1999 Santa Barbara Show

This is a review of the 1999 Santa Barbara show held March 11 - 14, 1999 at the Earl Warren Showgrounds. The Santa Barbara show is one of the largest on the west coast with 76 individual displays this year. The cymbidium season in the Santa Barbara area was very late this year, with most growers indicating plants to be delayed by about 4 to 6 weeks. This probably reduced the number and the overall quality of cymbidiums in the show this year when compared to years past. This was very apparent at Gallup and Stribling when we stopped in. The approximately 5 acres of houses open to the public during the show usually have about 70% of the flowers open, but this year it was just a sea of buds with only about 2% of the flowers open. 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 image to bring up a larger image (size shown in kilobytes).

The Santa Barbara area is in the heart of cymbidium country. Gallup & Stribling, the world's largest orchid grower with 45 acres, mostly in cymbidiums, has consistently set a high standard for large standard cut flower cymbidiums in the Santa Barbara show. They had their usual collection of cut flower cymbidiums again this year including this Cym. (Via Spring Snow x (Via Fair Vista x Robert Rowe)) 'Lemon Mist'. 46 kb.

This is another plant of the Cym. (Via Spring Snow x (Via Fair Vista x Robert Rowe)) cross with the varietal name 'Gloria's Choice' shown by G&S. 44 kb.

This plant of Cym. ((Via Spring Snow x Solana Beach) x (Early Bird x President Van Buren)) was also in the G&S display. This was the best of a group of what appeared to be first bloom seedlings. 47 kb.

Pure color cymbidiums are one of my many favorites despite their often slower growth and shy blooming habits. G&S has done quite a bit of pure color breeding, and this plant of Cym. (Sussex Dawn x Sleeping Dawn) 'Gold Canary' is a striking clear bright yellow. 42 kb.

This plant is another of the cross of Cym. (Sussex Dawn x Sleeping Dawn), shown by G&S with the varietal name of 'King Midas'. 50 kb.

Another interesting plant in the G&S display was Cym. (Reginetta x Calico Horizons) 'Simplicity'. The spotting attracted my attention and I automatically assumed it was descended from tracyanum, however, there is no tracyanum in the background at all and seems to just be one of those occasional unusual combinations. 50 kb.

The Torrance Cymbidium Society display always has a wide diversity of good cymbidiums with a large number of high color plants as shown here. Their display again won the CSA Gold Medal for the best display of cymbidiums in the show. 71 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. This seedling of Cym. Hazel Fay (Karen x Mighty Mouse) in the Torrance display is a nice example of this elusive color. The flowers are almost 4.5 inches across and appeared to be blooming for the first time. 56 kb.

I love peloric cymbidiums, and Everett Stockstill entered this this lovely plant of Cym. Pepper's Fire 'Fiesta' (Claude Pepper x Winter Fire) in the Torrance display. This plant has exceptionally nice peloric petals and is a very intense color, and received the Cymbidium Beauty Trophy. Everett said this was a meristem from down under. 62 kb.

Another interesting orange in the Torrance display was this plant of Cym Wallacia 'Burnt Gold' (Warona x Alnwick Castle). This has an interesting red flare over a bright orange base color, and makes a stunning eyecatcher. 52 kb.

There were some award winners in the Torrance display, including this plant of Cym. (Solana Beach x Clarisse Austin) 'Sensei' B/CSA. This is a nice round pink with the typical light spotting seen in many Solana Beach hybrids. This appeared to be a first bloom seedling with a 4.5 inch flower. 54 kb.

Another nice plant in the Torrance display was this plant of Cym. Regal Ruby (Red Beauty x Claude Pepper). 56 kb.

Cym. Plum Passion 'Etsuko' in the Torrance display is a beautiful clear light plum color. This color is difficult to achieve in a cymbidium, and I thought it to have exceptional color. 51 kb.

Several members of the Torrance society have some spectacular yellow cymbidiums, and this plant of One Tree Hill 'Etsuko' (Coraki x Dolly) is a prime example. 41 kb.

