Lots of Hard Work Goes into Orchid Awards
Lots of hard work goes into winning orchid awards. Growers spend long hours mastering plant care in order to coax out exceptional blooms. Orchid judges spend years studying and training to find and evaluate those perfect flowers. It’s challenging work. These photos spotlight winners at recent shows. The first row of pictures above features an enormous Leopard Orchid, Ansellia africana, filling a whole table. It’s won an Award of Merit (AM) from the American Orchid Society (AOS.) This plant and its exact genetic copies will now include AM/AOS at the end of their name. Learn more about awards in this earlier post.
The second row of photos above shows a Cymbidium hybrid with an AM, and a bizarre Bulbophyllum species with a Highly Commended Certificate (HCC.) The third row of photos below has a deep purple Lady Slipper hybrid with an HCC, and a Dendrobium hybrid with an AM. The Dendrobium had previously won another award, a First Class Certificate (FCC,) shown on its nametag. Since the previous FCC is higher than the AM, it keeps the FCC on its name. Learn more about AOS awards on their website.
The last two rows of pictures present plants which have received cultural and botanical honors. While flower quality awards are added to that cultivar’s name, cultural and botanical awards are not. The Certificate of Cultural Excellence (CCE) given to the grower of that enormous Mediocalcar, and the Certificate of Cultural Merit (CCM) granted to the grower of the purple Sarcochilus hybrid, are certainly well earned. The final two photos feature a Certificate of Botanical Recognition (CBR) for an Elleanthus with tiny purple blossoms. The CBR recognizes rare or unusual species which haven’t won any previous awards.
If you’re interested in exhibiting a plant, I recommend first attending local orchid society shows, meetings, or judging centers. Observe the awarded plants, talk to others about what makes a winner, and ask about common problems to avoid. Find more helpful info and the Judging Entry Form on the AOS site. Good luck!
AOS judges are orchid experts. They don’t just look at the flowers and hand over a prize. They research, take measurements, compare colors, study, discuss, and debate all the pros and cons of each contender. If you’re interested in becoming an AOS judge, check out their website.
Around the world, other organizations have their own award systems. The Royal Horticultural Society in the UK, the Australian Orchid Council, the Japan Orchid Growers Association, and the Coordenadoria das Associações Orquidófilas do Brasil are just a few of the groups with high standards, hard-working growers, and dedicated judges.
Explore posts in the same categories: Misc, Orchid Names, Photos
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