'Akhtar Noel' HCC/AOS (79 pts)
This is the plant that I didn't want to buy. However, the Thai vendor who had already sold me about 50 plants insisted that I take one of these also. A few years alter it bloomed very well, and received the high HCC.
I have a blooming size division, which decided to produce a terminal spike. I am still waiting for that plant to start a keiki, since the original stem will grow no further.
KGF photo
Renanthera Kalsom 'Red Dragon'
HCC/AOS (78 pts)
I got this plant from Kawamoto Orchids at one of the last GNY shows. I promised Les Kawamoto to take the plant to judging some day. When I finally got around to doing it, it was awarded.
This is a fairly large growing hybrid. I have cut it down once already, but the plant is about 7' tall again. However, it blooms reliably 3 times a year, so it is worth having.
KGF photo.
Cattleya amethystoglossa (4N),
'Akhtar' AM/AOS (82 pts)
This was a fairly expensive seedling, which I got from Ruben in FL. I took it to judging when it bloomed from two mature growths, and it earned an AM.
AOS photo.
Aerides rubescens
'Maplewood' AM/AOS (80 pts)
This is from a sib cross of two dark clones. This plant bloomed with 4 spikes in 2016, and earned an AM in Stamford.
AOS photo.
Rhynchostylis gigantea
'Peach Kisses' HCC/AOS (79.44 pts)
This plant was purchased as an alba, but a couple of them are pale cream with a rose or peach overlay, which is a color form not previously awarded.
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This plant was awarded in Dec 2015. I have another with larger flowers, which I could not take in for judging due to some mechanical damage. However, it will be shown at the first opportunity.
AOS photo
Paphiopedilum Topaz Magic
'Maplewood' HCC/AOS (77 pts)
This hybrid has Paph helenae as a grand parent, and it blooms on fans that are only 8-9" across.
That makes it valuable for 'tea cup' breeding. I have some 6-8 of these, with some blooming on fans as small as 4-5".
AOS photo.
Cymbidium Sweeetheart
'Spring Pearl' AM/AOS (81 pts)
While I have a fair number of Cymbidiums in my collection, I never submitted this plant for judging. It was awarded behind my back (pulled from my display at the North Jersey Orchid Society show in 2016).
It is due to be divided in 2017, but I have orders for at least 2 pcs already.
AOS photo
Paphiopedilum Irish Love Stone
'Maplewood' HCC/AOS (77.6 pts)
This is out of the Orchid Zone Irish Lullaby breeding lines, with Paph fairrieanum on both sides. At this stage the fairrieanum influence is hard to see, other than the veining in the dorsal, but it remains one of my favorite types of complex Paphiopedilum.
Laelia anceps 'Pastel Fragrant'
CCM/AOS (83 points)
This plant was acquired on Ebay, and it quickly became apparent, that it was both very vigorous, and extremely compact growing for this species. Since it has relatively short flower spikes, it is an all-round winner.
Purchased in 2013 as a near blooming size plant, it produced 14 spikes in a 10" bulb pan in 2018. I have since divided it, and the main piece (less than half of the original plant), is producing 9 or 10 spikes for the 2019 season. The last division available is being donated into the Deep Cut Orchid Society Oct 6, 2018 auction.
Vanda Ambrosian Discovery 'Fair Orchids' AM/AOS (82 points)
This primary hybrid (V. tricolor, var. suavis x V. insignis) was purchased from Motes Orchids as a blooming size, but unbloomed seedling. It bloomed for the first time in 2020, but judging was cancelled due to Covid-19.
Blooming again in 2021, the flowers lasted just long enough, that I could take it in to the first judging after reopening. This flower is quite fragrant, and thanks to the insignis parent, somewhat smaller than the typical V. tricolor. It has started several basal keikis (at about half the height a V. tricolor would do so), so a few divisions will be available in 2023.
Dendrobium Busy Bees
'All Alan's Fault' CCE/AOS (90 pts)
(Blue Twinkle x lasianthera 'Sepik Blue')
There is a long story behind this plant. In brief: it was a smallish plant in a silent auction at the DCOS Nov 2018 meeting. I was interested, but did not know the parents well, so I asked our speaker (Alan Koch):
'Alan, how tall will this one get?'
And, with a perfectly straight face, he responded:
'Oh, that one, it will stay small.'
In 2019 it grew considerably taller, and in 2020 it grew two new canes, 44" and 48" tall respectively!!
I have since learned, that the Den. lasianthera parent can grow canes to 10' (300 cm) height. Once I learned that, I promised myself to come up with an appropriate clonal name, should it ever earn an AOS award.
In the spring of 2021 it proceeded to produce 17 inflorescences from the two new canes, plus a couple from the older canes, so it carried approx. 600 open flowers, when I took it to the Northeast Judging Center in June.
I can't wait to see the official award photo, as it is very difficult to capture a plant this tall, and with this many small flowers. But, at least I am getting my dig in at Alan.
Rhyncattleanthe Pure Love
'Maplewood' AM/AOS (83 pts, Aug 2021)
(C. Seagulls Apricot x Rth. Love Sound)
This is Fred Clarke breeding. I found this plant in bloom on the sales table of Fishing Creek Orchids at the SEPOS show a few years ago. The photo on the left is from the awarded blooming in August, while the photo on the right shows how much darker the colors can get at lower temperatures (December blooming).
Den. Australian Robbie McInnes
'Fair Orchids' AM/AOS (82 pts, Dec 2021)
(Den. Aussie Parade x Den. speciosum)
This is another Fred Clarke breeding. I purchased several seedlings, and this was by far the best one to bloom.