Had a nice walk around the Sarasota Orchid Society's show today. There was a preponderance of big and bigger Catts, but lots of other different genera (although I should have gone yesterday as a couple of the types I was looking for had already sold out).

The displays of the various growers and orchid clubs were lovely as always, the theme was "A Concert of Orchids" so a musical theme throughout.



Thrilled to see this beautiful blooming specimen of Vanda Tokyo Blue, as I have a little start that I am growing. The white Catt is C. Mount Hood 'Mary' which reminded me of my mother who grew daffodils called Mount Hood. She would have loved all these orchids!

I did try my best to get tags in these pictures, but often the flowers are in focus but the tags are not, so . . sorry! Just enjoy - these next three for Ursula - plus tag.


Kate, this one you will enjoy, a humungous example of B. Yellow Bird with all the different shades of the flowers showing at once. It was breathtaking!

Also a prize winner of B. subulifolia with at least 25 flowering spikes on it.


Ok, just a bunch that I loved the colors or shapes on:





A lovely specimen of Enc. ciliare with 5 spikes of delicate flowers, and there was a huge one of Den Andree Millar (which I have) that the picture was out of focus, but it was a lush mat about 2ft. by 3ft. just covered with lovely little flowers. Mine's getting a mount as soon as it's finished blooming!

Just gorgeous, Elaine. I think your trips to Apopka have put you off to show prices. Thanks for sharing.

Jim

No kidding!

That Yellow Bird is fascinating but my eye is drawn to the cattleya to the left. Also, I love that purple vanda in your miscellaneous pictures. I feel like I have one like it, but I could always use another! Jim is right though, show prices make your eyes pop after going to Apopka.

Great show, Elaine! Now I think I'll have to find A 'yellow bird' of my own.

What a nice Show, Elaine!! Gorgeous stuff.
Do you remember if the cute little "braided" Orchid was Lockhartia oerstedii?
Love the little Bulbo!
Thanks for sharing!!

Yes, I think the braided one was Lochhartia, sorry I missed the tag in that picture.

It was fun, but I really had the impression that the prices had jumped since last year. Even the bare-root divisions were priced at $25 and those can be such a gamble. Still lots of people buying so, who am I to judge?

Thanks. it sure is cute!
I think you guys are spoiled by Apopka prices! Around here nothing is ever cheap!

You're absolutely right, we are spoiled. We also have other opportunities, like the plant festival last fall at Tropiflora. One of the good vendors is always there and he had bare-root starts of some wonderful cultivars for around $12. Jim got a few nice Schoms that day, I think.

I can see charging a premium price for a plant in full bloom, and of course it costs the vendors to transport their beautiful bloomers to a show. But not bare-root starts with no great expectation of success or even survival.

Gorgeous pictures, Elaine. I'm even more excited now about our show coming up in March...Got to start squirreling away those $$$'s!

Looks like a lovely show!

Where are you shopping in Apopka? I'll be in Orlando in a week and want to fill my carryon with orchids. I've been to Krull-Smith and Ritter Tropic 1 before and will try to get there again this year.

Yes, we shopped at Krull-Smith and also a place called First Orchids on Plymouth-Sorrento Rd. They are a wholesaler to restaurants and cruise ships etc. so they have a lot of un-named Phals and Dendrobiums. Their prices are outstanding if you don't mind not knowing the names. I got 6in. pots of B. Little Stars in bloom for $5 each, I think it was. Perfect Xmas gifts!

They also have a huge inventory of Vandas, most of which do have name tags. They are amazingly priced at, I think, $14 each, although none of them will be in bloom unless you visit closer to the summer. I have a couple that have bloomed for me from them, very nice healthy plants.

Have not been to Ritter Tropic 1, but will have to go there next time.

Don't forget Charlie Chapman's at 3321 W. Kelly Park Rd. By the way, First Orchids is at 2107 Plymouth Sorrento Rd. Be sure to look around as you never know what you will find.

Jim

You should definitely call first if you want to visit Chapman's though. He's been MIA the last two times I've called in there. I did see him at the show last week, though. He no longer sells Phaius, which I was disappointed to hear, but he does sell fantastic Cymbidiums. My only dependable re-bloomer came from him, it is Cym. Kenny Wine. He had a nice mix of other types when we were there a couple of years ago, too. He seems to only bring his Cyms to the shows, though.