Pedigree and then news...

Red Palace is not a listed cross. Magic Cherry is, being the cross of Black Cherry x Voodoo Magic. Magic Cherry is a complex hybrid, but is made up of 53% callosum, 17% lawrenceanum, 12% curtisii, and trace amounts of barbatum, purpuratum, sukhakulii and mastersianum.

So the trip up to Dartmouth's greenhouse is a go! Let me finish a project I'm doing this and next week, and then we can plan it. My artist friend Marcia loves the idea. The gal who runs the greenhouse is Lisa Parker. Apparently she had some plants entered at the NH Orchid Show this weekend. She, through my friend Mary in the Bio Dept, directed me to her treasured entry: a Clowesia Jumbo Grace.

After scouting the vendors for desired purchases, I purused the entries and only towards the end remembered Lisa's plant. I turned around and there it was! The plant was ugly. Three fat, bald pseubobulbs. But the daisy-chained, flesh-colored flowers were delicate, lacy and delightful!

A blue ribbon hung from it, so I called Mary and told her. Then the announcer ran through the awards, and as I was on the phone announced that Best-in-Show went to Lisa's Clowesia!

Mary called Lisa first thing this morning, and Lisa was screaming and jumping up and down, she was so happy she won! It seems the plant is a rare one and hard to grow, and she was thrilled with the results.

I just know that our little field trip contingient now holds some sacred status for being the ones to have first reported her whomping success. We should have a truly great visit!

I didn't have my camera with me, but I'll post a photo as soon as I can get one from Lisa.

Julie