Vivi's Orchid Corner
November 2000 - Volume 5, Issue 10
"It's Showtime!"
Dear Orchid Friends:
Autumn signals many seasonal changes. Who said Florida doesn’t have a change of seasons? The fall brings beautiful blue skies, lower humidity, breezy days AND it signals the start of anticipated orchid shows.
October 27-29, 2000 kicked off the orchid season with the annual Delray Beach Orchid Society Show, entitled Vote! Orchids 2000. This is an American Orchid Society (AOS) judged show. If you admire species, this is the show for you. The show is held at the Old School Square Auditorium…an historic building with pecky cypress beams and lots of charm. Space constraints keep this show small, intimate, inviting and friendly. The lighting is a bit dark… so be sure to have a good flash for your orchid photos.
This show is not defined by certain orchid genuses. Particular orchids are not dominant (i.e., Miami show is dominated by Vandas, Cattleyas, Phalaenopsis). Here, there is quite a variety of orchid plants: Paphiopedilums, Cattleyas, Brassavolas, Bulbophylums, Oncidium alliance crosses and Dendrobium species. The Delray Orchid Society Show is the place to browse and unhurriedly scout for an interesting species to add to your collection. Take your time, peruse the vendor tables a few times. One always sees something you missed the first time around. Check out the wonderful selection and varieties on bark! Flower fragrances abound...what a treat for the senses.
Autumn colors are in demand; oncidiums and colmanaras are showy and just right for fall.
 Twelve orchid vendors participate in this show. Exhibits are conveniently housed on the second floor balcony: an ideal location for table top exhibits and to get that "bird’s eye view" of the showroom. Each exhibit usually showcases a few exciting species, miniatures or that prized plant.
A few of the winning plants are mentioned below:
- JEM Orchids:
- First Place Table Top Exhibit: a good choice with so many species!
- Best Paphiopedilum: Phra. Don Wimbler; a coral colored slipper orchid, yellow in balloon lip.
A few orchids I thought were of interest even though they were not winning plants were:
-Bulb. echinolabium: art shade flower with pendulous lip
-Ctsm. maranhense: lovely green flowers
-Cyc. Cygnet: green flower with white lip, waxy flowers are upside down on flower stalk.
- Wacahoota Orchids:
- Second Place Table Top Exhibit: display of Brassidium crosses, Oncidium crosses.
- AOS AWARD for Mtdm. Carol ‘Akatsuka’; yellow flower with rust markings, looks like an oncidium.
Their exhibit displayed:
-Lycaste aromatica: yellow flower with orange lip
-Liparis viridiflora: toothbrush like flower stalk made of individual miniature flowers, 50 spikes each covered with 100 individual flowers.
- Quest Orchids:
- Best Epicattleya: Yam. Midnight Magenta ‘Lorrie Ann’ HCC/AOS; a deep port flower (almost brown) with deeper magenta tipped lip.
- Millers Tropicals:
- Best Species Flower: Liparis elegans; hanging flower spikes, toothbrush or bottle brush effect, yellowish flowers with red, 100 miniature flowers on each stalk.
Another exciting orchid in their display was:
-Stenocoryne auero-fulua; blue bell shaped flower of orange color…reminds me of mythical fairies.
- EFG Orchids:
- Best Cattleya Other Than Red or Yellow: BLC. Bryce Canyon ‘Splendiferous’ AM/AOS;
an electric magenta flower, gold on lip, flower 4-5" across.
- Best Doritaenopsis: Dtps. Purple Gem ‘EFG Orchids’; dime sized flowers on upright stalk, deep pink with magenta lip.
- Impact Orchids:
- Best Dendrobium: Den. Impact Twister; pink and white flower with curly horns (cochliodes type).
- Albert’s & Merkel Orchids:
- Best Phalaenopsis: Doritis pulcherrima alba; an upright stalk of dime sized flowers, white with lemon yellow in lip.
This exhibit was filled with Brassias, Brassavolas. Two interesting species were:
-Ctsm. sanguinea; despite its name, is green with rust speckles on petals, yellow mentum
-neobenthamia falcata; comprised of individual miniature flowers that form clusters at end of flower stalks, white flowers with delicate rust markings, yellow lip.
- Orchid Acres:
- Best Vandaceous: Vasco. Thai Sky; grape colored flowers with white on upright stalk
- Best Asocenda: Ascda. Fuchs Gold x Ascda. Suksamrau Gold; platter flowers of yellow-orange colors (like a sunset!).
- MGR Orchids:
- Best Orchid Specimen Plant: LC. Milly Tyler FCC/AOS; large cattleya, magenta flower with fuschia lip, 8 flowers per stalk.
It’s rewarding to see the efforts of individuals. Individual hobbyists play an important role in Orchid Societies and their continual growth.
Several of these people enter their own plants for judging. Here are just a few of the winners:
- Special Kudos to Vicky Leighty for her Hobbyist Table Top Exhibit.
-Best Vanda: V. Reverend Masao Yamada; large platter flower of blend of pink, tangerine and magenta.
- First Place (Blue Ribbons):
- Bulb. Fascinator (by David Diamond): fuzzy/hairy flower, cream with deep burgundy, long lip.
- Onc. Papilo (by Judy Kaplan Wener): tall spikes of orange-yellow butterfly orchids. Plant also won Best Oncidium.
- Renanstylis Fuchs Fire Cracker ‘Red Dragon’ (by Les Hammer); wonderful plant, 4 feet tall with 6-9 flower spikes holding 20-30 flowers per stalk, bright red flowers.
- Aer. mitrata x Asctm. miniatum (by Les Hammer); muted pale orange flower with deep purple lip, upright stalk, tangy fragrance.
- Second Place (Red Ribbons):
- Paph. Nimit (by Margie & Tom Barbaree); white slipper with delicate dusting of red speckles.
- Onc. Colon x ornithorynchum (by Ralph Marmone); pinkish hued flower with lighter pink skirt, double arms!
- Cirr. Louis Sander (by David Diamond); cream flower with rust stripes, 8 inch tail, on bark.
The Delray Orchid Show is for the hobbyist who likes interesting and unusual varieties. Many species only bloom for a short time. Some species are not always the showiest. Persons who appreciate the intricacies of a flower will like this show. Slow down, meander through the Old School Auditorium and truly experience the show. Thanks Delray Orchid Society for another great show!
Until next time,
Vivi 
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Bemvindo
Brasileiros!