I can certainly appreciate you wanting to see the plant and perhaps, even see it in bloom. I know you, and certainly those in Florida have ample opportunity to visit orchid shows and get good prices (sometimes) from the vendors there. I, and perhaps most others, don't have much opportunity for that. Heck, some folks even live near brick-and-mortar orchid nurseries. How great that would be.

Speaking of brick-and-mortar nurseries. Those are what I really compete with, if you want to call my tiny, cottage business a competitor to anyone. I usually can and do sell exactly the same plant as they do but for far less.

Here's an example that I just happened yesterday. Someone was looking for a specific orchid that I have and they told me they found it for sale at "X" nursery for $45 plus shipping. He contacted me and asked whether I had the plant and if I did, to describe the plant. This nursery is one of the top ones, always with good quality but pricey plants. You would recognize the name immediately and probably would not hesitate purchasing a plant from them. I have the exact plant, and I mean the same number of pseudobulbs and the same number of new leads, that I sell for $24.95, plus shipping. My shipping is also $4.00 less than that nursery. Their plant ships bare-root; mine ships in a mesh-pot.

Sounds like a good deal!

I just got a reply from Art Chadwick and he says my C. maxima is the species plant from Ecuador and that it does not have a variety name. He says it is the "lowlands" type.

That was so nice of him to take the time to answer my enquiry. Not everyone would go to the trouble to do so. I know from experience.

Thanks to Ken, , I have a beautiful, and wonderfully fragrant bloom to share!
Blc. Ports of Paradise 'Emerald Isle'

That's. A beauty, Tara. Congratulations!

Ken, good. The lowlands type should be easier to grow because we can better match its environment. Just consider it a warm season grower. The name we picked is a winner; C. maxima var. semi-alba it is.

Jim

Tara, what temperature (range) is your 'Isle' growing in? My coloration is a so much darker lime this time and I wonder if it is because the greenhouse (until just before blooming) and then the porch are so cool now. Those are getting down to around 50 F at night and only get up into the 60's during the day, and that's a warm day. For the last week the high in the greenhouses and porch hasn't gotten out of the 50's. This photo was taken yesterday.

Jim, you took the words out of my mouth. A C. maxima coming from the ( Andean) lowlands is surely a warm grower.
Tara, that is a nice lip on your plant!

The C. maxima should do well then. If anything, it will get hot here. Not right now though!

Art Chadwick sent me a follow-up and said that this orchid is ONE TO HAVE and is the only C. maxima species that has this dark line running down the lip. He says he not only specializes in species plants but is an active collector of them. He can't have mine (not yet, anyway).

Now I need to search my records (forget searching my mind ) and figure out who I traded with to get this orchid. I don't have a clue.

I met Art Chadwick here in Memphis, I went to his presentation on species behind the First Ladies catts that he gave last fall. I had been phone buddies for several years, as he is my main source for this group. Always helpful, but his plants are worth what he charges because of the rarity factor. There are some general plants he also sells or he would go out of business, I don't fault him for the high price tag on those. It's good to have him on your resource list!

Oh man, why can't things just be, well, simple?

I found the record of who, where and when I got the C. maxima. As I previously said, his label was C. Maxima var Highland and I got the plant back in August. Art Chadwick says I have the lowland type and he says because of the flower coloration, elongated pseudobulbs, and dark stripe down the center of the lip, he is sure of this. OK, the guy I traded with actually sent me pictures of the "mother" plant in bloom and pictures of the division from that plant that he was sending me in trade.

his plants

my plant

His flower certainly does look like the Highland type (dark color and no central lip stripe) but the pseudobulbs are anything but short and squatty (Art's words). As usual, I am more confused than ever. Nothing seems to fit! Guesses anyone?

Yes Ken, I too noticed that difference in color. Since I received it, it's been in my living room, and at times my guest room. Sunshine has been little to none for several days now. And we have had a drop in temps with the cold front that came through. Up until a couple days ago when I had to turn on the heat, our temps were ranging mid to upper 70's daytime, and I don't think our house temp fell much below 65F. Looks to me like this one is much prettier with the cooler temps. Ranging 50's-60's, rather than 60's-70's. Regardless though, it sure is a beauty.

Over the years, I have seen this wide range of coloration. Some flowers even had a beautiful pastel lavender/pink blush on the fringes. One thing that seems to never vary is its fragrance. I don't think I have an orchid more fragrant.

It is very fragrant! I love it! And the coloration is something I notice as this was opening. There is a bit of lavender in the 'throat', whereas I don't see any in the one you posted. They really are beautiful!

These don't have that blush, but I have seen it on several flowers over the last 3-4 years.

Ken, I don't see anything that would change the name we have adopted for your orchid.

Jim

Not changing, just completely confused about the color change from the "mother" plant.

Camera and lighting can make a big difference in color. His pic. was taken in low light with a dark background, while yours was taken in bright light with a white background. I'll bet if you play with your camera a bit, you'll see less difference, in the color anyway.

When I picked up this crazy colored Potinara Dick Smith ' Aloha Spirit' at an Orchid Show last year, my husband could only shake his head!! He is normally very supportive when it comes to buying Orchids and has been known at Shows to pick up some stuff himself. But this was a bit too crazy!!
So this plant has now two spikes!! I would think this is so ugly that it is cute again, if that makes sense. Here is the first of the two spikes, brace yourselves!


And this pretty digbyana hybrid just opened today, Blc Green-Heart 'Amy' from Waldor a few years ago. This one grows now essentially mounted, since it outgrew its first little dish and I hung it up.


And if you can stay ahead of scale infestations on this little Epi longipetalum x Laelia lundii, you have a cute little bloomer. (I can )

Would that be considered a "splash" coloration, Ursula? I kind of like it.

I'm afraid I have to agree with Klaus, but that Digbyana hybrid is to die for!