I won’t keep you in suspense. The above photo is of my tiny Sophronitis cernua, with a ribbon beside it. So far, anyway, it appears as though I won two second place ribbons and a third at the Cape and Islands Orchid Show. If there’s an update I will post it.

This just in: as often happens, the show results are quite different from the results I have written above:

I won a first (!) and  second for the tiny red Sophronitis cernua in the above photo (don’t know where that blue ribbon got to, because I never saw it), two seconds and a third for my Epidendrum porpax, and a third for the Oncidium Twinkle “pink profusion” displayed in the teapot.

My plants were very very unhappy campers when I got them back yesterday. Shows, with their weird lighting and dry air, are hard on them, to say nothing of drastically reduced waterings. But no permanent damage was done, and I am happy to have them home again.

Here are some photos I took of the different displays and some astounding plants.

This is the display entered by my club, the “Ocean State Orchid Society.” The oncidium in the teapot is mine.

This Cymbidium is pretty amazing, isn’t it?

Black was very popular this year. Not my cup of tea, but that’s why there’s an orchid for every taste.

The big winner, and star of the show was this spectacular Dendrobium. The scent was so strong it was almost overpowering, and would definitely be too much in my house. This one must live in a greenhouse, probably a fancy one.

Here’s a closer look at the hundreds of flowers.

This is a commercial grower’s display. They also compete in the shows. This one features several of my favorites. The cascading white one is an Aerangis, the yellow and red  orchids are Masdevallias and the other red is a Sophronitis coccinea – one I don’t own yet, but covet.

Yes, I did buy plants, two of them, and I also picked up some growing supplies.  I can’t wait to get my “show” plants back home where they belong.

Thanks for all your encouragement. I am such a newbie at this that I am always surprised when I win something.