Orchids Vol. II - 2012 Pacific Orchid Exposition

As promised, another round of spectacular orchids. 

This time around, the Ft. Mason center held the expo with a golden gate theme. They raised prices, so  I won't be back, sigh.

 The displays were quite bountiful this year

 I'll go through a spectrum of color, starting with pure white

Strip it back

Add a little purple/violet

To a maroonish

And explode!

Hidden in the bamboo

This smelled divine

As did these, I could sleep with them on my pillow and die happy 

A tiny snail on a tiny orchid

Deep, deep red, my favorite, uncluttered, solid color

This one was puffy

 As was this, but lighter

Back to red

Spots

 Sharp yellow

Falling all over

Bright! Taxi anyone?

And green, this, cream and maroon were the colors of my sister's wedding

Curly

And the show-stopper

Orchid Overload Vol. 1

I've gone to the Pacific Orchid Exposition, the largest orchid show in the world, for the last several years. I'll probably take a break due to the price increases, but here are my amazing pictures of these exotic flowers.

I begin with some group shots

So many!

 This one was the size of my face!

And they had all these new ones with strange flowers

 Vampire orchids...

 Curly

 Great colors

 The show is held at Fort Mason, a series of warehouses with historical significance and lots of small businesses. The views are outrageous:

More to follow soon...

Holiday Time is Pretty Special

I have many more fall color pics to post, but tis the season for some winter wonder and modern christmas traditions. Note, all snow pics are from last year.

 Snow Stacks

So many beautiful vistas

Such a clear lake!

I head to Union Square every year for the holidays, here is a nearby church:

 Another tradition, santacon; where thousands roam the streets in costume:

 Even Rudolf showed up:

Naughty:

 

I liked this angle/alignment

 Sugar castle at the Westin St. Francis

 Wouldn't be the holidays without an Occupy Protest

 This tie is several hundred dollars at Louis Vuitton. Look kinda cool, right? Look closer...

 Closer...

This tree is 5 stories tall and plastic, where do they store it? 

 

And finally, some Capitol pretty.

What a difference a year makes! Here is Arnold's tree:

 

And Jerry Brown's tree, in the era of downsized state government:

 (Also note the manorah)