11/11/24

Outside, the plants are calling it a season. The hostas and ferns have vanished. The coneflowers are gone all black and brittle. Only a few yellow leaves cling in the trees. But inside is another matter. One by one, my orchids are putting out their spikes. It’s a thrill each time I discover a new one. I use tiny clips to bind the fresh green shoots to stakes.

I’d prefer to let them grow without this interference. I’ve tried, but it never works out. The flowers end up smashed against frost-chilled windows or arrayed in a way that pulls plants off balance. The white one in my office fell off its shelf twice last year thanks to the sideways bloom pattern it opted for. I was determined to restore balance this year. But the new shoot came out wedged below a leaf.

I can’t stake the stem without contorting the entire plant. So I’ve put the plant in a support stand instead. It’s now growing with enthusiasm in a ridiculous direction. It will be the first of my orchids to flower this year. I suspect no one will notice that it’s off-kilter once it blooms.