The 1999 San Diego Orchid Fair

The San Diego Orchid Fair is an early fall show and sale that has been held for the last several years at Quail Botanical Gardens. This year, it was moved to the Del Mar Fairgrounds with a much larger exhibit and sales area, although all the displays were limited to tabletops. Our hat is off to Greg Luetticke who is the driving force behind this show and its move to a bigger and better location. This is a photographic review of the some of the new and more interesting things that we saw at the show, and the plants awarded at the show. Click on the thumbnail to bring up a larger image (size shown in kilobytes).

Paph. (Rainbow River x Maudiae) 'Sursi', shown by The Orchid House, was awarded an HCC/AOS and a B/CSA, and was the best paph in the show. This flower is nicely proportioned with a very nice dorsal sepal and well formed petals with nice spotting. 83 kb.

The Orchid House had a nice mix of several different genera in their display as shown in this photograph, but the primary emphasis was on paphs. 69 kb.

Another paphiopedilum in The Orchid House display was this nicely spotted Paph. Schillianum 'Michelle' which received an HCC/AOS at the show. 95 kb.

The Orchid House also has some nice vandas. This Vanda (Madame Rattana x Prabang) 'Beauty' towered over the right side of their display. The flowers were at least 4.5 inches in diameter with a rich pinkish red color. 76 kb.

The spectacular Blc Toshi Aoki 'Pizzaz' was present in several of the displays at the show, and is available as meristem plants from several nurseries. This plant was displayed by Ramona Wilson of Islander Delights. 47 kb.

There were a number of nice vandas on display in the show. This great V. Kultana Blue was in the Butterfly Orchids display. This is a large flower about 5 inches across with great form and color. I was sorely tempted by divisions of this plant in their sales booth, but I successfully resisted. 63 kb.

J & M Orchids had a nice compact display with several very nice vandas as shown here. 72 kb.

Another nice vanda was this V. Robert's Delight shown by J & M Orchids. The flower was about 4.5 inches across with a nearly solid bluish purple color. 64 kb.

J & M Orchids also showed this beautiful flat bluish purple V. Thailand Delight with 4.5 inch flowers. 62 kb.

Yamada Orchids specializes in the reed stem epidendrum types, and have many outstanding hybrids in this genus. Their display, shown here, was made up entirely of epidendrums. 78 kb.

This delightful 3 inch hybrid of (Epc. Middleburg x Ctna. Capri) was awarded an HCC/AOS at the show. It was shown by Fred Clark who is one of the best growers in the San Diego area. 48 kb.

Jim Wright brought this striking Oerstedella species to the show. The color combination from lavender blue in the lip to brownish yellow with chocolate brown spots in the petals was fantastic. 58kb.

Jim Wright also brought this Mormolyca yingens. I thought the flowers were rather interesting. 55 kb.

Fred Clark brought in this Lc. Mini Shadows. These are loosely called "blue" but in reality, they are an off shade of bluish lavender, and this plant had better color than most. 35 kb.

Fred Clark also brought in this fantistic Encyclia phoenicium which was awarded an AM and the best species in the show. The flowers were larger in all respects with two spikes and twice the number of flowers on the spike, and darker, more even, color than the prevously awarded cultivars. 62 kb.

Another outstanding plant exhibited by Fred Clark was this intensly dark wine red Phal. Red Top Imp. This was selected as the best phal in the show. 60 kb.

John Walters exhibited this group of mostly cattleyas, including a number of hybrids tracing back to C. guttata. 74 kb.

This charming little species, Altesteinia fimbriata, was shown in the Ecuagenera display. It was interesting that the flowers were on a horizontal spike and that the flowers appeared to be laying on their side. 56 kb.

This strange little flower was in the Ecuagenera display with no name attached. The flowers were about a quarter of an inch across and dark, but I have no idea what it was. 44 kb.

This rather large (3 inches) Maxillaria striata 'Yellowstone' AM/AOS was another striking flower in the show exhibited by Ecuagenera. This was awarded earlier, and the color and size shows why. 54 kb.

Some orchids just don't look like orchids. This Bulbophyllum grandiflora, as shown by Bird Rock Tropicals, is one of the more bizarre. The petals and lip are buried within the tessellated brownish green sepals shown here 64 kb.

An oddity from the Cattleya alliance is this Schomburkia splendida as shown by Bird Rock Tropicals. This seems to be one of the more managable Schomburkia species with only a 3 foot long spike. 53 kb.

Another nice flower in the Bird Rock Tropicals display was this bright yellow Masd. Golden Wings. 49 kb.

