Golden Light, Liquid Gold...

I love a good project, especially one that has such fine bones.
The foyer is south facing and the light pours in most of the day, heaven. The space also features warm hued pumpkin pine floors, a warm and creamy yellow trim and a stairwell that is worthy of Scarlett O'Hara. Yes good bones indeed. The challenge was to pull it all together, add carpet to the stairs and a color that would reflect the history (the home was built in the early 1800's) and help to make the space sing with warmth, color and sophistication.

The carpet on the stairs is a palette of rich gold and creams, is wool and features a classic and timeless design. Perfect and it also helps with the overall "glow factor". The color chosen for the walls is a rich caramel with a satin finish, from Sherwin Williams, I love their paint colors and finishes. Often times they have sales and it is a good idea to shop during the sales as it can be a substantial savings more paint for your buck! Paint is now "Green" which is a good thing however it can be a pricey investment.

Adding a few well chosen pieces of art and sculpture help to keep the space peaceful and well appointed, yet livable, approachable and above all warm and friendly.

Thanksgiving Traditions ...

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It is filled with camaraderie, beautiful table settings and the some of the most lovingly prepared food of the year. I have always loved the annual ritual of catching up with friends and family.

When I was a girl, my Mother hosted legendary Thanksgiving dinners. Relatives from both sides of the family regularly attended. The list of guests always included great grandmothers, ancient aunts, grandparents, uncles, cousins, babies and friends as well as assorted orphans who had nowhere else to go. A truly memorable and predictable scene was an elderly Uncle who showed up with a pie carrier, which he designed and built himself. His tradition was to spend the several days before Thanksgiving making pies. Oh, they were yummy. Ahhh, I sigh when I remember the feeling of goodness associated with this magic day.

When I became an adult I continued the Thanksgiving tradition. For years my husband and I hosted dinners of up to 50 people. It was fun, fun , fun. I know it sounds like a set up for everything to go wrong and be a disaster, but it never was, it was always a four day, joyful, weekend adventure. We relived this tradition for over a decade at our farm in Malibu, California. We usually had our dinner at tables set up under a 500-year-old oak tree that shaded the back patio. The day was always golden. Lovely sunshine with a few puffy clouds and the sound of chickens clucking in the distance mixed with laughter and the clinking of wine glasses.
Yes, Thanksgiving perfection.

Last year I had an even dozen at the table, it was indoors, lovely and fun. Maine does not offer the outdoor dining experience as late into the year as Malibu. This year my sister in North Carolina is hosting the big celebration. I believe there will be a dozen folks, all coming together for shared laughter, storytelling and an amazing meal.

Since I am a guest this year I started thinking about bringing a side dish that is elegant and does not require oven space. The kitchen activity is always at a breakneck pace for the last 20 minutes before the meal is served. With this in mind I have decided I will bring a fresh, organic and interesting salad. I will take it out of the fridge 1 hour before the meal to bring it up to room temperature and add the dressing just before it is ready to be served.
I am a fan of simple greens such as Arugula, Baby Romaine or even an Herb Salad mix. I will toss in some almonds, a bit of dried blueberries, some sliced mushrooms, and some homemade croutons. Later when I dress the salad I will use a light homemade vinaigrette composed of olive oil, herb vinegar, (my special stash) some fresh cut basil and a bit of fresh parsley, some pepper with a generous amount of ground garlic. This dressing is simple, fresh and a perfect addition to all of the other traditional dishes.


Enjoy this special holiday and take a moment to remember what you are thankful for. At our family table we always have each person stand up and share with the group what they are thankful for during this past year. It is a wonderful tradition. Bon Appetite.

An Apple a Day...

Apples and Autumn are two words that define a season. Whether you are picking your own apples in an orchard or buying them at a local farmstand or your grocery store, apples are always yummiest this time of year. I am a year round fan of apples and eat two a every day. They have the full spectrum of fiber and nutrition and I think they do contribute to overall good health. My personal favorites are Fuji Apples, they are sweet and juicy. For baking I like to use the orchard grown Macintosh, Braeburn and a variety of heirlooms.
There is nothing like a pot of peeled and cubed apples simmering on the stove, filling the air with a sweet aroma and steaming up the windows. I always throw in some cinnamon and a bit of grated nutmeg to give the apples a bit of spice, then I smash the heck out of them and am able to enjoy many days of homemade applesauce. It is the perfect side dish to a Pork Roast.

