The Sapphire Orchid Club presented its Spring 2024 orchid Show in the Pambula Town hall due to the unavailability of the Bega Civic Centre. The hall was resplendent with a magnificent display of quality Dendrobiums supported by some outstanding Cymbidiums along with other exotic plants.
Most successful exhibitor was Keith Barrett who was presented with the Maurine Cochrane Award.
Grand Champion and Champion Seedling went to Lycaste Memo, a very well formed flower, white with delicate pink fringing grown by Richard Skitt who also presented the Champion Cymbidium 90mm and over, Cym. Regal Flames ‘Queen of Hearts’, Champion Cymbidium Seedling, Dream Blaze ’Dural x Blazing Arcadia’.
Reserve Champion was a Dendrobium Dunokayla ‘Moonshine’ x Den. Speciosum ‘Josephine’ grown by Keith Barrett who went on to take out Champion Australian Species or Hybrid with the same plant. He also was successful with his Phalaenopsis Younghome ‘San Diego’ as Champion Vandaceous Orchid and a splendid Vriesea ‘Milky Way’ to take out the Champion Fern or Foliage.
Champion Novice was presented by Roger & Angela Skitt, Cym. Sarah Jean ‘Ford Cascade’, a nicely grown plant with a cascading spike of white flowers.
Champion Cymbidium 60mm-90mm was Cym. Marvin Gaye ‘Royale’ grown by Jeff Knox who also was awarded Champion Specimen and Champion Species orchid with his remarkable Coelogyne flaccida, a very large plant surrounded by cascading strings of pale yellow flowers making a very impressive sight on its high stand.
Long time growers Bob and Muriel Bell didn’t disappoint, with the Champion Cymbidium Under 60mm, Cym. Heartbreak Doctor ‘Hearts of Wine’ and also Champion Laeliinae, Cattleya Mango ‘Spice’. Both of these plants featured very striking colors.
Champion Paphiopedilum was shown by Graham Gray, quite a large flower with a dominant dorsal petal.
The floral art section was well represented by some very imaginative displays however Margaret Deighton took out the honours with her tall presentation featuring a spray of green Cymbidium flowers balanced by some tall canes.
Congratulations to all winners, exhibitors, and helpers for putting on another great show.
Sapphire Coast Orchid Club would like to thank our Major Sponsors, Robert Smith Complete Furnishers of Pambula, The Bendigo Bank, Clubs Grant scheme and The Little Bouquet Florist of Merimbula for their very generous support which makes it possible to hold our Shows.
