San Diego Show 1999

A Review of the 1999 San Diego Show

This is a review of the 1999 San Diego County orchid society show held March 19 - 21, 1999 at the Scottish Rite Temple in San Diego. The San Diego show is the third largest in Southern California, after Santa Barbara and Orange County. The size of the hall and sales area limits the show size and the number of displays to 30 or less and the number of sellers to 24. More space is devoted to amateur entries for the show bench than any of the other shows with 14 or more 8 foot tables filled with individual entries. We have included pictures and descriptions of many of the plants and displays awarded during the show and other interesting flowers or plants. Click on the thumbnail to bring up a larger image (size shown in kilobytes).

The San Diego show is our biggest show of the year. We enter a 200 square foot display of nothing but cymbidiums with an emphasis on unusual and high color, and include a good number of first flowering seedlings. This is a view of the full display we put in in 1999 which received the CSA cymbidium Gold Medal. We received a total of 8 awards on out cymbidium hybrids from the AOS and CSA at the show which pleased us very much. 32 kb.

Our display was separated into two large groups. The smaller group was devoted to the white and pink shades of cymbidiums and included most of the spotted types. This is a view of the white and pink section of the display we put in in 1999. 50 kb.

The larger group or plants in the display was devoted to the reds, yellows, greens, browns and orange colored flowers, and included a number of pendant cultivars. This is a view of the larger section of the display we put in in 1999. 50 kb.

Spotted flowers are one of my interests in the quest to develop wider color ranges in the cymbidiums. Cym. Splatters 'Red Velvet', as shown here, is an interesting spotted flower with a blood red velvet lip bred from Cym. Robin 'Freckles' 2N and Cym. Tethys 'Black Magic'. This has the brightest red lip I have ever seen in a cymbidium, and has an incredible velvet sheen to the lip as well. It was awarded a JC/AOS at the San Diego show on March 19. It is blooming with 2 spikes in an 6 inch pot and about 26 flowers. 72 kb.

Cym. Splatters 'Mardi Gras' is another interesting spotted flower from the cross, and at 4 inches is the largest we kept. Although not exactly new, this is the first photograph we have taken of this plant. 78 kb.

Cym. Splatters 'Flamenco' is another interesting spotted flower from the cross, and is the best of the cross that I have seen. It has about 40 flowers on two 3 foot long spikes in a gallon pot. Each spike also has one or 2 branches at the very base with 3 to 6 buds on each branch. This plant had previously received an AD/CSA and AD/AOS. 34 kb.

Another one of our spotted cymbidiums that I like is this plant of Bangles 'Hot Shot'. This cross of (Zot x Pinata) produced mostly pink and green polychrome flowers, most with spots like this one. 50 kb.

We don't have many white cymbidiums since our pot plant market prefers more colored flowers, but Cym. Woody Wilson 'Ann' is probably the best one we have. This year the plant had 13 very flat flowers with extremely heavy substance, each more than 5 inches across, on a 3 foot spike and, like all of our plants, was grown outdoors under 55% shadecloth until the first flowers started to open. The color is an ivory white with none of the sunstaining so often seen on white cymbidiums bloomed under high light conditions. The only bad characteristic is the close spacing of flowers on the spike and the slight pinching at some of the petal tips. It received a S/CSA and a HCC/AOS, and received the trophy for the best American hybrid cymbidium. 44 kb.

Orange or apricot colored cymbidiums are rare, and always create a lot of interest. This Cym. Karen 'Mokoia Sunset' is a delightful clear apricot orange with a concolor lip, and was the most often asked about plant in out display. It had about 40 flowers nearly 5 inches across on 5 arching spikes. 22 kb.

This plant of Cym. Foxy Lady 'Kathleen' (Touchstone 'Janis' x Karen Pepper 'Cafe au Lait') is one of the first of a low yield cross to flower. The form of the 3 inch flower is exceptional and the color is pretty nice as well. The plant has about 13 flowers on one spike on a two bulb plant, and was awarded a Bronze from the CSA and an HCC from the AOS at the San Diego show on March 19. 71 kb.