Apple Crisp is another favorite, easy to make and rarely are there any leftovers. Martha Stewart has a great recipe, I have modified it to make it dairy free.
Recipe…
Ingredients
Serves 8
* 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
* 1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
* 8 tablespoons Margarine, cold, cut into small cubes
* 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick-cooking)
* 3 pounds apples, such as Empire, Gala, or Braeburn, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
* 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together flour, brown sugar, salt, and 2 tablespoons granulated sugar. Cut margarine into flour, using a pastry blender or two knives, until mixture is the texture of coarse meal. Add oats, and use your hands to toss and squeeze mixture until large, moist clumps form. Transfer to freezer to chill while you prepare apples.
2. In another large bowl, toss apples with lemon juice, cinnamon, and remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Transfer to a shallow 2-quart, well-oiled baking dish, and sprinkle with topping mixture. Place baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake until golden and bubbling, 55 to 65 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.
This is a perfect dish after a long and beautiful day spent in your local apple orchard.

If you are on the go, consider an Apple fast food. You can keep them almost anywhere for easy crunchy access! Storing them is even easier. They ripen less quickly if you leave them in the crisper of your refrigerator. I make sure I have several on the counter that are the perfect ripeness and ready to grab as I walk out the door. I always bring a few Apples with me while traveling. When I am on a plane, they help hydrate my skin and keep me from snacking on junk food.

Top Ten Apple Facts...
1.The apple tree originated in an area between the Caspian and the Black Sea.
2.Apples were the favorite fruit of ancient Greeks and Romans.
3.Apples are a member of the rose family.
4.A medium apples is about 80 calories.
5.Apples are a great source of the fiber pectin. One apple has five grams of fiber.
6.The pilgrims planted the first United States apple trees in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
7.The science of apple growing is called pomology.
8.Newton Pippin apples were the first apples exported from America in 1768, some were sent to Benjamin Franklin in London.
9.The old saying, “ an apple a day, keeps the doctor away ”. This saying comes from am old English adage, “ To eat an apple before going to bed, will make the doctor beg his bread.”
10.In 2005 United States consumers ate an average of 46.1 pounds of fresh apples and processed apple products. That's a lot of applesauce!

If you have not added apples to your daily diet start today, you will be surprised at how different each variety tastes.

Too Much Basil? Time For Pesto...

This has been a fantastic year for Basil. It must have been a combination of heat and rain. Making Pesto is a yearly tradition, when I lived at the farm we would make a freezer full, now it is a bit more tame and manageable! This year making Pesto was a family affair. It was grown at my sisters house in Charlotte and Mother and I spent a quick hour cutting, cleaning, making and freezing about 5 cups worth of Pesto.
I will tell you that five cups is enough for lots of Minestrone, Grilled Fish and Pasta throughout the winter months. When I make Pasta for Pesto, I like to use Fussilli, it seems to hold the delicate flavors best. The big trick is to freeze the Pesto in small baggies pressed flat, which creates the perfect serving size for any dish serving 4 people.It also stacks well in freezer and is quick and easy to defrost. A little Pesto goes along way!

So here is my easy recipe.
* 4 cups fresh basil leaves (fill a measuring cup to full and press them down with your hand;add more and repeat until packed.)
* 1/2 cup grated Pecorino or Parmesan cheese (grated)
* 1/2 cup pine nuts
* 6-8 garlic cloves, finely minced (or 1 tablespoon of prepared minced garlic)
* 1 tablespoon of lemon juice ( this prevents the pesto from turning brown when it is exposed to the air.)
* 1/2 cup Olive oil. It should be the "extra virgin" variety.

The Process:
Use a Food Chopper or Food Processor.
Toss the Garlic in, chop.
Toss the Pine Nuts in, chop.
Add The Basil, chop.
Throw in the Cheese, chop.
Now slowly add the Extra Virgin Olive Oil
until it is a smooth paste.
Makes about 2 cups of Pesto!
All done! Time to bag up and pop into the freezer.
You are now ready to enjoy the taste of summer all winter long.

Color Your Home...