Bird Rock Tropicals also had a very nice Bulbophyllum medusa in their display. This flower with the long white whiskers was an eyecatcher. 60 kb.

The San Diego County Branch of the CSA entered this nice display showing the various stages of growth from seed to blooming plants of cymbidiums and paphs. 64 kb.

Andy Phillips from Andy's Orchids specializes in species. One of the interesting species in his display was this Epidendrum veridoscriptum, a brilliant green flower with a blackish band on the pale green and snow white lip. 59 kb.

Another interesting species in Andy's display was Bulbophyllum laxifolium with its small pale green to sparkling white flowers. 68 kb.

Andy also included this attractive Cishwienfia pusilla which has mahogany brown over a yellowish green background. 60 kb.

Another oddity that doesn't look much like an orchid is Appendicola elegans, shown by Andy's Orchids. The flowers are about one quarter inch across. 41 kb.

Andy also included this beautiful Dendrobium bursigerum with a cluster of clear shell pink half inch flowers at the tip of the cane. 51 kb.

The Lepanthes are charming miniature flowers, and this Lepanthes ovalis, as shown by Andy's Orchids, is no exception. The flower is about one quarter inch across. 43 kb.

Another very charming miniature shown by Andy was this Ornithocephalus inflexus. The sparkling pure white half inch flowers on light green stems were very pleasing. 67 kb.

Andy also included this rather odd Liparis purpureo-viridis in his display. The lip reminds me of a Venus flytrap waiting to entrap a hapless pollinator. 41 kb.

Fuzzy flowers tickle my fancy, so you can imagine my reaction to this Masdavallia erinacea from Andy Phillips. Again, the flower is only a half inch across, densely covered with pale green hairs on the outside and mahogany brown on the inside. I love it! 41 kb.

The display shown here entered by Ontario Orchids received the AOS show trophy. 55 kb.

This beautiful Phrag. Noirmont received a B/CSA at the show, and was exhibited by Ontario Orchids. 61 kb.

Another display shown here had a wide range of attractive plants, but no name, so we can't give some deserving group the credit. 69 kb.

One can often find some spectacular plants in the sales area of many shows. This Dendrobium spectabile is a great example of the wild and weird forms seen in some of the orchids. 79 kb.

There were a number of nice zygopetalums in the sales area, and being a great fan of these cool growing outdoor orchids, I had to add to my collection. This one is Zygo. Imagination 'Big Boy' which measures almost 3 inches across. 60 kb.

Another nice zygopetalum I found in the show sales area from Bangkok Botanical is Zygo. Imagination 'Ebony Queen', which also measures almost 3 inches across and is exceptionally dark. 55 kb.