The Malibu Orchid Society puts in a large display in each Santa Barbara show. This year, their display was about 250 square feet in the center of the show with a central pond in a garden structure with orchids inside and out. This is a view of one corner. 106 kb.

This is another view of the Malibu display looking in at the central pond and frog fountain. 89 kb.

Another view of the Malibu display looking through in another direction. 79 kb.

A relative newcomer to the Santa Barbara show is the Kollenborn Orchid Co., which this year put in a more than 100 square foot garden structure filled with nothing but reed stem epedendrums. The masses of bright colors and small flowers overloaded my digital camera, but you can get an idea from this view. 82 kb.

The center of the Kollenborn Orchid Co. display was a large arrangement of epidendrums shown here. 89 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, the AOS Gold Medal certificate and several other trophies for his effort. 46 kb.

Another view of Andy's Orchids fabulous display. 47 kb.

There were many interesting plants in Andy's display, too numerous to mention, but I thought the Chaemangis harotiana shown here was worthy of note. 92 kb.

Another interesting species in Andy's display was this plant of Aerangis modesta with small clear white small flowers grown in his usual 'Orchid on a stick' fashion. 90 kb.

Seldom do we see a plant of Coryanthes in flower. This unidentified Coryanthes species was in perfect condition for the show. 52 kb.

Another interesting species in Andy's display was this well flowered plant of Ada pozoi. 86 kb.

Another interesting species in Andy's display was this brilliant red plant of Stenorynchus speciosa. 56 kb.

Sunset Orchids has some of the best lycastes, miltonias and odontoglossum alliance orchids. This is their display in the 1999 Santa Barbara show. 78 kb.

This plant of Lycaste Wyong 'Candy' was prominently displayed in the fromt of the Sunset Orchids display. I think the clear pink color is unusual for a Lycaste and this plant had very good form. 63 kb.

Lycaste skinneri alba is always an attractive flower, and the cultivar 'Freebird' with 5 open flowers and several more buds was a nice addition to the Sunset display. 71 kb.

The Sunset display also included this plant of Lycaste (Jackpot x Sunset) 'Red Sunset'. This had good color and size and was an impressive flower. 57 kb.

Lycaste Wild Splendor 'Red Sunset' was another striking dark colored Lycaste in the Sunset display. 64 kb.

The odonts were well represented in the Sunset display as well. This Odm. crispum 'Sunset Ruffles' shows the classic beauty of the species. 46 kb.

This plant of Odm. crispum xanthodes 'Sunset' received a HCC/AOS at the show, and it is claimed that it is the last surviving plant of this subspecies from the English collections. The intense yellow patches in the segments gives this plant a very distinctive flair. 53 kb.

Another interesting odontoglossum alliance plant in the Sunset display was this Oda. (Drumory x Rachel Gasker). 57 kb.

There were a number of fine miltonias in the Sunset display, and this M. Good News Bay 'Suzie' was particularly attractive. 75 kb.

The Cal-Orchid display featured a huge golden Buddha towering over and holding smaller orchids. 38 kb.

The Santa Barbara Orchid Estate is probably the oldest orchid nursery in the Santa Barbara area. They have long been associated with cymbidiums and other outdoor orchids, and have done a good deal with Lycastes and Laelia anceps. This year, their display was heavily dominated by three magificent groups of specimen Laelia anceps plants as shown here. 78 kb.

Laelia anceps 'San Bar Marble King', which has an AM/AOS, shown by Santa Barbara Orchid Estate, was voted the best orchid in the show. This snow white flower with just a touch of green at the sepal tips was spectacular. 44 kb.

Another Laelia anceps 'Super Splash' was also in the Santa Barbara Orchid Estate display. This plant has exceptional splashed petals and was also very impressive. 78 kb.

Santa Barbara Orchid Estate also showed this plant of Lycaste Jackpot 'Santa Barbara' which has an AM/AOS. The dark color is exceptional. 71 kb.

Lance Schroeder displayed a number of paphs and phrags, including this plant of Phrag. czerwidkowianum. 71 kb.

