Vandachostylis Ploenpit Blue ‘Houston Sky’ (Vanda Tristar x Vanda Sasicha), AM 84, Award #20224138
—Sheila and Laurie Skov, Santa Fe, Texas
Photos: Malcolm McCorquodale
Houston Judging Center
By Fr. Ted Baenziger
Happy Halloween! There was a small group of nine judges and two students at the October judging monthly meeting, and we discussed show trophies (Gold, Silver, and other qualities). There were 13 plants to judge from five different owners, including a large basket of a white Cattleya hybrid in three plants that already had an AM of 88 points (pictured at right).
And we awarded three plants—one AM and two HCCs. Here they are!
Vandachostylis Ploenpit Blue ‘Houston Sky’ (V. Tristar x Sasicha), AM 84, presented by Sheila and Laurie Skov (Orchids and Tropicals), Award #20224138.
Fifteen flat, round, dark purple flowers and two buds well-arranged, on one upright 40-cm inflorescence; petal margins undulate; lip oblong, midlobe dark purple proximally, keels lighter, black distally, side lobes light purple; column and anther cap white; substance firm; texture crystalline.
Aerides Robsan’s Gem ‘Sea Foam’ (Aerides quinquevulnera x lawrenciana), HCC 77, presented by Sheila and Laurie Skov (Orchids and Tropicals), Award #2022139.
Twenty-four flowers on a 53.5-cm pendent inflorescence and 35 flowers and three buds on two additional pendent inflorescences; sepals and petals white, blushed purple distally; lip midlobe purple, side lobes white, 2.6-cm mentum, light green apically; substance firm; texture matte; judges note pleasant lemon spice fragrance.
Bulbophyllum Siam Dragon Claw ‘Top Hat’ (B. fascinator x phalaenopsis), HCC 76, presented by Sheila and Laurie Skov (Orchids and Tropicals), Award #2022140.
Two eye-catching flowers on one 8.8-cm arched inflorescence; flowers chartreuse, heavily overlaid burgundy; dorsal sepal upright, slightly cupped, tip acute, curled; lateral sepals protruding, overlapped; petals elliptic, heavily overlaid burgundy, margins undulate, sparsely ciliate; lip spatulate, darker burgundy apically; column burgundy, anther cap cream; substance firm, texture satin.
Our next judging is November 19. You are invited and welcome to bring your orchid(s) and yourself. December judging will be held on the 17th. Let me know if you have questions (email).
All photos of Houston Judging Center awardees were taken by Malcolm McCorquodale and are copyright 2022 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.
The Houston Orchid Society, Inc. (HOS) is an affiliate society of the American Orchid Society, a member of the Southwest Regional Orchid Growers Association, and is affiliated with the Orchid Digest.
The Houston Orchid Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 66325
Houston, Texas 77266