First Place: Lc.Lauren Oka 'Kristi'

Grower: Ed and Elaine Fox

A wonderful display of a large Cattleya with 39 blooms and buds. This rapidly growing plant had just 4 flowers and 8 buds when it was exhibited a year ago. It is a cross of Lc. Amber Glow by C. Horace that was registered in 1991.

Second Place: Bc. Maikai 'Mayumi'

Grower: Pam Bombardieri

This cross of B. nodosa by C. bowringiana was registered in 1944. The first cultural award to a grower of this clone was in 1987 when a plant with 250 flowers on 37 inflorescences grown by Oak Hill Gardens received a CCM. The same clone grown by different growers has since recieved 4 more CCM awards from the AOS. The most floriferous plant had 500 flowers and 150 buds on 93 inflorescences.

Third Place: V. Roberts Delight 'Garnet Beauty' FCC/AOS

Grower: Pam Bombardieri

This clone received its FCC award at the Miami International Orchid Show in March of 2004. The grex represents the current pinnacle of V. sanderiana type breeding, with other the other speices in its background (V. coerulea, dearii, tricolor and luzonica) adding to the intensity of the color and the extremely heavy substance. The exhibited plant had eight flowers.

Species of the month: C. deckeri

Grower: Elinor Burton

This fall blooming species is closely related to the spring blooming C. skinneri. It carries up to eight flowers on an inflorescence, but the flowers are short lived. Some forms are 'cleitogamous' - meaning the flowers do not open and are self pollinated in the bud. The short lived flowers often fade as if they had been pollinated. The plant on the table had all flowers in perfect condition.

Members' Choice: Blc. California Girl 'Orchid Library' SM/JOGA

Grower: Shirley Hoffman

A cross of C. Horace by Blc. Nocouchee made in 1983 and registered by Stewart Inc. The exhibited clone was covered with blooms, each a white with pale pink/blue on the petals and sepals and a bit more color on the lip. The overall effect on this very full flower was striking.