This plant of Cym. (Via Mar Tranquila 'Mt. Cook' x Loren's Treasure 'Solana Beach') (LB 629) is one of the first of the cross to flower with 12 flowers on a 3.5 foot spike. The color is a sparkling snow white with no trace of sunstaining although the first flower opened outdoors under our 55% shadecloth. I think the 5 inch flowers are very good and of award quality. 53 kb.

Orange cymbidiums are difficult to produce from seed since the orange color results from an unusual combination of red and yellow colors together in the flower. Dark burnt oranges are equally difficult to get, but this seedling of Cym. Persian Gold (Warona 'Copper' x Mighty Mouse 'Minnie') (LB 645) is a good example of this elusive color. The plant has 12 flowers 4 inches across on its first blooming. 62 kb.

Another of the dark burnt orange plants to bloom from the cross of Cym. Persian Gold (LB 645). This first bloom plant has 10 flowers on the spike, and was awarded an HCC/AOS at the San Diego Show on March 19 with the varietal name 'Wow'. The orange flower has a remarkable magenta sheen at the base and tip of the sepals and petals and an intensely deep burgundy black lip, and seems to glow with an inner light in sunlight. 62 kb.

The Cym. Clarisse Pepper cross (Clarisse Austin 'Embers' x Claude Pepper 'Bucklands Beach')(LB 648) is producing mostly medium red flowers, but this first bloom seedling has a nice patterned color with a 4.5 inch flat flower, blooming in February 1999 with 10 flowers on the spike. 29 kb.

We had made the cross of Cym Lady Spring (Sensation 'Melita' 4N x Doris Aurea 'Cardinal' 4N) a couple of years after Andy Easton made it. Lady Spring 'Nancy', shown here, was the darkest flower to come out of our cross or Andy's, and was one of the 4 plants we kept of the cross, and was shown this year for the first time. It is a free blooming small plant with multiple upright spikes on a bulb and up to 12 flowers on the spike. 34 kb.

This is a first bloom seedling of Cym. (Lady Spring 'Embers' x Red Panther). The 4 inch flower has a deep brick red color and does not fade as the flower ages as so many red cymbidiums do. 63 kb.

This is a first bloom seedling of Cym. Madrona Canyon (Hamsey 'The Globe' x Claude Pepper 'Pye's Pa'). The 4.5 inch flower has a brick red color and exceptionally good form. 63 kb.

Our plant of Cym. Black Forest 'Dark Spirit' (Gordon Gibbs x Tethys) received a HCC/AOS in the Orange county show in early February, but still looked good enough after 6 weeks to include in the San Diego show. The color had not faded at all, and these 3" flowers will hold for more than 3 months which is remarkable considering that Cym. aloifolium is one of the grandparents and it lasts only a week or so. The long arching to pendant spike makes a stunning display. Unfortunately, it hasn't been willing to set a seed pod to date. 37 kb.

Cym. Black Forest 'Plum Wine' (Gordon Gibbs x Tethys) has a deeper plum color than 'Dark Spirit', and has a strong upright spike on a free blooming compact plant. The color fades a bit though, and the 2.25" flowers have a pinched lip and only last 6 weeks in comparison, but it is has been a successful parent. 50 kb.

Cym. Pontac 'Trinity' AM/RHS was another nice red in our display. This plant comes from the Eric Young Orchid Foundation on the isle of Jersey in England. G&S in Carpenteria has meristems of this for sale, and I had picked mine up from them during the Santa Barbara show a year ago. 63 kb.

Another new plant for us was this Cym. Uncle Everett 'Rojo Diablo'. This plant had 8 spikes and about 120 of these 3 inch flowers blooming in an 8" pot. Unlike many of this cross which have pendant spikes, this plant has upright arching spikes. 62 kb.