I love color, all color. Whether it is on a wall or a brightly colored accent in a neutral toned home.
The days are getting shorter and with winter around the corner those bright sunny autumn days will turn themselves over to cloudy, rainy and snowy.
The light is changing and reaching deeper into our homes. SO what are we to do? ADD COLOR. Simple solution. If you have time, money and ability, it would be a great time to think about turning up your color palette. How? Easy, you can paint a room or splash a beautiful shade of red or blue to 'happy up" your door. Pop on over to Sherwin Williams or log onto their site. I love there paints. The finishes are wonderful and color selections and saturation's could not be better. S.W. even has a new series of Enviro-friendly paints. MMMM love it. It is easy to get inspired on their site or in their store.
The second big tip is take a waltz through The Z Gallery, Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn or even West Elm. I love to walk through all of these those stores. The layout and presentation is always top notch and the color palettes are cohesive and make sense.You can also browse online which is second to walking through there store environments.


So whether you have a big imagination, or not much of one you will find some good sparky color choices and come home with a feeling of "I can make it through the gloomy season by hunkering down in my home". Set a stage for entertaining your friends and family in style, now is the season.

Turning Your Home Over to Autumn...

I LOVE Autumn. The sun is at a low pitch in the sky and the light seems to sparkle through the windows as it reaches deeper into our homes. It always reminds me that winter is not far behind. Autumn is a fleeting season filled with magical colored leaves that are jewel-like and create a perfect contrast to the extra blue Autumn sky backdrop.


Driving past all of the garden centers and farm stands filled to full with Chrysanthemum's, Pumpkins, Gourds and various varieties of Squash and other bounties of the season always inspires me. This time of year I turn my spaces over to Autumn and create still-life's reflecting the magic of the season.
After the first hard frost it is always fun to go out into the woods and abandoned fields and collect Bittersweet vines, Acorns and Moss. I love to make Bittersweet wreaths and fill little silver bowls with Acorns lying majestically on a soft bed of Moss. The next major holiday is more than a month away and it has to do with Candy, Witches, Costumes and Pumpkins turned into Jack o' Lanterns. Embracing the next 30 days that embody the alchemy of the season is a tradition I re-visit year after year, it feeds my spirit.
Inside our homes it is time to get out our comfy throws, and deep jewel colored table linens, and warm throw rugs. Decorating by the season keeps me in touch with the inevitable cycle of the Earth it is true alchemy. If you have not embraced seasonal decorating yet, give it a whirl and see if you don't feel the magic. I always do and that explains the perpetual smile on my face!

The Baroness of Art Revisited...

Nancy Barron is an artist who works in many mediums. Whether she is painting a still life devoted to nature or the human figure she does it with energy and panache. Nancy is the Assistant Director for the Harlow Gallery in Hallowell, Maine. She revels in the daily challenges of working with other Artist's and people who buy the Art. She has a sunny can do personality and enough energy at the end of the day to come home and nurture her school age twins, teenage daughter and darling husband. She makes her home on the shores of the Kennebec River. Nancy is an Artist who embraces the seasons and interjects her art with the colors of the natural world that surround her home. This time of year her Hydrangeas are in full regalia I wonder when she will start creating her Autumn series. Hmmmm.
Nancy can be seen in person at the Harlow Gallery most any day and her work can be viewed in three different adjacent towns.Keep up the inspired work Nancy.You can drop her an email for more info,
or to read more...

Click on arrow to view.

Is Your Glass Half Full?

Happiness lies within all of us. Is your glass half full? Did life turn out the way you had expected? Has your adventure in living been passionate, fun and delightful?
I have been asking myself these questions most of my life only to make sure I am living up to the mantra of “quality of life”.
The other day I was talking to my mother about a friend who has been going through some tough times lately. She listened and after a few moments she said “you know your life is not easy and is full of challenges”. I laughed and thought about it. I never looked at my life situation as hard or unpleasant. I have spent years living in the world of possibilities and beauty.
My mothers statement made me think hard about what was really happening in my life. I let these thoughts roll around in my brain for a few days. I have always chosen to find the good in a situation, the beauty and the bright side. It has been said that my achilles' heel is being too optimistic. However I do not believe this can be so, I think it is a choice to live a vibrant and positive lifestyle.
I have always viewed things as they are. My personal philosophy is that everything in life is a lesson. I have always taken the opportunity to learn, grow and nourish my soul, my thoughts and my personal being.

I have had the luxury in the past several months to take the time to think honestly and contemplate my past, present and my future. It is a lot of hard work. I have been delighted, uncomfortable, happy, sad, regretful and even remorseful. I think life is best lived in the present with an eye towards the future. Think about this if we drove our cars only looking and obsessing about the rearview mirror it would be impossible not to crash the car. Life is like driving that imaginary car, a cautionary look once in a while is the best policy. Keeping your eye on the road not yet traveled is the key.

