About us - Carrboro Tropicals

March Blooms

There are orchids blooming in my greenhouse all winter, but really the bulk of the flowering takes place in the spring and fall. These were blooming in March. Note that most of these plants are from my personal collection that I have accumulated through the years, and are not for sale, but we have many equally nice plant in our shopping section – see the “Shop” link on the menu at the top.

Is it spring yet?

Spring-blooming orchids are maybe the most appreciated of all since most plants outside have yet to flower.

This is the time each year when I am ready to be done with winter, but sometimes winter is not quite done with us. But in the greenhouse, it is definitely spring! Continue reading “Is it spring yet?”

Orchids for the Holidays

A well-arranged display of orchids can do much to add excitement to the interior of any house and can provide you with a chance to show off your growing skills to your family and friends during holiday gettogethers.

Often I have wonderful plants that bloom in the greenhouse, but as often as not, I am the only one who gets to see them. But especially during the holidays when we entertain, I get to share the beauty with my friends by creating orchid arrangements in the house for all those holiday parties! Continue reading “Orchids for the Holidays”

October means flowers!

Generally I am not a fan of autumn; it means that winter heating costs begin and that orchid plant growth slows down due to lower temperatures and a limited amount of sunlight from shorter day length. But it also means the blooming season for fall Cattleyas has arrived, and this year I have more blooming size plants than ever!

I often get the question “in which month do you have the most orchids in bloom?” The answer is always overwhelmingly October. Continue reading “October means flowers!”

It’s hot in July!

By July, most spring blooming orchids have completed their flowering cycles and most orchid plants are in a growth cycle, producing new leaves and roots needed to generate the energy they need for next spring’s bloom cycle. Continue reading “It’s hot in July!”

The greenhouse in June

By the end of spring most orchid plants have grown some new things besides flowers. For Phalaenopsis that probably means roots and maybe a new leaf, and for other orchids it might mean a new growth. Continue reading “The greenhouse in June”

Laelia purpurata, as good as it gets

Laelia purpurata is among my favorite orchids, and its flowering signifies to me the end of spring and the beginning of the approaching summer season.

Few orchids match the magnificence of L. purpurata, native to Brazil, which appears in many different varieties. Continue reading “Laelia purpurata, as good as it gets”

Spring time on the farm

Spring is a busy time on a farm; the days get longer and the amount of work expands accordingly.

So much to do this time of year, especially after working in Raleigh all winter long. I got my garden seedlings planted at the correct time this year and ended up with the most beautiful batch of seedling ever. With Flora’s help in weeding, most of the planting beds are ready and much of the garden is producing. Following are some photos of what happens in my life each spring.

Kale

Broccolini

Greens mix

Bok Choy

Roma tomatoes

Pole Green beans

Beets

Onions

Blueberries

Winter garden kale

Leaf mulch

Hardwood mulch

Crown of Thorns

Overgrown Cattleyas

Purple iris

Cream colored iris

Mid-February greenhouse pictures

This winter I have been working a 9-5 job in Raleigh, so I have had less time than I would like to keep this blog up to date. I will add to the sparse descriptions as time allows.

The early spring-blooming orchids are starting to pop. As you probably know, most orchids bloom in either the spring or the fall with many fewer in summer and mid-winter. I like spring flowers the best; after winter I am ready for some flowers! Oh, and the Brassavola nodosa has been in on our bar in the dining room for 2 months now, perfuming us every evening!

Blc Goldenzelle ‘Prelude’

Brassavola nodosa

Paph Fairre Helen

Phal. Benedict Masson

Bl Yellow Bird

LC Jumbo Beat

Vanda coerulescens ‘Pink’

C. harrisoniana

Life on the farm

It took a while before I started calling this place a farm and I still sometimes pause before doing so. But I looked it up today. Farm: An area of land and its buildings used for growing crops and rearing animals. That sure does sound like where I live! Continue reading “Life on the farm”