Cym. Puce Mousse 'Jellybean' was another interesting odd colored pink and white flower. I accept the responsibility for the name of the cross, but my two daughters named this plant 'Jellybean'. It had 5 spikes in a 10" pot with about 120 4" flowers on long arching spikes. 68 kb.

Cym. Rocky Creek 'Gotcha' is delightful pink spotted cymbidium that always catches the eye. We had almost as may people ask about this plant as we did for Karen 'Mokoia Sunset'. It had about 80 flowers each about 4 inches across beautifully arranged on 4 long graceful arching spikes in a 12 inch pot. This plant received an AM/AOS and a B/CSA at the show. 42 kb.

The Cym. Fire Storm cross is usually the backbone of the red section of our display. This Fire Storm 'Wild Fire' was the best red cymbidium in the show, and was more than 5 inches across with 15 flowers on the 4 foot spike. 33 kb.

Andy Phillips and Andy's Orchids always puts in a great display of species in a natural setting. This year was no exception as shown here. Andy received the AOS show trophy and several other trophies and awards for his effort. 94 kb.

Another view of Andy's Orchids fabulous display. Andy didn't move out of the way in time, so he is immortalized here as well. 91 kb.

One of the species Andy included in his display was Phaius lutens 'Ocean View' which received a CHM at the show. I had set the camera to an artistic (?) setting by accident, and didn't realize it, so the image isn't quite right, but is interesting anyway. 74 kb.

Another species in Andy's display was this charming little Holcoglossum rupestris 'Yashita'. 81 kb.

Andy also had a nice Vanda cristata in the display just about at eye level so it was easy to see. 70 kb.

Sam DeMaria put in an exhibit with several different genera represented. 78 kb.

This year, the show theme was "Orchid Oasis". Peter Tobias has an unusual interpretation of that theme with a large dendrobium speciosum and Schomburgkia. 80 kb.

A group of amateur growers in the San Diego area entered this amateur display under the name of "The Maharlika Group". It was considered one of the best amateur displays in the show. 76 kb.

The Orchid House from Los Osos entered a display of mostly Paphs as shown here and received the CSA Paphiopedilum Gold Medal for their effort. 88 kb.

Bob and Peggy Swanson and Alma Marosz entered this multigeneric display with a number of fine plants in their usual spot right by the entrance. 93 kb.

Bird Rock Tropicals, a local commercial grower, entered this multigeneric display. 90 kb.

Sunset Orchids from Northern California put in this impressive display of Lycastes, Miltonias and the Odontoglossom alliance. The Lycastes dominated the front of the display with several nice specimens, many of which were also shown in the Santa Barbara show the previous week. 89 kb.

One of the plants in the Sunset display was this Lycaste Nacama 'Jocelyn'. 59 kb.

One of the Odontoglossum alliance plants in the Sunset display was this spectacular Oda. Ross Newman 'Sunset Tapestry'. 62 kb.

Another of the Odontoglossum alliance plants in the Sunset display was this striking Odcdm. Goldent Trident 'Leopard'. 49 kb.

One of the finer Paphiopedilum plants in the show was this Paph. Macabre (coloratum type, not vinicolor) shown by Orchids of Los Osos. It was not completely open during judging and was not awarded, but is probably of award quality. 69 kb.

Greg Luetticke of Luetticke Orchids entered this fine Sl. Beautiful Sunset 'Neon Light' in the show where it received an AM/AOS. 69 kb.

The show bench at the San Diego show included this Phal. Dynamite 'Red Ruby' which received an AM/AOS for one of our local growers, Fred Clark. This 3 inch flower has very heavy substance and a beautiful satin sheen. 54 kb.

Bruce Hubbard entered this nice C. intermedia which received an HCC/AOS on the show bench. Unfortunately, this is another one of the photographs with the camera on the "Artistic (?)" setting. 93 kb.

Cindy Hill, one of the hard working San Diego society members, showed this Eria cepifolia 'Trus Madi' on the show bench where it received a Certificate of Botanical Recognition (CBR). Again, this is another one of the photographs with the camera on the "Artistic (?)" setting. 93 kb.

