Vivi's Orchid Corner

March / April 2004 - Volume 9, Issue 3

"Orchid Symphony" -
The 59th Miami Orchid Show

Dear Orchid Friends:

Musical overtones and a cacophony of color - that was the 2004 Miami Orchid Show. The show focused on harmony, music and creative "orchis-tral" displays. The musical journey took attendees through Asian gardens and musical stops. Orchid sonatas, concertos, jazz backdrops, and South American colors were key components of the show this year.

Springy, sunny yellows and yellow hues were the prominent colors. The atmosphere was upbeat and bright. Paphiopedilums, phalaenopsis and cattleyas are dominant orchids at the Miami show. The paphiopedilums were striking and astoundingly beautiful this year. The Paphiopedilums and Phragmipediums "showed" nicely, maintaining their freshness. The deep port wine art shades were popular phalaenopsis colors, whether the harlequin crosses or spotted. 'Pine Ridge', 'EverSpring', 'Brother' and 'Peoker' varieties were most in demand.

Cattleyas are the second most popular variety showcased at the Miami Show. Cattleyas and their crosses were primarily in orange, red and yellow hues. There was a resurgence of yellow/orange cattleyas. Deep purples were less conspicuous.

There were 55 exhibitors this year and 12 Table Top Entries. Kudos to all the exhibitors showcasing species… these are always exciting: Marie Selby Gardens, Miller's Topicals, Socrates Ferero, and Ines Naftali were just a few of the many displays. So many exhibits highlighted species and are interesting additions.

• TT#1: Associacion Venezolano de Orquideologica - 'Colorful Sound': a display primarily of paphiopedilums.
• TT#2: Suwanda Orchid Nursery -'Nippon Symphony': an interesting display of paphiopedilums and beautiful Japanese vases.
• TT#3: Ines Naftali -'Nature's Song of Color': a wonderful display of miniatures and exotics. This display won Special Award for Artistic merit and the Louis V. Drop Trophy.
• TT#4: Vizcaya Museum and Gardens: great to see you participating this year.
• TT#5: Wenzel Orchids, Brazil - a nice cattleya table top.
• TT#6: South Dade Amateur Orchid Club -'Orchid Concerto': this table top entry won First Place. Best Dendrobium Species was awarded to Den. Smilliae 'Lea'.
• TT#7: Boca Raton Orchid Society -'Ribbeting Rhapsody': nicely done.
• TT#8: Maria Wood: won Third Place for her distinctive Zen display showcasing black vases and items contrasted with lovely white phalaenopsis and cattleyas. Congrats!
• TT#9: North Dade Orchid Club - 'Jazzy Orchids': highlighted cattleyas.
• TT#10: Randy Rodriguez -'Orchid Improv': won First Place for his display of cattleyas, vandas.
• TT#11: Carol Elly -'Vandacea Concert': display of vandaceous orchids and phalaenopsis was awarded Second Place. She won a Bronze Medal for Vasco. Pine Rivers 'Hot Stuff'.
• TT#12: Sociedad de Orquideologia del Estado Miranda (Venezuela) -'Sounds of Silence': This exhibit won the Aida-Vazquez-Gottlieb Equitant Oncidium Trophy for Onc. Shangira 'Rebecca'.

Individual orchid entries were numerous with an expansive variety of orchids. The Grand Champion was awarded to RF Orchids for V. Robert's Delight 'Garnet Beauty' AM/AOS and was also awarded the Pink Vanda Trophy. These flowers were beautiful platters of pink and magenta. The Reserve Champion was awarded to Krull-Smith Orchids for Paph. rothschildianum.

Here is a short list of a few of the awarded or interesting individual entries:

• Best Oncidiinae: Notylia barkeri by R&T DeMeillae.
• Best Epidendrum: Epi. Stanfordianum
• Second Place: Paraph. Sunny by E. Rumble
• Second Place: Dtps. Nancy Rose x Phal. Happy times by E Eber
• Silver Medal: Phal. Elizabeth Hayden This orchid also won Best First-Bloom Seedling by Sun Bulb Co. Flower was white with purple veining.
• Second Place: Ascda. Fuchs Gold x V. devoniana, a copper colored flower entered by J. Powell.

• RF Orchids won Show Trophy and Artistic Merit for 'Aegean Melody'. This theme was a Victorian garden and fountain. Many of the orchids in the display were 'Crownfox' crosses. They were awarded the White/Green Ascocenda Trophy for Ascda. Crownfox Buttercup 'Sunshine'. The Yellow Phalaenopsis Trophy was awarded to Phal. Hour Jim Diamond 'Crownfox' HCC/AOS.
• Carib Plants' exhibit was entitled 'Orchids in C Major' - Phalaenopsis and cattleyas in an oriental garden setting.
• Pedro Bonetti's display won Second Place for 'Nacht Musiek'. A Bronze medal was given for Cat. macroglossum.
• Ruben in Orchids' 'Jungle Beat' highlighted Ansellia Africana 'Garden Party', a magnificent large specimen that was given a Gold Medal.
• Impact Orchids had a Zen-like ambience made of Schomburgkhias and Phalaenopsis entitled 'Harmonic Chord of Orchids.'
• EFG Orchids' 'Orchtoberfest' included a myriad of attractive phaius surrounding a pond.
• Orchis Floriculturing, Inc. had many awarded cattleyas in their exhibit. They won the Robert M. Scully Trophy for Pot. Haw Yuan Gold 'O-2' FCC/RHS, a 6" flower of deep daffodil yellow. They also won Semi-Alba Cattleya Trophy for LC. Orglades Grand 'Orchis' AM/AOS, a large white catt with fuchsia lip and a spot of yellow on the lip.
• Central Florida Orchid Society won Second Place for their display 'Orchideaquaria', a lovely mixture of paphiopedilums and waterfalls. They won a Bronze medal for: Burr. Stefan Isler x Milt. Kensington. An eye-catching paphiopedilum in the display was the magnificent Paph. Cesar Delgado, a deep chocolate, nearly black paph.
• Quest Orchids' display called 'Orquideas con Ritmo' was a large garden setting of cattleyas and phalaenopsis. The display had a beautiful digbyana and C. amethystoglossa.
• Socarates Ferero of Columbia, created an eye-catching display of Masdevallias, Stanhopeas and Lueddemannias. Nicely done!
• Soroa Orchids focused on an Oriental Zen atmosphere called 'Orchistra of Beauty'. The exhibit housed clusters of phalaenopsis and cattleyas, spaced for visual impact and display.

Congratulations to all exhibitors - article space truly does not allow mention of all the entries. Throughout the year, some of the orchids from this great show will be highlighted on my web site orchid photos.

Each year, orchid shows introduce newcomers to our orchid world. The judging of orchids is an important event in orchid shows. Judges award 1st, 2nd and 3rd place ribbons (Blue, Red, White respectively) as well as special trophies for various categories. Medals are awarded for flower quality - Gold, Silver and Bronze. The Miami Orchid Show always has many beautiful awarded orchids. It is such a pleasure to view the efforts of others and to admire awarded plants. The Miami show continues to provide educational sessions year after year for both the beginner and the more accomplished hobbyist.

Congrats to the South Florida Orchid Society for another successful orchid show. The show was well organized and orderly. Attendees were delightfully pleasant and courteous. My problem? I always run out of time and paper! Thanks for an enjoyable show.

Until next time,

Vivi