My Cattleya tenebrosa Valpota's Nights x self

[Halloamey]

Here are the pictures of the first time blooms of my Cattleya tenebrosa (formerly Laelia). It is a seedling from the selfing of a very beautiful dark tenebrosa form called Valpota's Night. I am bit disappointed though, the colours could have been darker and the petals could have had a better form rather than folding away, but one thing to consider is that the flower could have been better but it was ravaged by a snail my arch enemy, anyways I hope it will bloom better on its subsequent bloomings.

This is how the flower looked the second day of blooming, sorry for the bad picture quality due to low lights and flash



And then this is how it looks in sunlight a week later



In the next pictures the snail damage is visible at the lip and the petals. I hate snails !!!!