Cindy Hill also entered this plant of Mischobulbon cordifolium 'Crispum' on the show bench where it received an HCC/AOS. Again, this is another one of the photographs with the camera on the "Artistic (?)" setting. 72 kb.

The San Diego show is our biggest show of the year. We enter a 200 square foot display of nothing but cymbidiums with an emphasis on unusual and high color, and include a good number of first flowering seedlings. This is a view of the full display we put in in 1999 which received the CSA cymbidium Gold Medal. We received a total of 8 awards on out cymbidium hybrids from the AOS and CSA at the show which pleased us very much. 32 kb.
Our display was separated into two large groups. The smaller group was devoted to the white and pink shades of cymbidiums and included most of the spotted types. This is a view of the white and pink section of the display we put in in 1999. 50 kb.
The larger group or plants in the display was devoted to the reds, yellows, greens, browns and orange colored flowers, and included a number of pendant cultivars. This is a view of the larger section of the display we put in in 1999. 50 kb.
Spotted flowers are one of my interests in the quest to develop wider color ranges in the cymbidiums. Cym. Splatters 'Red Velvet', as shown here, is an interesting spotted flower with a blood red velvet lip bred from Cym. Robin 'Freckles' 2N and Cym. Tethys 'Black Magic'. This has the brightest red lip I have ever seen in a cymbidium, and has an incredible velvet sheen to the lip as well. It was awarded a JC/AOS at the San Diego show on March 19. It is blooming with 2 spikes in an 6 inch pot and about 26 flowers. 72 kb.
Cym. Splatters 'Mardi Gras' is another interesting spotted flower from the cross, and at 4 inches is the largest we kept. Although not exactly new, this is the first photograph we have taken of this plant. 78 kb.
Cym. Splatters 'Flamenco' is another interesting spotted flower from the cross, and is the best of the cross that I have seen. It has about 40 flowers on two 3 foot long spikes in a gallon pot. Each spike also has one or 2 branches at the very base with 3 to 6 buds on each branch. This plant had previously received an AD/CSA and AD/AOS. 34 kb.
Another one of our spotted cymbidiums that I like is this plant of Bangles 'Hot Shot'. This cross of (Zot x Pinata) produced mostly pink and green polychrome flowers, most with spots like this one. 50 kb.
We don't have many white cymbidiums since our pot plant market prefers more colored flowers, but Cym. Woody Wilson 'Ann' is probably the best one we have. This year the plant had 13 very flat flowers with extremely heavy substance, each more than 5 inches across, on a 3 foot spike and, like all of our plants, was grown outdoors under 55% shadecloth until the first flowers started to open. The color is an ivory white with none of the sunstaining so often seen on white cymbidiums bloomed under high light conditions. The only bad characteristic is the close spacing of flowers on the spike and the slight pinching at some of the petal tips. It received a S/CSA and a HCC/AOS, and received the trophy for the best American hybrid cymbidium. 44 kb.
Orange or apricot colored cymbidiums are rare, and always create a lot of interest. This Cym. Karen 'Mokoia Sunset' is a delightful clear apricot orange with a concolor lip, and was the most often asked about plant in out display. It had about 40 flowers nearly 5 inches across on 5 arching spikes. 22 kb.
This plant of Cym. Foxy Lady 'Kathleen' (Touchstone 'Janis' x Karen Pepper 'Cafe au Lait') is one of the first of a low yield cross to flower. The form of the 3 inch flower is exceptional and the color is pretty nice as well. The plant has about 13 flowers on one spike on a two bulb plant, and was awarded a Bronze from the CSA and an HCC from the AOS at the San Diego show on March 19. 71 kb.
