Rlc. Mark’s Valentine ‘Rare Earth Orchids’ (C. Circle of Life ‘Fordyce Herald Angel’ AM/AOS x Rlc. Little Toshie ‘Gold Country’ AM/ AOS), HCC 76, Award #20234141
—Stephen Moffitt, Baytown, Texas
Photos: Malcolm McCorquodale
Award Granted by Houston Judging Center in February 2023
The month of February, typically a slow month, saw seven entries for judging on the 18th, and one award to Stephen Moffitt, fittingly to Rhyncholaeliocattleya Mark’s Valentine ‘Rare Earth Orchids’ (Cattleya Circle of Life x Rhc. Little Toshie), HCC 76, a brilliant multifloral Catt that caught everyone’s eye with eight flowers and a bud. Here is the description of a lovely bloomer post Valentine’s Day::
Rhyncholaeliocattleya Mark’s Valentine ‘Rare Earth Orchids’ (Cattleya Circle of Life x Rhc. Little Toshie), HCC 76, presented by Stephen Moffitt.
Two slightly cupped flowers on one 6.5-cm inflorescence, six additional flowers, and one bud on four additional inflorescences; sepals and petals slightly reflexed, scarlet red, narrow central flare carmine pink; lip margin ruffled, scarlet red, orange eye spots; column blush pink, anther cap white; substance light; sepal and petal texture matte, lip texture velvet; fragrance rose and clove.
Photography by yours truly and Malcolm McQuorquodale. There were 12 judges and two students present, plus a few visitors and our faithful clerk, Arthur. As always, we welcome entries and visitors to the monthly judging. We are also looking for new students, so by all means, come and see us at work! The next monthly judging is March 18, with entries before 11:30am.
Stephen Moffitt with his award-winning plant, February 2023.
March 3–5 is our Houston Orchid Society Show where we will be judging for ribbons and AOS on Friday evening, and you are welcome to join us, especially for the ribbon judging where we need your help in deciding best of class and best of show in all the exhibits. It is great fun, and you can learn a lot about how we determine the winners! Setup is Thursday, March 2, and Friday during the day. Judging will be after supper at 5:30pm on Friday.
I will be there all weekend to guide you around and answer questions about orchids and judging. Please be involved and give me a hi-ho while you are there. The show ends at 4pm on Sunday, and you are most welcome to help us with cleanup.
All photos of Houston Judging Center awardees were taken by Malcolm McCorquodale and are copyright 2023 by Malcolm McCorquodale, Houston, Texas. Houston Orchid Society and the American Orchid Society have permission to use these photos on their websites and in their publications provided credit is given to the photographer and the copyright statement is not removed.