Another of the Phrags shown by Lance Schroeder was Phrag. Don Wimber 'Nicole's Honor' which received an HCC/AOS and a S/CSA. The photo is a little out of focus, but the form and color are exceptional in this flower. 69 kb.

Lance Schroeder also showed this Phrag. Don Wimber 'Sweet and Sassy' which also received a S/CSA. 46 kb.

Paph. Mint Chocolate 'Nicole's Honor' shown by Lance Schroeder received both an HCC/AOS and a B/CSA. 78 kb.

Another phrag shown by Lance Schroeder was this Phrag. Andean Fire 'Red Romance' which received an HCC/AOS. 42 kb.

Robert Weltz is one of the Santa Barbara area's excellent paph growers. This Paph. Fumi's Delight was a delightful example from a good parvisepalum cross. 44 kb.

Another plant shown by Robert Weltz was Paph. Peter Black 'Maybrook Omega' which received a B/CSA. This plant was nearly free of the 'warts' which are commonly seen on the Peter Blacks. 58 kb.

Another longtime Santa Barbara area grower is Stewart Orchids. Their 1999 Santa Barbara display shown here had some of the fine catts for which they are famous as well as paphs and phals. 33 kb.

This Lc. Casitas Spring 'Carpenteria' has an HCC/AOS from several years ago. This blooming was outstanding and was shown by Stewarts. 52 kb.

Phals are usually seen in large numbers at the Santa Barbara show, but the number seemed to be down this year, probably due to the weather. This Phal. Double Delight 'Norman's' was shown by Norman's Orchids and received the trophy for the best phal in the show. I think it is an exceptionlly nice spotted flower. 57 kb.

Bangkok Botanical had several nice plants in a small display. This Paph. Macabre was one of the best. 61 kb.

Another plant in the Bangkok Botanical display was this Vanda Gordon Dillon. I particularly liked the pattern and contrasting colors on this flower. 79 kb.

It has been a number of years since a green cymbidium was the Grand Champion cymbidium at Santa Barbara. This plant of Cym. (Southborough x Valley Zenith) 'Green Glen' received the honor this year for Geyserland Orchids. 78 kb.

No Santa Barbara show would be complete without a good zygopetalum. Orchids of Los Osos displayed this fine specimen of Zygo. Blue Banks 'Arrowhead' which received an AM/AOS several years ago. 78 kb.

