Vivi's Orchid Corner

March 2003 - Volume 8, Issue 3

"The 58th Miami International Orchid Show: 'Orchid Journeys'"

Dear Orchid Friends:

I realize the March article is a few days late, however, I attended the Miami Show the first weekend in March, and wanted to share the show's highlights with you…so here it is hot off the press!

"Journey: travel or passage from one place to another: trip; something suggesting travel or passage from one place to another; a day's travel", as defined by Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary.

My recent travel transported me to the Miami International Orchid Show. Attendees viewed displays of garden pathways and outdoor scenes. Interestingly, most of the displays appeared similar to each other. Initially, my reaction to some of the exhibits was one of blandness, however, as I took the time to examine the displays, I understood that some of the exhibitors were showcasing their orchids and the backdrops were less important. Thus, the flowers are the show. There were some orchid beauties too! And yes, some of the displays were artistic and gorgeous.

The Miami show historically is known for phalaenopsis dominance. Yes, the phals were in abundance, but the dominant plants were Dendrobium nobile type hybrids. Dens ruled the show this year. Those upright compact Dendrobiums loaded with 30-40 blooms on each stalk. Attendees liked those dens as evidenced by the number of sales. Mini cattleyas (Lc's, Slc's) and paphiopedilums were the second most popular orchids in the displays. Generally, the dominant colors for overall orchid varieties were orange, yellow, and white, great spring time colors.

Art shade phalaenopsis were extremely in vogue: colors of coral, port wine. The new trends in phals were the Harlequin phalaenopsis, rounder, flatter flowers of waxy substance. These new hybrids were unique and interesting - cream colored to port with port spots, speckles, markings covering varying degrees of the petals. Waxy flowers, eye appealing, popular and pricey. But these phals certainly added some pizzazz to displays.

Species…there were surprisingly more species highlighted this year!! This was a wonderful treat. I admire species and their uniqueness. What a plus to the show and a nice change in venue.

The number of individual entries more than doubled in number this year. The individual plant areas were strategically laid out and allowed for maximum viewing. The rise in the number of individual entries is due to an increase in interest in orchid growing by the general public. Orchids are more mainstream now and more readily accessible. Kudos to all of the individual participants! Many of you won first, second and third place ribbons for some truly beautiful plants. Unfortunately, the entries were too numerous (nearly 150?) to mention in this article. Perhaps next year I will be better prepared and may consider doing an article just on the individual winners.

One individual entry deserves mention - The Show Grand Champion: V. Julia Sorenson. This is a large rich, deep purple platter. An FCC was awarded (aptly deserved) and was bloomed by Eric Bryant Mirro. Congrats on such a fine specimen!

Table top exhibits seemed fewer in number this year. I can't say with certainty this is a valid statement, because, unfortunately, show programs weren't printed. I noticed three table top exhibits - it's likely I missed others, but didn't have a reference to confirm it.

Table Top Division:

• Angela Olivera won First Place in Table Top Hobby Class for 17 years and under. Her display demonstrated her ability to bloom vascostylis and Dendrobiums. Well done!
• A second table top highlighted miniatures and miniature species such as Masdevallias and Lockhartias. This display won the AOS Artistic Certificate of Merit and the Louis V. Dorp Trophy. Sadly, the exhibit was unnamed - the credits were either missing or hidden. Nicely done!
• Second Place Table Top Award was given to Sue Blackmore for her mixed miniature collection.

Educational Exhibits:

Two educational exhibits were given prominent locations in the convention center:
• The first, entitled, " A Journey Through to Time" by Michael Tibbs, was a tribute to the painter, John Day (1824 - 1888). This exhibit showcased his paintings. These old orchid watercolor plates were in remarkably good shape and the exhibit provided a historical perspective.
• Marie Selby Botanical Gardens also won First Place for their educational exhibit entitled, "Orchid Journey into the Canopy". This exhibit highlighted species found in the canopies: Bulbophylum blumei, Myrnacophila wendlandii, Oncidium sphacelatum. The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens houses more than 6,000 orchids and promotes orchid conservation, identification of orchids and a myriad of other scientific and educational activities.
• One commercial grower, Ruben in Orchids, provided a small educational display of flasking techniques along with their exhibit. A Bronze medal was awarded for Odcm. Black Beauty: a quarter-sized flower, black petals, port win lip with white edge. Beautiful!

Commercial Growers:

