Peter Lin and Ken Avant at Big Leaf Orchids sale table.
Meir Moses of Orchid Konnection (L) and Todd Miller
of Miller’s Tropicals (R).
James and Cathy arrived, we helped them unload the symposium items and organize the meeting and sales rooms.
Dick Wells, of Hilltop Orchids, sent a box of auction plants
and the two IPA trophies, for the winners of the submitted
plant judging; we unpacked this after lunch.
Wanting to give us out-of-towners to a true Texas treat,
Linda and I found ourselves arriving with James and Cathy
at Phil’s Ice House in south Austin. The place looked more
like a 1950’s drive-in complete with large picture windows
and limited parking. No curb service was available as in
the past, but that was okay as the temperature was pushing
the century mark. The restaurant featured an array of hamburgers, grilled chicken, and accompanying Russet potato
and sweet potato fries in combination or singly. I chuckled when I learned that the menu item, 78704 was actually
the restaurant’s zip code and was a house burger favorite.
Of course I ordered that one. James had also suggested the
hand battered onion rings so I ordered a basket for all of
us to share. Silence ensued as we enjoyed our meal, and the
burger, sweet potato fries and onion rings were the hits of
our lunch. Hum, I guess that meant everything we ate! The
adjacent counter in the restaurant was Amy’s Ice Cream,
an Austin favorite; both outlets in the same building reminded me of a food court at the local mall. Of course
we sampled the ice cream and despite being full from our
meal, we really enjoyed the cold creamy treat.
Afterward, Cathy, James and Linda headed to the Miller’s
open house at their operation west of town, while I returned
to the hotel to continue to organize the donated plants for
Saturday’s auction. I learned later that the open house was
a great success allowing visitors to see not only orchids,
but many special tropical plants as well. In addition, James
and Cathy reported that Miller’s Tropicals provided cold
beer, wine and water along with wasabi nuts, sandwiches,
and other accoutrements for their open house plus the opportunity to catch up on old times. Although it was hot
outside, the greenhouse was cool and inviting. They met
some first time Symposium attendees and talked orchids
and orchid growers. Everyone seemed to find some plant
they could not live without. Cathy went home with some
wonderful plants for her terrarium including some small
tillandsias that had nice pink flowers and one that had a
brilliant red flower. Kelly, her daughter, talked her into dividing the red one and giving it to her for her red kitchen.
Susie and Todd Miller were great hosts, as always.
Back at the hotel, everyone was working to complete the
symposium set up; tables were moved, the PA system setup, and the signs were posted for everyone to see. Cathy
had worked overtime on the bowl of goodies for each
registrant. Instead of a bag of goodies, each of our regis-
Les Werner and Carri Raven-Riemann loging in auction plants.
Mandy, Joan and Mark of Orchidaceae.
Phalaenopsis | Third Quarter | Volume 23 | 2013
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