bbyby Hetty
Degannes from Trinidad
- The
Curacao Orchid Club held its 14th. annual show "Orchids by Night"
at
- Prowin
Motors, SCHERPENHEUVEL 7 on Friday 6th April 2001 to Sunday 8th April 2001.
- I was
invited as a special guest and my host and hostess, Gerry and Carmen Linegar,
along with Carmen's mom, left no stone unturned to ensure that my stay there
was a very pleasurable and memorable one - Thank you most sincerely.
- We first
visited the show around 10:00 a.m. on Friday 6th April. We met a large
number of people from homes for the aged and physically challenged getting a
preview of the show and not only enjoying the beautiful orchids but also the
refreshments which members of the Orchid Club served.
- The
theme "Orchids by Night" was admirably enhanced by the
architecture of the show-hall. The show-hall is a new show room for cars
like Mercedes Benz, which was kindly loaned by the owners. The floor was
tiled with black marble tiles and the ceiling was done in silver metallic
strips, which along with the mirrored wall at the far end of the room
mirrored the entire surroundings.
- After
entering through the glass doors you passed under a wrought-iron arch which
was donated as a prize to be raffled. Your eyes then automatically came upon
the illuminated revolving arched display, on which were various
Brassavola-nodosa plants. As you proceeded to the left, there were the
flamboyant displays of Broughtonia sanguinea and its various hybrids. These
seem to grow very well in Curacao as the plants were very floriferous. One
exceptional hybrid was Ctlna. Why-Not x Broughtonia Sanguinea var aurea. Two
awards were given in this section. To add to this beautiful display were two
sculptures which were indeed most suitably chosen.
- Continuing
around in an anti-clockwise direction you then came on to a small but
interesting display of Onc. Carthagenense, which was a beautiful long
lace-like spray of tiny blooms approximate 75 - 90 very well presented. Each
flower was light brown with a small red lip and the undulating petals and
sepals were dotted with tiny red dots.
- Next to
this outstanding oncidium was a fairly good Rhyn. gigantea. There were two
blooms on this one small plant - colour white with light pink markings.
- Continuing
around you came to the American Army Jeep - on which was the phalaenopsis
plant which was awarded 1st. Place in the show. Unfortunately the name was
unknown. This plant had around thirty-two (32) flowers on five (5) branching
stems, each bloom in excellent condition and owned by my hostess Carmen
Linegar. Congratulations Carmen - well done. Adjacent to this winning plant
was an outstanding yellow phalaenopsis with around eleven (11) open blooms
and three (3) buds, on a single stem. Again the name was unknown. I have
never seen this number of blooms on a light yellow phalaenopsis - well done
to the owner of this plant. The side of the Army Jeep was appropriately
decorated with garden implements and on the bed of the sawdust there was a
very realistic looking Caiman sculpture, which appeared to say, "just
do not go near this vehicle only look and admire!"
- As one
continued around to the front of the vehicle there were various Dendrobium
plants. e.g. horn-type, d. Field king, a Striped one was awarded a prize,
some new ones to me e.g. d. Midnight Star, d. Micky mouse, d. Flyball are a
few to mention.
- Continuing
around, was an outstanding display of equitants on a tree-bark. What a
beautiful variety of colours all growing so harmoniously side by side. This
display was also awarded a prize. Below this at floor level was the winning
- Cattleya
Cat. Pink Diamond, surrounded by encyclias, Cat. Skinneri and others.
- On the
opposite side against the mirrored wall, were the phalaenopsis display,
these beautiful plants were from Holland.
- Moving
around the mirrored wall, were two black sculptures about 2 ft. in height,
on which were yellow oncidium sprays artistically arranged. Between these
two displays and nearer the mirrored wall was another awarded plant phaius
species with beautiful flowers. This plant sat on top a large carved vase.
To one side of the oncidium arrangements were spathaglottis and epidendrums,
which came up to another beautiful archway of dendrobiums from Thailand.
These well displayed flowers were interspersed with white fairy lights. All
this reflected in the mirrored wall, so that the virtual image deceived so
many visitors, that they wanted to go through the arch to see the flowers on
the other side!
- On a
more technical note, training in proper labelling and judging techniques is
desirable. This will lead to more expert judging and appreciation of crosses
and parentage of blooms.
- From an
artistic point of view the show was a tremendous success. The skilful use of
suitable props set off the beauty of the flowers and the ambience of the
show-hall made for a very memorable display.
- On a
personal note - it was a pleasure meeting fellow Ochidists who were so
gracious and kind. Thank you all, especially my host and hostess Carmen and
Gerry for such a lovely experience.
-
- With
kindest regards to all.
- Hetty
Degannes
- Trinidad