Name: Den.Rainbow-Dance.jpg Views: 249 Size: 165.4 KBName: Den-victoria-reginae-wr-at-Mvn.jpg Views: 195 Size: 172.3 KBName: Den-Gatton-Monarch-I-think.jpg Views: 198 Size: 163.5 KB

So, I took my Den Formidible to the Show ( or it was taken - it was a three day show, and I only went for a couple of hours, because of other commitments ), but did not get anything - as far as I know. At least none of the "Best ..." etc awards. But then, one thinks one has a real smasher,. and then go and see others who have much better plants . Cuts me down to size !
Three Dendrobes I loved are shown here. The victoria-reginae had 17 or 18 flowering canes. Grown on bark with lots of sphagnum - my plants of this species are being moved over to that system ASAP. To be fair ( to myself) it was a Writhlington School plant, which I am told has been in their collection for over 20 years. They have 6 greenhouses, all tall and airy, each providing a different specific set of conditions, heated etc and paid for out of the school budget, and grown by an endless supply of free labour - the kids. But they do get magnificent results, often sweep the board wherever they go to show ( e.g. The European Orchid Conference in Paris a few months ago). Orchids are incorporated into the school syllabus - all the flasking etc is part of the science routine ; also they are big in conservation and have taken that to schools around the world, e.g. in Guatemala and Assam - taught the locals to love their native orchids, how to pollinate in the wild, then collect the pods, and flask etc..It is an ordinary comprehensive school in an industrial area - nothing special, not fee-p[aying - takes kids from 11 to 18 - several of whom have gone on to work at Kew or Wisley ( our two greatest gardens both doing research etc. ) . We ( in UK) are all very proud of them - but just can't compete on the show bench, which does niggle a bit, to be honest !
The next one - pink - is D.Rainbow Dance. It is a unicum primary hybrid, and curiously enough is illustrated in the AOS mag' this month- where I met it for the first time. One to look out for - and if you see it first, buy one for me will you ?
The yellow, is ( I think I am right) Gatton Monarch, with large flowers, and all in splendid condition. An old one, but hard to beat even now .

More good orchids from the same (Malvern, in Worcestershire, UK) show to follow.