This plant of Cym. (Via Mar Tranquila 'Mt. Cook' x Loren's Treasure 'Solana Beach') (LB 629) is one of the first of the cross to flower with 12 flowers on a 3.5 foot spike. The color is a sparkling snow white with no trace of sunstaining although the first flower opened outdoors under our 55% shadecloth. I think the 5 inch flowers are very good and of award quality. 53 kb.
Orange cymbidiums are difficult to produce from seed since the orange color results from an unusual combination of red and yellow colors together in the flower. Dark burnt oranges are equally difficult to get, but this seedling of Cym. Persian Gold (Warona 'Copper' x Mighty Mouse 'Minnie') (LB 645) is a good example of this elusive color. The plant has 12 flowers 4 inches across on its first blooming. 62 kb.
Another of the dark burnt orange plants to bloom from the cross of Cym. Persian Gold (LB 645). This first bloom plant has 10 flowers on the spike, and was awarded an HCC/AOS at the San Diego Show on March 19 with the varietal name 'Wow'. The orange flower has a remarkable magenta sheen at the base and tip of the sepals and petals and an intensely deep burgundy black lip, and seems to glow with an inner light in sunlight. 62 kb.
The Cym. Clarisse Pepper cross (Clarisse Austin 'Embers' x Claude Pepper 'Bucklands Beach')(LB 648) is producing mostly medium red flowers, but this first bloom seedling has a nice patterned color with a 4.5 inch flat flower, blooming in February 1999 with 10 flowers on the spike. 29 kb.
We had made the cross of Cym Lady Spring (Sensation 'Melita' 4N x Doris Aurea 'Cardinal' 4N) a couple of years after Andy Easton made it. Lady Spring 'Nancy', shown here, was the darkest flower to come out of our cross or Andy's, and was one of the 4 plants we kept of the cross, and was shown this year for the first time. It is a free blooming small plant with multiple upright spikes on a bulb and up to 12 flowers on the spike. 34 kb.
This is a first bloom seedling of Cym. (Lady Spring 'Embers' x Red Panther). The 4 inch flower has a deep brick red color and does not fade as the flower ages as so many red cymbidiums do. 63 kb.
This is a first bloom seedling of Cym. Madrona Canyon (Hamsey 'The Globe' x Claude Pepper 'Pye's Pa'). The 4.5 inch flower has a brick red color and exceptionally good form. 63 kb.
Our plant of Cym. Black Forest 'Dark Spirit' (Gordon Gibbs x Tethys) received a HCC/AOS in the Orange county show in early February, but still looked good enough after 6 weeks to include in the San Diego show. The color had not faded at all, and these 3" flowers will hold for more than 3 months which is remarkable considering that Cym. aloifolium is one of the grandparents and it lasts only a week or so. The long arching to pendant spike makes a stunning display. Unfortunately, it hasn't been willing to set a seed pod to date. 37 kb.
Cym. Black Forest 'Plum Wine' (Gordon Gibbs x Tethys) has a deeper plum color than 'Dark Spirit', and has a strong upright spike on a free blooming compact plant. The color fades a bit though, and the 2.25" flowers have a pinched lip and only last 6 weeks in comparison, but it is has been a successful parent. 50 kb.
Cym. Pontac 'Trinity' AM/RHS was another nice red in our display. This plant comes from the Eric Young Orchid Foundation on the isle of Jersey in England. G&S in Carpenteria has meristems of this for sale, and I had picked mine up from them during the Santa Barbara show a year ago. 63 kb.
Another new plant for us was this Cym. Uncle Everett 'Rojo Diablo'. This plant had 8 spikes and about 120 of these 3 inch flowers blooming in an 8" pot. Unlike many of this cross which have pendant spikes, this plant has upright arching spikes. 62 kb.
Cym. Puce Mousse 'Jellybean' was another interesting odd colored pink and white flower. I accept the responsibility for the name of the cross, but my two daughters named this plant 'Jellybean'. It had 5 spikes in a 10" pot with about 120 4" flowers on long arching spikes. 68 kb.