Paph. (Rainbow River x Maudiae) 'Sursi', shown by The Orchid House, was awarded an HCC/AOS and a B/CSA, and was the best paph in the show. This flower is nicely proportioned with a very nice dorsal sepal and well formed petals with nice spotting. 83 kb.
The Orchid House had a nice mix of several different genera in their display as shown in this photograph, but the primary emphasis was on paphs. 69 kb.
Another paphiopedilum in The Orchid House display was this nicely spotted Paph. Schillianum 'Michelle' which received an HCC/AOS at the show. 95 kb.
The Orchid House also has some nice vandas. This Vanda (Madame Rattana x Prabang) 'Beauty' towered over the right side of their display. The flowers were at least 4.5 inches in diameter with a rich pinkish red color. 76 kb.
The spectacular Blc Toshi Aoki 'Pizzaz' was present in several of the displays at the show, and is available as meristem plants from several nurseries. This plant was displayed by Ramona Wilson of Islander Delights. 47 kb.
There were a number of nice vandas on display in the show. This great V. Kultana Blue was in the Butterfly Orchids display. This is a large flower about 5 inches across with great form and color. I was sorely tempted by divisions of this plant in their sales booth, but I successfully resisted. 63 kb.
J & M Orchids had a nice compact display with several very nice vandas as shown here. 72 kb.
Another nice vanda was this V. Robert's Delight shown by J & M Orchids. The flower was about 4.5 inches across with a nearly solid bluish purple color. 64 kb.
J & M Orchids also showed this beautiful flat bluish purple V. Thailand Delight with 4.5 inch flowers. 62 kb.
Yamada Orchids specializes in the reed stem epidendrum types, and have many outstanding hybrids in this genus. Their display, shown here, was made up entirely of epidendrums. 78 kb.
This delightful 3 inch hybrid of (Epc. Middleburg x Ctna. Capri) was awarded an HCC/AOS at the show. It was shown by Fred Clark who is one of the best growers in the San Diego area. 48 kb.
Jim Wright brought this striking Oerstedella species to the show. The color combination from lavender blue in the lip to brownish yellow with chocolate brown spots in the petals was fantastic. 58kb.
Jim Wright also brought this Mormolyca yingens. I thought the flowers were rather interesting. 55 kb.
Fred Clark brought in this Lc. Mini Shadows. These are loosely called "blue" but in reality, they are an off shade of bluish lavender, and this plant had better color than most. 35 kb.
Fred Clark also brought in this fantistic Encyclia phoenicium which was awarded an AM and the best species in the show. The flowers were larger in all respects with two spikes and twice the number of flowers on the spike, and darker, more even, color than the prevously awarded cultivars. 62 kb.
Another outstanding plant exhibited by Fred Clark was this intensly dark wine red Phal. Red Top Imp. This was selected as the best phal in the show. 60 kb.
John Walters exhibited this group of mostly cattleyas, including a number of hybrids tracing back to C. guttata. 74 kb.
This charming little species, Altesteinia fimbriata, was shown in the Ecuagenera display. It was interesting that the flowers were on a horizontal spike and that the flowers appeared to be laying on their side. 56 kb.
This strange little flower was in the Ecuagenera display with no name attached. The flowers were about a quarter of an inch across and dark, but I have no idea what it was. 44 kb.
This rather large (3 inches) Maxillaria striata 'Yellowstone' AM/AOS was another striking flower in the show exhibited by Ecuagenera. This was awarded earlier, and the color and size shows why. 54 kb.
Some orchids just don't look like orchids. This Bulbophyllum grandiflora, as shown by Bird Rock Tropicals, is one of the more bizarre. The petals and lip are buried within the tessellated brownish green sepals shown here 64 kb.
An oddity from the Cattleya alliance is this Schomburkia splendida as shown by Bird Rock Tropicals. This seems to be one of the more managable Schomburkia species with only a 3 foot long spike. 53 kb.
Another nice flower in the Bird Rock Tropicals display was this bright yellow Masd. Golden Wings. 49 kb.
Bird Rock Tropicals also had a very nice Bulbophyllum medusa in their display. This flower with the long white whiskers was an eyecatcher. 60 kb.
The San Diego County Branch of the CSA entered this nice display showing the various stages of growth from seed to blooming plants of cymbidiums and paphs. 64 kb.
Andy Phillips from Andy's Orchids specializes in species. One of the interesting species in his display was this Epidendrum veridoscriptum, a brilliant green flower with a blackish band on the pale green and snow white lip. 59 kb.
Another interesting species in Andy's display was Bulbophyllum laxifolium with its small pale green to sparkling white flowers. 68 kb.
Andy also included this attractive Cishwienfia pusilla which has mahogany brown over a yellowish green background. 60 kb.
Another oddity that doesn't look much like an orchid is Appendicola elegans, shown by Andy's Orchids. The flowers are about one quarter inch across. 41 kb.
Andy also included this beautiful Dendrobium bursigerum with a cluster of clear shell pink half inch flowers at the tip of the cane. 51 kb.
The Lepanthes are charming miniature flowers, and this Lepanthes ovalis, as shown by Andy's Orchids, is no exception. The flower is about one quarter inch across. 43 kb.
Another very charming miniature shown by Andy was this Ornithocephalus inflexus. The sparkling pure white half inch flowers on light green stems were very pleasing. 67 kb.
Andy also included this rather odd Liparis purpureo-viridis in his display. The lip reminds me of a Venus flytrap waiting to entrap a hapless pollinator. 41 kb.
Fuzzy flowers tickle my fancy, so you can imagine my reaction to this Masdavallia erinacea from Andy Phillips. Again, the flower is only a half inch across, densely covered with pale green hairs on the outside and mahogany brown on the inside. I love it! 41 kb.
The display shown here entered by Ontario Orchids received the AOS show trophy. 55 kb.
This beautiful Phrag. Noirmont received a B/CSA at the show, and was exhibited by Ontario Orchids. 61 kb.
Another display shown here had a wide range of attractive plants, but no name, so we can't give some deserving group the credit. 69 kb.
One can often find some spectacular plants in the sales area of many shows. This Dendrobium spectabile is a great example of the wild and weird forms seen in some of the orchids. 79 kb.
There were a number of nice zygopetalums in the sales area, and being a great fan of these cool growing outdoor orchids, I had to add to my collection. This one is Zygo. Imagination 'Big Boy' which measures almost 3 inches across. 60 kb.
Another nice zygopetalum I found in the show sales area from Bangkok Botanical is Zygo. Imagination 'Ebony Queen', which also measures almost 3 inches across and is exceptionally dark. 55 kb.