they last a lot longer than a bunch of flowers which is so rewarding.

So Spring is here, and now I wait for my other orchids which are in bud to bloom and see how many flowers they will produce.

Perhaps I need to design a food dish named after my Gold Digger which would live on in her memory, however she shows no sign of retiring or calling it a day. I couldn't imagine life without her now. Suggestions anyone?

If anyone reading this enjoys growing orchids and flowers and brings them inside, I would love to hear from you. If you have anymore information on Gold Digger I would appreciate it if you could share it with me. 

Have a great weekend.