a friendly, informative orchid column

Vivi's Orchid Corner

February 1997; Article 13

THE LURE OF ORCHIDS

Dear Orchid Friends:

I hope you had the chance to view the Ft. Lauderdale Orchid Show held January 18-20, 1997 at the War Memorial Auditorium. For those of you that missed it, here is a brief summary of this enjoyable show.

"Orchid Mystique" was the theme of this year's exhibition. It was a smaller show yet warm and friendly. Thirty-three exhibitors/vendors participated in this delightful and well attended event. Commercial exhibits captured the theme: tropical oasis's, old Florida Everglades scenes, garden paths created the magical, dream-like settings. Cattleyas and phalaenopsis dominated the exhibits. There were a surprising number of rhyncostylis this year as well. One minor disappointment was the insufficient lighting at the auditorium. The facility was a bit too dark to adequately highlight the displays and individual plants.

R.f. Orchids was awarded First Place and Most Artistic Award for their commercial display (300sq.ft) entitled "Fantasies of Asia" . A display that transported you to the exotic mysteries of the Far East and showcased a colorful vandaceous display that was truly a visual delight.

Soroa Orchids took Second Place (200 sq. ft) for "Mystique of the Forest". It was an enticing Polynesian island with bamboo huts, ponds. Orchids by Allison was also awarded Second Place (300 sq.ft) for their display entitled "Mystique to Reality". It was a large display of stunning cattleyas in a rainbow of colors. Third Place went to Odom's Orchids for an old tropical Florida scene called "Timeless Beauty".

Other Awards:

Best White Cattleya and Best Specimen:
C. Pastoral 'Innocence'(Carib Orchids): large white petals with dash of yellow on a fringed lip. The plant was 2 1/2 ft. W x 2 ft. H and covered with 20-30 large blooms. A real show stopper!
Best Vandaceous:
Rhy. gigantea 'Fuchs Harlequin' AM/AOS (r.f. Orchids): large plant with three 12" inflorescences of fragrant white flowers with fuschia speckles.
Best Vanda:
V. Oliver Munson (r.f Orchids): large greenish - yellow platter flowers with a coral lip
Best Paphiopedilium:
Paph. White Queen (World of Orchids): white 3" flat, rounded petals with muted dark purple speckling.
Best Yellow or Green Cattleya:
SLC. Fire Tips (Krull-Smith): yellow petals/sepals with orange tinged edges and fuschia lip.
Best Oncidium:
Colmanara Wildcat 'Clemson Tiger'(Carter & Holmes): yellow petals with dark maroon blotches, white lip with dark maroon
Best Doritis/Doritaneopsis:
Dtps. Taisuco Candy Stripe x Phal. Chin Shang's Stripes (Orchid World International): fuschia petals with delicate darker fuschia stippling and veining, dash of yellow in lip.

Orchid Shows are wonderful opportunities to see such interesting species. Special mention is in order for Living Creations, Sunrise Orchid Society and Norman's Orchids. These exhibitors had interesting orchid species in their displays: draculae, masdevallias, barkerias, baptistonias..... It was such a pleasant surprise to view these unique and beautiful species. Kudos to these organizations!

Orchids are judged on a 100 point scale. The higher the points, the higher the award.

Some of the individual awards included:

Blue Ribbons:

Red Ribbons:

White Ribbon:

There are so many breathtakingly beautiful orchids it is impossible to list all of the winners and every detail of the show. I hope these updates have piqued your interest. There are numerous forthcoming orchid shows in South Florida this time of year. Get out to an orchid show and bring some beauty into your life!

Until next time,

Vivi

PS If you live in South Florida, there are many forthcoming orchid shows. Don't forget the Miami Show February 28-March 2, 1997.

Thanks for visiting. Before you go, please sign Vivi's Orchids Guestbook.

Review my January 1997 "Vivi's Orchid Corner" article Growing Masdevalias.
Review my December 1996 "Vivi's Orchid Corner" article Brazilian Orchid Adventures.
Review my November 1996 "Vivi's Orchid Corner" article 15th World Orchid Conference.
Review my Sept/Oct 1996 "Vivi's Orchid Corner" article Helpful Orchid Definitions.
Review my August 1996 "Vivi's Orchid Corner" article Growing Vandaceous Orchids.
Review my July 1996 "Vivi's Orchid Corner" article Summer Survival.
Review my June 1996 "Vivi's Orchid Corner" article Orchid Habitats.
Review my May 1996 "Vivi's Orchid Corner" article Growing Cattleyas.
Review my April 1996 "Vivi's Orchid Corner" article Orchids Galore!.
Review my March 1996 "Vivi's Orchid Corner" article Cultivating Vanilla.
Review my February 1996 "Vivi's Orchid Corner" article Cultivating an Interest in Orchids.
Review my January 1996 "Vivi's Orchid Corner" article Phaelonopsis Culture.
Review my December 1995 "Vivi's Orchid Corner" article Dendrobium Culture.

The American Orchid Society has a WebSite.

Vivi's Orchids 15th World Orchid Conference Site

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Bemvindo Brasileiros!

Last updated February 1, 1997

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