Paphiopedilums and Phragmipediums - We have more paphiopedilums (pronounced "paf(s)") than any other orchid type. Our greenhouse includes entire collections from Creole Orchids (La.), Roanoke Orchids (Va.), Helga and Hugo Rosenberger (NC), Miep and Peter Fleuren (Ga.), and J.Kirkpatrick (Tn.). Some people love or hate lady's slippers at first glance; others revaluate them later. Quite a few orchid growers (ourselves included) began growing cattleyas, phalaenopsis, dendrobiums, etc. to find one's attention turned to paphs. Paphs are orchids that require the least amount of light to grow and thrive. Most paphs require no more light than African violets, (and are a lot easier to grow - for us anyway!) Paphs do need to stay moist, you don't let them dry out totally like a cattleya requires. Paph blooms average three (3) months. Some bloom even longer - we have Paph. William Matthews hybrids that bloom for five (5) months. When paph primary hybrids grow to several growths, they will put out blooms twice a year so they are in bloom as much as they are out of bloom. The foliage of many paphs, especially the mottled leaf varieties, is pretty by itself. Phragmipediums and paphiopedilums are both cypripedium orchids. Most (but naturally not all) phrags love keeping their feet wet since they grow in nature near riverbanks. Placing a phrag pot in a saucer of continually freshened water is much easier than TRYING to keep potting mix wet with multiple waterians. Phrags are becoming more available, not as expensive as in the past, and much easier to grow. Each phrag stem puts out one bloom at a time. The plants stay in bloom many months.