The Santa Barbara area is in the heart of cymbidium country. Gallup & Stribling, the world's largest orchid grower with 45 acres, mostly in cymbidiums, has consistently set a high standard for large standard cut flower cymbidiums in the Santa Barbara show. They had their usual collection of cut flower cymbidiums again this year including this Cym. (Via Spring Snow x (Via Fair Vista x Robert Rowe)) 'Lemon Mist'. 46 kb.
This is another plant of the Cym. (Via Spring Snow x (Via Fair Vista x Robert Rowe)) cross with the varietal name 'Gloria's Choice' shown by G&S. 44 kb.
This plant of Cym. ((Via Spring Snow x Solana Beach) x (Early Bird x President Van Buren)) was also in the G&S display. This was the best of a group of what appeared to be first bloom seedlings. 47 kb.
Pure color cymbidiums are one of my many favorites despite their often slower growth and shy blooming habits. G&S has done quite a bit of pure color breeding, and this plant of Cym. (Sussex Dawn x Sleeping Dawn) 'Gold Canary' is a striking clear bright yellow. 42 kb.
This plant is another of the cross of Cym. (Sussex Dawn x Sleeping Dawn), shown by G&S with the varietal name of 'King Midas'. 50 kb.
Another interesting plant in the G&S display was Cym. (Reginetta x Calico Horizons) 'Simplicity'. The spotting attracted my attention and I automatically assumed it was descended from tracyanum, however, there is no tracyanum in the background at all and seems to just be one of those occasional unusual combinations. 50 kb.
The Torrance Cymbidium Society display always has a wide diversity of good cymbidiums with a large number of high color plants as shown here. Their display again won the CSA Gold Medal for the best display of cymbidiums in the show. 71 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. This seedling of Cym. Hazel Fay (Karen x Mighty Mouse) in the Torrance display is a nice example of this elusive color. The flowers are almost 4.5 inches across and appeared to be blooming for the first time. 56 kb.
I love peloric cymbidiums, and Everett Stockstill entered this this lovely plant of Cym. Pepper's Fire 'Fiesta' (Claude Pepper x Winter Fire) in the Torrance display. This plant has exceptionally nice peloric petals and is a very intense color, and received the Cymbidium Beauty Trophy. Everett said this was a meristem from down under. 62 kb.
Another interesting orange in the Torrance display was this plant of Cym Wallacia 'Burnt Gold' (Warona x Alnwick Castle). This has an interesting red flare over a bright orange base color, and makes a stunning eyecatcher. 52 kb.
There were some award winners in the Torrance display, including this plant of Cym. (Solana Beach x Clarisse Austin) 'Sensei' B/CSA. This is a nice round pink with the typical light spotting seen in many Solana Beach hybrids. This appeared to be a first bloom seedling with a 4.5 inch flower. 54 kb.
Another nice plant in the Torrance display was this plant of Cym. Regal Ruby (Red Beauty x Claude Pepper). 56 kb.
Cym. Plum Passion 'Etsuko' in the Torrance display is a beautiful clear light plum color. This color is difficult to achieve in a cymbidium, and I thought it to have exceptional color. 51 kb.
Several members of the Torrance society have some spectacular yellow cymbidiums, and this plant of One Tree Hill 'Etsuko' (Coraki x Dolly) is a prime example. 41 kb.
The Malibu Orchid Society puts in a large display in each Santa Barbara show. This year, their display was about 250 square feet in the center of the show with a central pond in a garden structure with orchids inside and out. This is a view of one corner. 106 kb.
This is another view of the Malibu display looking in at the central pond and frog fountain. 89 kb.
Another view of the Malibu display looking through in another direction. 79 kb.
A relative newcomer to the Santa Barbara show is the Kollenborn Orchid Co., which this year put in a more than 100 square foot garden structure filled with nothing but reed stem epedendrums. The masses of bright colors and small flowers overloaded my digital camera, but you can get an idea from this view. 82 kb.
The center of the Kollenborn Orchid Co. display was a large arrangement of epidendrums shown here. 89 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, the AOS Gold Medal certificate and several other trophies for his effort. 46 kb.
Another view of Andy's Orchids fabulous display. 47 kb.
There were many interesting plants in Andy's display, too numerous to mention, but I thought the Chaemangis harotiana shown here was worthy of note. 92 kb.
Another interesting species in Andy's display was this plant of Aerangis modesta with small clear white small flowers grown in his usual 'Orchid on a stick' fashion. 90 kb.
Seldom do we see a plant of Coryanthes in flower. This unidentified Coryanthes species was in perfect condition for the show. 52 kb.
Another interesting species in Andy's display was this well flowered plant of Ada pozoi. 86 kb.