Cym. Rocky Creek 'Gotcha' is delightful pink spotted cymbidium that always catches the eye. We had almost as may people ask about this plant as we did for Karen 'Mokoia Sunset'. It had about 80 flowers each about 4 inches across beautifully arranged on 4 long graceful arching spikes in a 12 inch pot. This plant received an AM/AOS and a B/CSA at the show. 42 kb.
The Cym. Fire Storm cross is usually the backbone of the red section of our display. This Fire Storm 'Wild Fire' was the best red cymbidium in the show, and was more than 5 inches across with 15 flowers on the 4 foot spike. 33 kb.
Andy Phillips and Andy's Orchids always puts in a great display of species in a natural setting. This year was no exception as shown here. Andy received the AOS show trophy and several other trophies and awards for his effort. 94 kb.
Another view of Andy's Orchids fabulous display. Andy didn't move out of the way in time, so he is immortalized here as well. 91 kb.
One of the species Andy included in his display was Phaius lutens 'Ocean View' which received a CHM at the show. I had set the camera to an artistic (?) setting by accident, and didn't realize it, so the image isn't quite right, but is interesting anyway. 74 kb.
Another species in Andy's display was this charming little Holcoglossum rupestris 'Yashita'. 81 kb.
Andy also had a nice Vanda cristata in the display just about at eye level so it was easy to see. 70 kb.
Sam DeMaria put in an exhibit with several different genera represented. 78 kb.
This year, the show theme was "Orchid Oasis". Peter Tobias has an unusual interpretation of that theme with a large dendrobium speciosum and Schomburgkia. 80 kb.
A group of amateur growers in the San Diego area entered this amateur display under the name of "The Maharlika Group". It was considered one of the best amateur displays in the show. 76 kb.
The Orchid House from Los Osos entered a display of mostly Paphs as shown here and received the CSA Paphiopedilum Gold Medal for their effort. 88 kb.
Bob and Peggy Swanson and Alma Marosz entered this multigeneric display with a number of fine plants in their usual spot right by the entrance. 93 kb.
Bird Rock Tropicals, a local commercial grower, entered this multigeneric display. 90 kb.
Sunset Orchids from Northern California put in this impressive display of Lycastes, Miltonias and the Odontoglossom alliance. The Lycastes dominated the front of the display with several nice specimens, many of which were also shown in the Santa Barbara show the previous week. 89 kb.
One of the plants in the Sunset display was this Lycaste Nacama 'Jocelyn'. 59 kb.
One of the Odontoglossum alliance plants in the Sunset display was this spectacular Oda. Ross Newman 'Sunset Tapestry'. 62 kb.
Another of the Odontoglossum alliance plants in the Sunset display was this striking Odcdm. Goldent Trident 'Leopard'. 49 kb.
One of the finer Paphiopedilum plants in the show was this Paph. Macabre (coloratum type, not vinicolor) shown by Orchids of Los Osos. It was not completely open during judging and was not awarded, but is probably of award quality. 69 kb.
Greg Luetticke of Luetticke Orchids entered this fine Sl. Beautiful Sunset 'Neon Light' in the show where it received an AM/AOS. 69 kb.
The show bench at the San Diego show included this Phal. Dynamite 'Red Ruby' which received an AM/AOS for one of our local growers, Fred Clark. This 3 inch flower has very heavy substance and a beautiful satin sheen. 54 kb.
Bruce Hubbard entered this nice C. intermedia which received an HCC/AOS on the show bench. Unfortunately, this is another one of the photographs with the camera on the "Artistic (?)" setting. 93 kb.
Cindy Hill, one of the hard working San Diego society members, showed this Eria cepifolia 'Trus Madi' on the show bench where it received a Certificate of Botanical Recognition (CBR). Again, this is another one of the photographs with the camera on the "Artistic (?)" setting. 93 kb.
Cindy Hill also entered this plant of Mischobulbon cordifolium 'Crispum' on the show bench where it received an HCC/AOS. Again, this is another one of the photographs with the camera on the "Artistic (?)" setting. 72 kb.