First Place: Paphiopedilum Michael Koopowitz (P. philippinense x P. sanderianum)

Grower: Noreen Chervinski

An artful display of a primary Paph. hybrid that maintains the long petals of the P. sanderianum parent. The cross was registerd in 1993 and has received at least 18 quality awards.

Second Place: Cattleya forbesii

Grower: Ted and Marty Kellogg

A seedling of a cross between clones 'Margaret Ilgenfritz' and 'Orchidglade' this plant was purchased in 2003 as an unbloomed seedling from Fender's Orchids. Two years later it bloomed with 28 flowers and 3 buds on 10 inflorescenes. The flowers have a natural spread of 9 cm.

Cattleya forbesii is native to Brazil from a region near the sea extending south from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo.

Third Place and Members' Choice: Laelia purpurata var. carnea 'Hihimanu'

Grower: Jane Camarota

This clone exhibits an excellent form of the variety carnea and was well grown by Jane with18 flowers on 5 inflorescences.

Laelia purpurata is native to the coastal regions of Brazil south of Rio de Janeiro. There are probaly over 150 named varities of this species in cultivation. It has been used in orchid hybridizing for over 100 years.

Species of the Month (tie) and Speaker's Choice: Encyclia tampensis

Grower: Ed and Elaine Fox

This is an outstanding example of how to grow a Florida native orchid in Florida. A year ago this plant had over 70 inflorescences and about a thousand flowers; this year the number of inflorescences was estimated at 100 and the number of flowers about 1500.

Species of the Month (tie): Sobennikoffia robusta

Grower: Orchids, Etc.

The two photographs below show both the overall view of the plant and the individual blossoms. This same plant had been shown in June 2003 when it won a first place award. At that time it had 28 flowers on three inflorescences. This flowering had 14 inflorescences and about 140 flowers. The species is native to Madagascar and grows in a seasonally dry woodland next to shrubs.