I encourage you to stop even if for only a moment. Take a breath. Take the time to contemplate the tender blessings in your life you have many more than you think. The most important thing to realize is your own ability to create a life that makes you happy. You see if you are happy everyone around you is suseptible to your mood and outlook that happiness brings. Living in possibilities, trust and the present is a gift we can only give to ourselves. There is no better time to start than now, your present becomes your past minute by minute. Make each moment count and tell those people you love that you love them. Make it a point to be kind to a stranger, understanding of your family, helpful to your co-workers. Try to be caring and sensitive to the world around you.
You do make a difference, we all do.
After all these years my glass is still half full and my life is filled with beauty.
I am blessed.

Home Is Where The ART Is...

Pam Fawcett is a very talented artist who now lives in Charlotte N.C. I met her through an "Arty Group" of women. She is fun, delightful and so well versed in many different mediums. I was treated to a tour of her home and studio and was absolutely inspired by her fearless artistic approach. She attends many workshops and applies the knowledge she has picked


up along the way to create magical mixed media canvases and "found object" sculptural pieces.
Her home is filled with her own Art as well as a few other well placed pieces by other Artist's who are her friends or whom she admires. The actual style of her home is eclectic and lovely. The colors are bold and neutral and the furnishings are comfy and inviting. The overall atmosphere is a truly creative and inspiring one. Pam is an artist who loves actually doing all kinds of Art following whatever her inspiration may be on any given day.
Pam I look forward to hanging out in your studio again, soon. You inspire me.


Click on arrow to view the slideshow.

Autumn Gardening Tips...

Wow, kids are back in school and it seems as if everyone is back in town. The end of summer can be a time of mixed emotion. However this is one of my favorite times of year. The light is shifting towards autumn but we still have the brilliant days of summer. It is a great time to get out into the garden and plant a few new flowering perennials, fruit trees and foundation plantings. Many nurseries have terrific sales this time of year. Plants, Trees and Pots as well as some mulches and amendments can be up to 50% off.
If you live in the south it is also a good time to feed your Roses with bone and blood meal. This will give them the energy to produce blooms for Autumn's last blush in late October. It is also the time of year to figure out which types of bulbs you would like to see in your garden next spring. I have always been a fan of naturalized Daffodils creating mad sweeps in lawns, flower beds and near trees!
Make a point to cut back your flowering perennials and lightly shape your green foundation plantings. Feed your entire garden, to maximize any end of the season growth. Remember to use bark mulch up to 3" in all of your garden beds, it helps to keep the soil cooler/warmer and keeps the water from evaporating. It is a sensible choice to eco-style gardening.

So head on out to your closest Garden Center or local big box store. You will find with the slower economy the selection on their sale items is fairly large this year.
Take advantage and plant the garden you have been dreaming of. Next spring you will be glad you did.

Birdstacks, Eggs & an Elephant...

I have been on a painting tear. I have created 8 pieces since June.
I think living in the clouds is having an interesting effect on what I am choosing to do with my time.
I am loving the idea of stacking birds, incorporating eggs, and I just finished a piece that is 5 ft square in three sections.




I used an Indian Elephant as the anchor, Butterflies for light and air and the Birds are stacked way up into the starry heavens with a hanging moon.

It is fun to create fanciful images and explore texture, mixed media and image transfers.

Click on the arrow to view the slide show of
Birdstacks, Eggs & an Elephant!

Uptown, Living in the City...

Living in Uptown Charlotte is always filled with surprises. I usually walk around the city in the earlier morning hours and photograph the light and clouds playing with the skyscrapers. Uptown is all about up. On my walks I am delighted by the unexpected path that leads to a courtyard or a cacophony of song and sound from the birdies nesting in the trees near the Discovery Museum. It is joyful to observe so much nature in such an urban environment. It is interesting to try and understand each architect, their design decisions, shapes, materials and placement of these tall buildings and how they play with the light as well as there actual siting and impact with the other buildings and the overall skyline.
It is also remarkable that the city planners did consider people and how they interface with the city in a keenly aware and conscious way. They have made it a requirement for developers to add art and public spaces to each building and parking structures. (Surprising for any city!) Charlotte is a very livable and walkable city.
Many of the photographs in the slide show are taken from my 24Th floor Loft on the balcony. Usually in the late afternoon or during the sunrise.
Click on arrow to view
slide show of Uptown Charlotte.



