First Place and Members' Choice: Blc Williette Wong'The Best' AM/AOS
Grower: Bill and Susan Fender
This hybrid of Blc Tassie Barbero x Blc Toshie Aoki was a stunning display of red and yellow with 8 inflorescences and 13 flowers. It was the overwhelming Members' Choice, earning two-thirds of the votes cast. It has a complex family tree involving several generations and 18 species. The dominant species is C. dowiana.
Second Place: Lc. Hausermann's Sultan 'Summer Spectacular'
Grower: Roy and Venny Klinger
For the second year in a row, the seocnd place July winner is the same plant. Last year it was shown with six flowers on one inflorescence. This showing had two inflorescences of 10 flowers and 6 flowers. It is a hybrid of Lc. Kencolor x C. guttata.
Third Place: Blc Greenwich 'Elmhurst' AM/AOS
Grower: Jane Carmarota
The AM/AOS award to Blc Greenwich 'Elmhurst' was given in Tampa Florida in May of 1976 on a plant exhibited by 'Orchids by Hauserman'. This flowering by Jane matched the original description: 'Two flowers on one stem; very striking apple-green lateral and dorsal sepals, lighter green petals, lip cerise with butter-yellow deep in throat; extremly heavy substance.
Best Species: Dendrochilum filiforme
Grower: Roy and Vinney Klinger
This species, native to the Phillipines, was first sent sent to Europe and described by John Lindley in 1840. It makes an exceptionally attractive dsiplay, whether a young plant like the Klinger's with 28 inflorescences, or one of the eleven CCM/AOS award winners which were shown with 36, several hundred and even more than thousand inflorescences.
Speaker's Commendation: Stanhopea species
Grower: Kathy Lech
Kathy received this plant 'up north' and without a species name. The grower told her, "flower it then you can identify which Stanhopea it is". After growing it for six years she has finally flowered it, but has not yet identified the species.
Taxonomists named several species of Stanhopea based on color which has led to confusion in the names of Stanhopea species. Today, the shape of the lip is key to identifying the species.