Another interesting species in Andy's display was this brilliant red plant of Stenorynchus speciosa. 56 kb.
Sunset Orchids has some of the best lycastes, miltonias and odontoglossum alliance orchids. This is their display in the 1999 Santa Barbara show. 78 kb.
This plant of Lycaste Wyong 'Candy' was prominently displayed in the fromt of the Sunset Orchids display. I think the clear pink color is unusual for a Lycaste and this plant had very good form. 63 kb.
Lycaste skinneri alba is always an attractive flower, and the cultivar 'Freebird' with 5 open flowers and several more buds was a nice addition to the Sunset display. 71 kb.
The Sunset display also included this plant of Lycaste (Jackpot x Sunset) 'Red Sunset'. This had good color and size and was an impressive flower. 57 kb.
Lycaste Wild Splendor 'Red Sunset' was another striking dark colored Lycaste in the Sunset display. 64 kb.
The odonts were well represented in the Sunset display as well. This Odm. crispum 'Sunset Ruffles' shows the classic beauty of the species. 46 kb.
This plant of Odm. crispum xanthodes 'Sunset' received a HCC/AOS at the show, and it is claimed that it is the last surviving plant of this subspecies from the English collections. The intense yellow patches in the segments gives this plant a very distinctive flair. 53 kb.
Another interesting odontoglossum alliance plant in the Sunset display was this Oda. (Drumory x Rachel Gasker). 57 kb.
There were a number of fine miltonias in the Sunset display, and this M. Good News Bay 'Suzie' was particularly attractive. 75 kb.
The Cal-Orchid display featured a huge golden Buddha towering over and holding smaller orchids. 38 kb.
The Santa Barbara Orchid Estate is probably the oldest orchid nursery in the Santa Barbara area. They have long been associated with cymbidiums and other outdoor orchids, and have done a good deal with Lycastes and Laelia anceps. This year, their display was heavily dominated by three magificent groups of specimen Laelia anceps plants as shown here. 78 kb.
Laelia anceps 'San Bar Marble King', which has an AM/AOS, shown by Santa Barbara Orchid Estate, was voted the best orchid in the show. This snow white flower with just a touch of green at the sepal tips was spectacular. 44 kb.
Another Laelia anceps 'Super Splash' was also in the Santa Barbara Orchid Estate display. This plant has exceptional splashed petals and was also very impressive. 78 kb.
Santa Barbara Orchid Estate also showed this plant of Lycaste Jackpot 'Santa Barbara' which has an AM/AOS. The dark color is exceptional. 71 kb.
Lance Schroeder displayed a number of paphs and phrags, including this plant of Phrag. czerwidkowianum. 71 kb.
Another of the Phrags shown by Lance Schroeder was Phrag. Don Wimber 'Nicole's Honor' which received an HCC/AOS and a S/CSA. The photo is a little out of focus, but the form and color are exceptional in this flower. 69 kb.
Lance Schroeder also showed this Phrag. Don Wimber 'Sweet and Sassy' which also received a S/CSA. 46 kb.
Paph. Mint Chocolate 'Nicole's Honor' shown by Lance Schroeder received both an HCC/AOS and a B/CSA. 78 kb.
Another phrag shown by Lance Schroeder was this Phrag. Andean Fire 'Red Romance' which received an HCC/AOS. 42 kb.
Robert Weltz is one of the Santa Barbara area's excellent paph growers. This Paph. Fumi's Delight was a delightful example from a good parvisepalum cross. 44 kb.
Another plant shown by Robert Weltz was Paph. Peter Black 'Maybrook Omega' which received a B/CSA. This plant was nearly free of the 'warts' which are commonly seen on the Peter Blacks. 58 kb.
Another longtime Santa Barbara area grower is Stewart Orchids. Their 1999 Santa Barbara display shown here had some of the fine catts for which they are famous as well as paphs and phals. 33 kb.
This Lc. Casitas Spring 'Carpenteria' has an HCC/AOS from several years ago. This blooming was outstanding and was shown by Stewarts. 52 kb.
Phals are usually seen in large numbers at the Santa Barbara show, but the number seemed to be down this year, probably due to the weather. This Phal. Double Delight 'Norman's' was shown by Norman's Orchids and received the trophy for the best phal in the show. I think it is an exceptionlly nice spotted flower. 57 kb.
Bangkok Botanical had several nice plants in a small display. This Paph. Macabre was one of the best. 61 kb.
Another plant in the Bangkok Botanical display was this Vanda Gordon Dillon. I particularly liked the pattern and contrasting colors on this flower. 79 kb.
It has been a number of years since a green cymbidium was the Grand Champion cymbidium at Santa Barbara. This plant of Cym. (Southborough x Valley Zenith) 'Green Glen' received the honor this year for Geyserland Orchids. 78 kb.
No Santa Barbara show would be complete without a good zygopetalum. Orchids of Los Osos displayed this fine specimen of Zygo. Blue Banks 'Arrowhead' which received an AM/AOS several years ago. 78 kb.