Can You Overdose on Orchids?

Here is something I am collecting.

These Haviland Limoges plates were made specifically for the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution back in the early 1980's. 

The orchid transfers are from the paintings of First Lady Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison , wife of President Benjamin Harrison.  Mrs. Harrison was also the first President General of the DAR.

There are two different views on these plates.  At least, I have found only two different designs of these plates.  Several DAR friends across the country are on the lookout for me for more of these. 

In the long run, I would like to collect at least 60 of them so that we can use them for DAR functions.  At last count, my mother and I had collected 23 of them.  Mama is my "enabler" in this collecting obsession!  *wink*

The hunt is fun part.  I never outgrew Easter Egg Hunts, so now I apply that joy of discovering something pretty and colorful to collecting something a bit more elusive than Easter Eggs...like these DAR orchid plates!

From time to time on this blog, I'll share some of the things I like to collect, much of it porcelain!

Poor Gordon has NO IDEA of how many sets of porcelain dinnerware or dessert sets are tucked here and there, in closets, under beds, and in attic crawl spaces here on the farm. 

We've been married over three years, and he just does not need to know....yet!  *cheeky grin*

I had 40 years to collect and inherit porcelain before Gordon and I married! Besides, It could be worse.  I COULD collect...fabric.....oh wait, I do collect fabric already!  *HA!*

Well, I COULD collect...something outrageous. So if Gordon reads this post, he should be thankful my obsessions are so...traditional and "safe"!  *wicked grin*

The orchid plants that we bought in a ready-to-bloom state for my mother around Christmas have been moved to the base of one of the giant oak trees around the old family farmhouse.  They can enjoy some dappled sunlight under this massive tree until the Mississippi summer reaches the Scorching Season. 

We have been watering the orchid plants with rain water, and already I am seeing new growth!  I just hope I can coax the orchid plants into bloom again (as opposed to killing them).  *grimace*

So now you know why I am a bit obsessed about orchids.  It is the unofficial flower of the DAR.

One gracious tradition in DAR is to send an orchid corsage to a DAR member for a special occasion while she attends the annual national convention called Continental Congress.

A few years back, I sculpted an orchid brooch in porcelain so that those of us not special enough to be gifted with a live orchid corsage, could still wear an orchid!  *grin*  The larger orchid is an ornament for the Christmas tree or for the curio cabinet.

So do you think my orchid "thing" has reached an unhealthy state yet?

Comments

[June]

Your orchid plates are wonderful as is the brooch. It's great that this also corresponds with the DAR official flower--how perfect!