July 30, 2009

Class 42B - new flowering hybrids/cultivars

SECTION F - New Gesneriads - This SECTION is for introductions made within the last 5 years, but not previously entered in this SECTION of The Gesneriad Society Convention Show. Exhibitor must provide a white card (not to exceed 8-1/2"◊11") giving educational information such as name of hybridizer, collector, place of origin, special cultural requirements.

Class 42B Hybrids or named cultivars in flower

Click through for more photos. (Go straight to the slideshow.)

Entry No. 238, Sinningia 'Matt Hudson', exhibited by Tim Tuttle. Score: 94. First Place.
Entry No. 239, Sinningia 'Kevin Garnett', exhibited by Tim Tuttle. Score: 91. Second Place.
Entry No. 165, Sinningia eumorpha 'Saltao' x S. piresiana, exhibited by Peter Shalit. Score: 85. Third Place.
Entry No. 438, Sinningia 'Pristine', exhibited by Charlene Marietti. Score: 83. Honorable Mention.
Entry No. 437, Sinningia 'Kristine', exhibited by Charlene Marietti. Score: 78.


(Navigating flickr.com: Photo sizes in the slideshow view are larger than the standard page-by-page view. While in slideshow, you can click "show info" to see the description. Wherever possible, I've included info from the judging sheets in the descriptions - for educational and informational purposes.)

July 29, 2009

Class 42A - new flowering hybrids/cultivars

SECTION F - New Gesneriads - This SECTION is for introductions made within the last 5 years, but not previously entered in this SECTION of The Gesneriad Society Convention Show. Exhibitor must provide a white card (not to exceed 8-1/2"◊11") giving educational information such as name of hybridizer, collector, place of origin, special cultural requirements.

Class 42 was divided into three.

Class 42A Hybrids or named cultivars in flower. Click through for photos.

Entry No. 149, Kohleria 'Rattlesnake', exhibited by John Boggan. Score: 90. First Place. John Boggan's hybrid - 'Snakeskin' x unnamed sibling of 'Pink Shadows'.
Entry No. 227, Kohleria 'Florida Freckles', exhibited by Jay Sespico. Score: 80. Second Place. Thad Scaggs' hybrid - 'Hartlands Blackberry Butterflies' x 'Peridots Kitlope.'

July 28, 2009

Class 17 - Flowering Gesneria

SECTION C - New World Gesneriads in Flower - Fibrous-Rooted
Class 17 Gesneria

Click through for more photos.

Entry No. 243, Gesneria 'Ako Cardinal Flight', exhibited by Nancy Kast. Score: 98. First Place.
Entry No. 305, Gesneria christii, exhibited by Paul Kroll. Score: 95. Second Place.

P.S. I love Ako Cardinal Flight!

July 27, 2009

Blue Ribbon winners at the Gesneriad Society's website

Today I'm just going to point you to The Gesneriad Society's website where you can see gorgeous photos of the blue ribbon winners. Check out the close up of Streptocarpus 'Dale's Scarlet Macaw' (Class 31C, exhibited by Gail Gray), the velvety symmetry of Petrocosmea forresttii (Class 36A, exhibited by LaDonna Hopson), the strange flowers of Boea hemsleyana (Class 32A, exhibited by Nancy Kast), and the list goes on. Why not take a look at the winners from past Conventions, too?

July 26, 2009

Aeschynanthus humilis

SECTION D - Old World Gesneriads in Flower
Class 20 Aeschynanthus

One entry in this class:
Entry No. 495, Aeschynanthus humilis, exhibited by Lyndon Lyon Greenhouses, Inc. Score: 95. First Place.

As commented on the judging, eye-catching!

Diastema sp. 'Red Falls'

SECTION F - New Gesneriads - This SECTION is for introductions made within the last 5 years, but not previously entered in this
SECTION of The Gesneriad Society Convention Show. Exhibitor must provide a white card (not to exceed 8-1/2"◊11") giving educational information such as name of hybridizer, collector, place of origin, special cultural requirements.
Class 40 Species in flower

One entry:
Entry No. 242, Diastema sp. 'Red Falls', exhibited by Tim Tuttle. Score: 91. First Place.

Class 19 - other flowering fibrous-rooted New World

SECTION C - New World Gesneriads in Flower - Fibrous-Rooted
Class 19 Other fibrous-rooted gesneriads

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Entry No. 506, Rufodorsia minor, exhibited by Nancy Kast. Score: 83. Second Place.
Entry No. 429, Paradrymonia ciliosa, exhibited by Olive Ma Robinson. Score: 77. Third Place.