I have been living in the clouds since late Spring and I am enjoying the sense of air & light. I love watching the birds soar past my window at the end of the day, I am sure they are off to important spots to roost for the evening.
Watching the city change as day slips into night, and night to day is an event. I am lucky enough to have friends over to share that sunset time of day we unwind and hang out. It is so cool to live high in the sky surrounded by the impact of man and nature!

Summer Vacation...

I believe that we all have a somewhere that is special to us. Sometimes it is a place we once visited or a familiar vacation destination. The funny thing is when you are there it can often feel like you are at the place your heart calls home.
One of my very special places is the coast of Maine. When I was five I was reading Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey, I loved that story. That little book stole my heart. I knew I would someday walk on those same reaches, islands and rocky beaches collecting shells and picking blueberries
just like Sal! As a young woman I started summering in Maine and continue that tradition today. I have taken many photographs of the light, boats, sandy shore, rivers and lakes over the past few decades. Maine is magic to me.

Summer is a fleeting season. The kids are without schedules and you have the ability to create traditions and memories for each family member collectively and individually. Take time to have a campfire, explore a mountain path or take a bike ride on a trail you have never explored. With the warmer weather it is fun to hang out late into the evening gazing at the stars and if you're lucky you can watch the full moon rise over a lake or the ocean.


Click on arrow to view movie.
Lynn Wedekind's "On the Wing" is
the featured music in this slide-show.


This is also a great time of year to gather up the entire family, drive to a beautiful spot and share a picnic supper. Bring an extra friend and have them photograph all of you, it will make the perfect family Christmas card, oh yes and you will have fun. Summer is about fun, relaxation and enjoying all of the blessings you have in your life. Before you know it school will be back in session and the kids will all be another year older, do not waste these special moments take time to enjoy them.


As a girl our family was into camping however as an adult I am not a big fan. It is simply that I prefer a cabin or cottage with a bed to a tent and a sleeping bag. I believe because I was introduced and taught about the outdoors during my childhood I have a great appreciation and understanding for the natural world. So take the time to explore the natural world with your children, nieces, nephews and grandchildren. It does make a difference in who they become. I believe it creates the foundation for them to go out and be good and understanding citizens of the world.

Green is In, Cool & Chic...

Trends and need have always been the driving force behind the style and features of homes that people purchase. The question is what drives these trends? There are many answers to that question. The first is need. We are now experiencing a “Need” for homes that are energy efficient, and non-toxic. The buzz word is “Green and Sustainable” it is the most common term for the newest trend in home and building design. The coolest thing about design today is certainly the ability to fuse technology and architecture with design.
I was reading an issue of Metropolis magazine and the entire publication was devoted to hip and fun applications of “Green Design” from all over the world. It was a fun to read an article about Buckminster Fuller. He started his rise in design and the philosophy of living in the 1930's. His signature look was futuristic, but the underlying foundation of his work has always been in harmony with the earth, the actual site of the building and the folks who occupy them. In the industry they call him Bucky and he has been a forefront designer for many decades. His thoughts and philosophies have inspired designers all over the world.

I have been a fan of organic gardening and living from a very young age, I am so glad I am no longer alone. It is encouraging to see so many people not only interested but actually doing something about it! Most design magazines now have a monthly section and a yearly issue devoted to “Green and Sustainable”. The philosophy to embrace is this, use less, re-use more, live with what you have and try to have the smallest impact upon the environment that you can.

We all can make a difference starting with small adjustments with what we use, how we live and where and on what we choose to spend our money on. Think about this, if you put in state of the art windows you would have paid yourself back in energy costs within a very few short years, but the ultimate plus is you will use less energy. Putting less of a need on imported energy products this is not a bad thing.

Less chemicals in the garden means a healthier you. How? Poisons can cause disease for people and the critters, bugs and birdies who live in your garden. Also the runoff from your garden goes into the storm drains which then dump directly into your local rivers and ultimately into the sea. This affects all living creatures in the sea, the birds who eat the fish and make their nest’s near the shores of rivers, lakes and estuaries.

I encourage you to click through some of the hyper-links in this article and see where you can make a difference. We all share this planet and we should work together in harmony to keep it in good running order. Our future generations are depending upon us.

Summertime & The Farmers Market...

"Yesterday a child came out to wonder,
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar.
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder,
And tearful at the falling of a star."
From Joni Mitchell's song, "Circle Game"

Summertime always evokes dreams and memories of my childhood. As a child our family went to the Farmers Market almost every week. It was a scene. Mother had 6 kids, all within 9 years. We were well behaved and no one ever got lost. I remember double yolk eggs, beautiful tomatoes, piles of lettuce, the juiciest strawberries and a range of flowers that was dizzying.


