Vivi's Orchid Corner

Dear Orchid Friends:

Exhibits guided one through a fantasy trip of love: Cupids, hearts, romantic Roman Holidays and travel adventures. Kudos to all the participants for their magnificent displays.

R.F. Orchids won Most Artistic Display and AOS Show Trophy for their display (300sq.ft) of "Asian Fantasy". A Buddhist temple transported you to the Orient with vivid vandaceous orchids capturing all the colors of the spectrum. R.F. Orchids was also awarded:

• Best Yellow or Green Cattleya: Blc. Clinton x Blc. Steve Stevenson: large pale lime green petals, full white frilly lip, dash of yellow in center.

• Best Vanda: V. Ray Robinson 'Robert' HCC/AOS: large platter flower of golden maize with rust markings, the lower two petals nearly completely rust colored with yellow edges. A real beauty!

"Moonlight Romance" by Carib Plants won First Place (150 sq.ft). Picture a moonlit tropical setting and an impressive display of cattleyas and a beautiful Colmanara Wildcat 'Bobcat', a deep burnt orange/rust flower, rust skirt with yellow tips. Quite lovely!

Another First Place (150 sq.ft) was given to the display by 3 Teachers and a Fruit Picker for "Cupid's Corner", a lovely presentation of props and color. Best Red Cattleya was awarded for Blc. Port Royal Sound 'Night Rider'; a velvety dark red flower with deeper red frilly lip, petals also frilly.

The Sunrise Orchid Society won Second Place for their display "Heart N' Soul". Their display showcased a large Schmoburgkia undulata: tall inflorescences with 'fire cracker-like flowers' of deep burgundy/port and pink lip. Nicely done!

Whimsey Orchids took Third Place (150 sq. ft) for a display of large cattleyas and platter vandas entitled "Fountain of Love." Orchid World International had an interesting display of paphiopedilums and phragmipediums called "Slipper Love Affair." The display resembled an old forest floor with interesting cypress knees and driftwood showcasing paphiopedilums in a natural setting. Impact Orchids' exhibit showcased orchids from various regions of the world in a travel adventure theme.

Carter and Holmes deserves special mention for a truly interesting exhibit entitled "Treasures from the Heart." This exhibit was the best display of a variety of orchids: ondontocidiums. wilsonaras, calmanaras with cattleyas and paphiopedilums. If you like something a little different... this was the display! Trichoglottis wenzelli was highlighted! This is an epidendrum or arachnis-type plant with miniature flowers. Flowers are minute lime green with thin rust colored horizontal stripes and a creamy lip. Flowers grow in clusters of three's and attach to the stem at the junction where the leaves and stalk form. Truly an interesting orchid! Carter and Holmes was awarded

• Best Epidendrum: Epi. Costa Rica 'J&L' AM/AOS: flower petals of golden orange with dark spotting, lip and skirt are light lavender with markings. Flowers grow on long inflorescences with branching of flowers.
• Best Cymbidium: Cym. Starbright 'Sirius' AM/AOS: a rosy pink flower with a creamy lip and dark magenta markings on the lip. A wonderful display...great job!

• Best Phalaenopsis went to Krull-Smith Orchids for Phal. Hilo Lip: a magnificent pink flower with a white lip.
• Best Ascocentrum: Ascda. Dong Tarn 'Robert' : a double spike red flower with a yellow center.
• Best Vandaceous: Angrcm. sesquipedale x Angrcm. superbun: a beauty with two inflorescences containing eight flowers each by Orchid Acres. Flowers were 4-5" across, white, waxy star-like flowers.

Blue Ribbons: (two are listed)
• Miltassia Royal Robert: 4". flower, thin, pointed petals and sepals of dark port wine, burgundy and fuschia skirt.
• Den. Drochilon filiforme: 6" pot, leafy plant with long cascading creamy flower spikes comprised of delicate, minute individual flowers, approximately 40 flowers per cascade.

Orchid shows require an extraordinary amount of work. Kudos for all the effort and hard work of all the individuals involved in the shows. I love orchid shows. It's an opportunity to meet interesting people and view gorgeous plants. The Ft. Lauderdale Show is always a friendly show and it's a great place to get specific culture questions answered. Think romance and beauty and you will have pictured the Ft. Lauderdale Show. Hopefully you have enjoyed this brief encounter with the "Romance of Orchids".

Until next time,

Vivi