A Second HCC/AOS – Paph. To-Be-Announced ‘Henry’s Turn’

A Second HCC/AOS – Paph. To-Be-Announced ‘Henry’s Turn’

from OrchidTalk Orchid Forum by mauraec

Saturday, Phillip and I decided to take 2 of my blooming paphs, the Berenice, and the Bel Royal, to the AOS Atlanta monthly judging. My newest (unregistered) vinicolor hybrid was giving me a headache trying to stake it properly, and making me feel as though I had to strangle it to get it to sit right. With Phillip’s encouragement (read “insistence”), I persevered however, and put the very dark, very pretty, but rather small and spindly little thing in the box with the two others. The Bel Royal was looked at and discussed among the judges for a long time, and ultimately “passed on” because of some inconsistent coloring on the pouches; the Berenice was given a look, but also passed on, and the vinicolor hybrid looked like it was going to be passed on before it was even seen by a judge – it was one of 2 out of the 26 plants left at the end. Then, wonder of wonders, the 5-judge team that picked it up decided they loved it! apparently, they would have given it an AM had it not had a couple of issues with the shape (slightly reflexed dorsal, slightly curving inward side petals). It did, however, garner an HCC – a score of 78.

Remaining issue – now I have to register it with the RHS. Very daunting prospect to come up with a grex name (already gave it the clonal name ‘Henry’s Turn’, for my son, since his big sister Abby had the first HCC named after her last August), but I shall again persevere – with a little help from my OT friends, I hope!

Anyway, here’s the final photo of the vinicolor (Paph. Hilo Ruby ‘XXL’ x Paph. Hsinying Glory ‘#2’), as well as a photo of the award certificate.

AOS judging seems to me, in my limited experience, to be a very unpredictable process, but I can hardly complain!

Originally posted at the Orchid Talk Forum
Thought it was pretty cool and interesting article and Orchid.

-Lee