This picture is extremely typical of Ukraine. It's a decorated egg that Steve brought back for me. Actually, he brought three back, but I got first pick. As if you couldn't tell, I like blue, so I snagged the one that had the most blue on it. Ukraine's national colors are a sort of dark pastel blue and bright red, both of which are evident on the egg. It's a pretty little knick-knack to have around the house.

The next picture is Lockhartia imbricata, a species orchid I bought a few years ago from Orquideas del Valle, based in Cali, Colombia. The outfit was in NYC for the annual GNYOS (Greater New York Orchid Society) show at Rockefeller Center. It's bloomed for me before. That's what the straw-like stuff above the current flower and two buds is; I just never bothered to pick off the dead remains. The flower itself is a little over 0.25" top to bottom. It's a cute little thing, and not at all picky about growing conditions, as far as orchids go.