Cal Orchids received a gold certificate from the American Orchid Society (AOS) and the Cobb Trophy/Best Display over 100 square feet in recognition for installing such a colorful and impressive exhibit. The Lycaste's were beautiful--at least one even received AOS flower quality awards--, and the Epidendrums were delicious! It is uncommon for the AOS to award gold certificates for exhibits.
Hatfield Orchids took home a number of awards. This year's exhibit innovation was the use of PVC pipes painted flat black to hold, suspend and showcase the many pendulous Cymbidiums hybrids, counterbalanced with the standard Cymbidium hybrids.
Cymbidium Oxnard Dots (Champagne Robin x devonianum) 'Hatfields' received the Grand Champion of the Show/Mosher Trophy, and an HCC/AOS flower quality award. Hatfield orchids also received the Reserve Grand Champion of the Show (not shown).
Cymbidium Diane's Favorite (Autumn Crisp x George Formby) 'Shirley' received the Best Standard Champion of the Show. This flower has a deep, intense and warm red that is not well-captured by my photograph. It was an impressive plant having three flower spikes placed right in front to greet the public just beginning to enter exhibit hall.
Last, but not least(!) of the Hatfield exhibit, was Cym. Heidi Kirkpatrick (Brenda x Dolly) 'Spencer', placed front-and-center. This is a beautiful flower, and only partially reflects the true beauty of Heidi herself, who has been an intrepid volunteer and editor for the Cymbidium Society of America. The plant wasn't in full bloom, as there were a few more spikes that needed another week before peak flower opening. But you could see the potential, and the warm fuzzies I felt seeing these flowers definitely reflected how well I think of Heidi and her contributions to the CSA. Lovely!
Santa Barbara Orchid Estate created another nice specimen exhibit. I routinely look forward to this exhibit because I have very little room to grow an orchid into a specimen-quality plant. This exhibit keeps one's dreams (or fantasies) alive.
I took a picture of this SBOE specimen because a member of our orchid society brought a small plant of L. lundii having two flowers into our February member's meeting. We don't often see these little Laelia species, and this specimen's floriferousness is clearly impressive.
Speaking of specimens, this year's SBIOS coincided with prime Dendrobium speciosum blooming. Many exhibits included at least one, and the show's viewing stand was surrounded by them. Wow, indeed!
It'd be easy to dismiss the Den. speciosum display altogether based upon specimen and color impact alone. (I can say this, because I did.) However, during a later review of the exhibit with Dr. Randall Robinson (http://cmausteller.blogspot.com/), Randall pointed out that some plants had different spike habit, e.g. upright, instead of arching or pendulous, some flowers were larger than others, that is to say, likely 4N, not 2N, and some were even white-centered with yellow margins rather than white, butter yellow or bright yellow. The take-home point: pay close attention! There are differences for the discerning eye to perceive.
Casa de las Orquideas was awarded the Best Boldly Spotted Cymbidium flower for displaying Cym. Pepperpus (Pfeiffer Falls x Pinata) 'Blackbeard'.
SBOE installs another exhibit at the SBIOS that is both educational and historical. I really look forward to this exhibit. This year's exhibit theme was Concolor and Alba Cymbidiums.
Cym. lowianum var. 'concolor'
Cym. Durham Castle 'Snow Princess'
The exhibit below was all slipper orchids. I don't recall who created the exhibit. What I found noteworthy was the use of the iPad to supplement the exhibit. How soon until we have fully digital orchid exhibits and virtual orchid shows?
Tokyo Orchid Nursery brought in several cut slipper orchids for their display, including line-bred superior Paph. rothschildianum clones. The CSA team spent a fair amount of time at this exhibit to acknowledge and reward the advancements within this orchid alliance.
The Svoboda Trophy/Best Standard Complex Paphiopedilum hybrid award was given to TON's Paph. Millenium 'Diablo', for being well-proportioned overall, having strong colors in the petals and pouch, and bold spots in the dorsal sepal.
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