Several new exhibitors participated in the show this year. It's always good to have "new blood". In this section of the article, I will provide highlights of the winners and awards.
• Orchids by Knight won Second Place (200 sq. ft) for "Destination Zen", a lovely display of mini catts of magenta, orange, white.
• Norman's Orchids, "Harlequin Journey" (aptly named) highlighted phalaenopsis of interesting art deco colors, Harlequin phals and gorgeous paphiopedilums.
• Carmela Orchids' display of multiple colored Dendrobium nobile hybrids won Second Place (400 sq. ft).
• Krull-Smith's display entitled "Over the Hill and Through the Woods" was comprised of paphiopedilums, cattleyas (Blc's, Slc's) and orchids in the oncidium alliance.
They were awarded:
• Oncidium Alliance Intergeneric Trophy: Burr. Kilauea 'Volcano Queen'HCC/AOS, a copper and rust flower with cream lip.
• Brian T. Gaine Trophy for outstanding mini cattleyas: SLC. Seagull's Minicat Heaven, an orange and yellow flower.
• Impact Orchids exhibit "The Borneo Journey" depicted a bamboo garden of mini cattleyas, Dendrobiums and schomburgkhias. They also had a wonderful Epidendrum ciliare.
• Quest Orchids won Second Place (500sq.ft) for their gazebo theme called "Camino Entre Los Flores", of cattleyas and phalaenopsis.
• RF Orchids won First Place (500 sq. ft) and Certificate of Artistic Merit for their display entitled "On the Road to Mandalay" featuring a Thai Temple and oxen cart. The vandaceous orchids are always highlighted in their displays along with cattleyas and phalaenopsis.
Some of their awards included:
• Purple or Blue Ascocenda Trophy: Ascda. Princess Mikasa 'Indigo' AM/AOS, a beautiful medium sized flower of deep purple with slight checkerboard pattern.
• Pink Ascocenda Trophy: Ascda. Crownfox Delight, a medium sized hot pink flower
• Broughtonia Trophy: Ctna. Starrlyn
• Art Shade and other Colors Cattleya Trophy: Pot. Cindy Yamamoto, large scarlet flower, magenta lip
• Pink Vanda Trophy: V. Doctor Anek 'Crownfox"AM/AOS, large platter, with markings on upper petals.
• Goodlove & Son won First Place (300 sq. ft) of a predominant display of cattleyas called "Orchid Trails." Their display had a great Tri. sagarikii, waxy, minute green flowers with cinnamon lines, white lip.
• Silver Medal: Schomb. Undulate Ernesto Velasquez HCC/AOS
• Carib Plants won First Place (200 sq. ft) for their display of an old Spanish mission.
They won:
• Silver Medal: Schomb. undulata
• Epidendrum Trophy: Epidendrum stamfordianum
• Lewis & Varina Vaughn Trophy for most outstanding white phalaenopsis flowers on plant: Dtps. Baby Sister 'Sanda' HCC/AOS
• Redlands Orchids won Reserve Champion: Cattleya percivilliana, a wonderful specimen plant of pink flowers.
• Whimsey Orchids' had a display of a lighthouse scene of a variety of cattleyas and other genera.
• The Memoria Aida Vasquez-Gottlieb Equitant Oncidium Trophy: Smbc. Cruzan Gold 'Carol' HCC-CCM/AOS, a large specimen plant of copper and tan flowers, 16-20 inflorescences with minimally 20 individual flowers clustered on each inflorescence as a bouquet.
• White Cattleya Trophy: C. Donna Craig x C. Tiffen Bells, a large white catt with a yellow spot on lip.
• Soroa Orchids won Second Place (300 sq. ft) for their display of many interesting phalaenopsis of the new varieties.
• Oncidium Alliance Species Trophy: Oncidium splendidum, a huge plant with upright inflorescences extending 2-2 1/2 ft from stalk. Nice plant!

• Plantino La Orquide, C.A. won First Place (100 sq. ft) for their display of many species.
• Silver Medal: Dendrobium amethystoglossa, a cane type Den with hanging flowers with a greenish tinge, white and pink.
• Bronze Medal: BLC. Green Genii, a rounder, flatter flower, greenish petals, white and pink sepals, magenta and white lip.
• Orquideas Peruanas had a wonderful display of Peruvian species. Their display was called "Camino a Machu Picchu." Although no awards were given, this display was a winner in my book because of their species collection. They showcased Telipogons (my first encounter with this species!), Catasetums, Trichocentrum tigrinum, Maxillarias, Cynoches cooperii, and Coryanthes verracolineata. Thanks for the special orchid journey!


Another one of my favorite exhibitors was entered by
• Sr. Socrates Forero with his display "Colombian Footprints" highlighting a fantastic species and won First Place (100 sq. ft). He showcased Catasetums, Masdevallias, Lueddemannias.
• Gold Medal: Lueddemannia pescatores, the pendulous inflorescence nearly 3 ft. in length bore orange-tan flowers. Great specimen!! I love these exotics. This exhibit should have won some award for artistic and unusual species.

The Miami International Show was a success. Writers always have compliments and suggestions on various items. The layout of the show was well planned, allowing for free, easy movement and access to all exhibits. The flow of attendees was smooth and never felt it was overcrowded. In some instances, it was difficult to read plant labels and the awarded plants were not clearly identified as to which plant the award was referring to.

I was disappointed that the South Florida Orchid Society chose not to print show brochures. I have always found this to be so helpful when looking for particular exhibitors and helps to ensure I haven't missed anyone. Also lacking was literature on the care of orchids.

Lectures and times of lectures were not available. Quite often, many of us show attendees will plan a break or lunch around specific lectures. It was difficult to get information on speakers and times from volunteers. In previous years, there were additional displays and lectures in the upstairs section. It was only after I had departed that I realized I missed the upstairs section. I really do not know if displays were available as I never noticed any information or signs indicating other orchid related venues were upstairs. I truly hope the society considers re-instating these items into next year's show.

Despite my few criticisms, I enjoyed the show. I enjoyed seeing the interesting species and new trends in hybridization. I found the attendees were extremely polite and courteous this year and graciously accommodated photographers.

In the coming months I will be sharing some of these photographs with you. We are in peak show season now. So visit a show- large or small - and transport yourself on your own orchid journey. Take time to admire the beautiful creations whether from Mother Nature or hybridization. The colors and sensory delights are sure to please.

Vivi