Falling in love with fresh produce at a young age is a great gift a parent can give to a child. I learned about the connection between food, the earth and the humble farmer who would not only grow our food but often times sell it to us.
I was at the Farmers Market this week, as I am most weeks and decided it was perfect light to do a photo shoot. The stunning colors, shapes and textures of the bounty that is given to us from the earth inspires my imagination as a cook and an artist.

So if you haven't been to your local Farmer's Market lately create a new habit and start showing up. The food is fresh, organic, local and affordable. Take the time to say thanks to the folks who work very hard at bringing fresh produce, eggs , cheese and flowers to you on a daily basis.
Mom, thanks for the gift of understanding where food comes from, it is some kind of magic!

Putting Your Intentions Out Into the World...

Yesterday I spent the day with my nephew Geoff.
He is a charming and smart young man. He is in college now and on an endless quest for knowledge. We were talking about Buddhism and the "Eight Right Steps of Living". This subject led to a lively conversation about living an intentional and conscious life. We also talked about "Intention". Which led to "Tibetan Prayer Flags". In Tibet they have a tradition and practice of hanging out strings of prayer flags which are prayers and sometimes icons of Deities printed onto various types of fabric. They are usually, but not always very bright primary colors. The idea simplified is this, put your intentions into the world, the wind will pick them up and blow them where they need to go. In December I did a posting on "Intention Tree" ornaments which is based on the idea of prayer flags.


On the 2 hour drive home I thought about these flags and the magical/mystic quality of putting intentions into the world via a flag and the wind. I also thought it would be fun to make my own small flags, writing intentions or even drawing a picture or icon of what I wanted to put into the world outside of my own. So here is the process, cut 5 to 12 pieces of fabric all the same size. You could use muslin, silk, cotton or really any fabric that will stand up to the Sun, Rain and Wind. An indelible pen like "Sharpies" would be the optimum tool for writing on the fabric. If you want to have more of a painterly quality you could also go to a craft store and pick up paint that is made to be used on fabric. The next step is to make a list of intentions or prayers you would like to see in the world. Do a sketch on paper of what you would like to see so you have a pattern to follow. Once you have a pile of flags ready to go, attach the finished squares to a very long piece of heavy duty string or rope and tie between two trees, on a porch railing or?? You can use your imagination. I think it would be fun to have some of my favorite friends over and each of us could do a square. Kind of like a quilting party, but oh so different!
So whether you purchase some Tibetan Prayer Flags or make your own remember, as Bob Dylan so eloquently said "The answer is blowin' in the wind".

Orchids: Tips and Tricks for Growing...

Orchids are so exotic looking that they seem as if they would be hard to grow.
Well nothing could be further from the truth. The biggest trick is good light (not direct sun) and infrequent watering (every other week at the most). I also feed my Orchids one time per season with Superthrive plant food. Buying healthy Orchids is key. I pick up my orchids many places. Some of the best specimens have come from wonderful high end nurseries. I like to spend an hour or so perusing their Greenhouses which typically are filled with Orchids and other interesting plants. The upside is this, the plants have been cared for and there is usually someone who is an Orchid Expert that can answer any of your questions. Now for some "On the Cheap" buying tricks and tips. Trader Joe's and Home Depot both have selections that can at times be terrific or sketchy depending upon the day. However, when they get a good batch of Orchids in they are a true bargain.
You can pick up a Phalaenopsis Orchid for 13-20 dollars! The downside is they have not been cared for as closely as those grown in a local greenhouse so be careful with your selection. Make sure the flower stalk has healthy fat buds that will continue to give you blossoms and that the leaves are a dark and shiny green. The following tip is very important. When you get the Orchid home put it into the sink and water thoroughly with warm water. Then pop the whole container into a zip-lock bag, cover only the container, this becomes a liner so the water does not leak into the cache pot or container you are setting your Orchid into. I always place some Spanish Moss around the base of the plant, it helps to keep the soil/bark moist and it looks like you picked it up at a Florist!
There are many varieties of Orchids some of my favorites are Phalaenopsis, Cymbidium, Oncidium, and once in a while Cattleya's The photos shown in this article are all different varieties of Phalaenopsis.
Many of my Orchids have been blooming for a year or more. They are simple to grow and a joy to collect. Go ahead and start your collection today.