Plant Table Awards June 6, 2012
Monthly meetings include a show table of members’ plants. Six ribbons are awarded each month, four of which are selected by a random team of VAOS member judges. These four awards are First, Second and Third place and Best Species. All VAOS members vote on a plant for the Members’ Choice award and there is a Speaker’s Choice award.
First Place: Brassolaelia Sunset Glory
Grower: Cynthia Vance
Cynthia Vance took first place with her beautiful Brassolaelia Sunset Glory (Bl. Richard Mueller x C. purpurata). This plant has two well known and respected parents. Well done Cynthia!
Second Place: Den. Pearly Shells
Grower: Tawanna Hardenbrook
The second place ribbon went to Tawanna Hardenbrook for her beautiful Dendrobium Pearly Shells. Tawanna says she bought this plant at one of the Redlands Shows. Like so many orchids offered for sale there, this one might be mis-labeled. Her plant was labeled Den. Parlshall. I believe Pearly Shells is correct. It was well grown with several well placed blossoms. The parents are Den. Joan Lushima x Den. chrysotoxum.
Third Place and Members Choice: Den. Blue Fairy
Grower: Bev Manypenny
Den. Blue Fairy was really nice and well bloomed. Its parents are Den. Corinne Le Hovelleur x Den. Udom Blue Angel. Bev won this plant at the raffle table at our June 2011 meeting. Congratulations Bev! 
Speakers Choice: Ctsm. Francis Nelson ‘Thunder’
Grower: Bill Timm
Bill Timm sneaked in winning the speaker’s commendation ribbon with Catasetum Francis Nelson ‘Thunder’ (Ctsm. socco x Ctsm. fimbriatum). Bill’s plant earned HCC (78 points) in 2007 at the Tampa Judging Center. Bill named it Thunder because just as he was carrying it out of his greenhouse, there was a flash and a real loud thunder clap. The plant had only one inflorescence when it was awarded the HCC.
Species of the Month: Rhynchostylis retusa
Grower: James Thomas
Rhynchostylis retusa, grown by James Thomas, is a species native to Borneo, India, Laos and Cambodia. It is not unusual to see 200 or more flowers on a single inflorescence. With four inflorescences, you can guess how many flowers this plant has. Great growing Jim!
—Plant descriptions submitted by Bill Timm.