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Our local orchid society took a field trip to the St. Louis Botanical Gardens in January 2005.  Fortunately it was on a Saturday and the venders were out aplenty.  Because it was my birthday, I just had to treat myself to a special present.

 

One vender had some cattleya hybrids from blue breeding programs.  The plants were bare root on a table, when the quantity dwindled they were replenished from a supply kept in a banana box under the table.  

 

I looked at the 5 plants  on the table, not at all impressed.  Asked about others and was offered the box to search through.  I found one with intact root buds, that so far were ungrown.  The new lead growth was just visible, not yet separated from the main growth.  All in all it appeared undamaged from the storage and handling.  It could be planted and all the new growth would be after it was in its new home.  I felt it was a "keeper".

 

Happy birthday to me, I was the new owner of an Lc Canhamiana x C. bowringiana.  The orchid club members got together before departing the show to compare purchases.  I must admit, my new acquisition did not look fine and finished.  Most of the members bought potted and polished plants that were much larger and flashier.  I got a few looks, that translated into "she's crazy" to a sad sympathetic "Oh, that's nice", when in fact they thought it pathetic.

 

The Saint (my nickname for it) bloomed around the solstice, so it has been in bloom for about 10 days.  It was on a high shelf facing the window, I was in a hurry, so didn't really take a good look at it until today. 

 

Everybody's excuse, the pictures don't do it justice, but they just don't.  Maybe it could have grown more or had more blooms, but nonetheless, it was a thrill for me.

 

 

   Lc. Canhamiana x C. bowringiana 

 

 

    Lc. Canhamiana x C. bowringiana