Rufodorsia minor, native to Costa Rica, Panama (per the Checklist). For a photo of seed pod, see the Fruits and Seeds section of Prof. Dr. Anton Weber's article available on the The Gesneriad Reference Web.

Paradrymonia ciliosa, native to Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru Suriname, Venezuela (per the Checklist).

(Navigating flickr.com: Photo sizes in the slideshow view are larger than the standard page-by-page view. While in slideshow, you can click "show info" to see the description. Wherever possible, I've included info from the judging sheets in the descriptions - for educational and informational purposes.)

Classes 15 (A & B) - flowering Columnea

SECTION C - New World Gesneriads in Flower - Fibrous-Rooted

Class 15 was split into two. Click through for more photos. (Go straight to the slideshow.)

Class 15A Columnea (Dalbergaria, Pentadenia, Trichantha)

Entry No. 144, Columnea 'Eewun', exhibited by Lynn Cook and Troy Ray. Score: 94. First Place.
Entry No. 426, Columnea sanguinea, exhibited by Olive Ma Robinson. Score: 92. Second Place.

Class 15B Columnea (Dalbergaria, Pentadenia, Trichantha)

Entry No. 427, Columnea lehmannii, exhibited by Olive Ma Robinson. Score: 92. First Place.
Entry No. 140, Columnea orientandina, exhibited by Carol Hamelink. Score: 90. Second Place.
Entry No. 347, Columnea minutiflora, exhibited by Carol Hamelink. Score: 88. Third Place.

(Navigating flickr.com: Photo sizes in the slideshow view are larger than the standard page-by-page view. While in slideshow, you can click "show info" to see the description. Wherever possible, I've included info from the judging sheets in the descriptions - for educational and informational purposes.)

July 24, 2009

DC area chapter membership

[I'm bumping this up again - just one more time.]

We're running something of a special. Join the National Capital Area Chapter of The Gesneriad Society now, and your one year membership fee will be good through the end of 2010. Sign up at the Convention or mail in this application form.

July 23, 2009

Class 23 (A and B) - Flowering Petrocosmea

SECTION D - Old World Gesneriads in Flower

Class 23 was split into A and B. Click through for photos of both. (Go straight to the slideshow.)

Class 23A Petrocosmea
Entry No. 405, Petrocosmea begoniifolia, exhibited by Nancy Carr. Score: 90. First Place.
Entry No. 246, Petrocosmea minor, exhibited by Nancy Kast. Score: 88. Second Place.
Entry No. 446, Petrocosmea species #5, exhibited by Paul Lee. Score: 87. Third Place.


Class 23B Petrocosmea
Entry No. 461, Petrocosmea flaccida, exhibited by Arleen Dewell. Score: 89. Second Place. (Unfortunately, I didn't get a separate photo of Entry 461, or its score sheet.)
Entry No. 396, Petrocosmea flaccida, exhibited by Nancy Carr. Score: 88. Third Place.

(Navigating flickr.com: Photo sizes in the slideshow view are larger than the standard page-by-page view. While in slideshow, you can click "show info" to see the description. Wherever possible, I've included info from the judging sheets in the descriptions - for educational and informational purposes.)

Class 57 "Textile Museum" arrangements

SECTION L - Arrangements of Fresh Cut Gesneriad Material
Class 57 "Textile Museum" - A foliage only arrangement emphasizing color, pattern and/or texture. Niche size: 8"H ◊ 8"W ◊ 8"D.

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Entry No. 420, Textile Museum, exhibited by Olive Ma Robinson. Score: 92. First Place.
Entry No. 266, Textile Museum, exhibited by Karyn Cichocki. Score: 91. Second Place.
Entry No. 198, Textile Museum, exhibited by Neale W. Stuart-Merriman. Score: 85. Third Place.
Entry No. 204, Textile Museum, exhibited by Lee Stradley. Score: 79. Honorable Mention.


(Navigating flickr.com: Photo sizes in the slideshow view are larger than the standard page-by-page view. While in slideshow, you can click "show info" to see the description. Wherever possible, I've included info from the judging sheets in the descriptions - for educational and informational purposes.)

July 22, 2009

Class 56 "Kite Festival" arrangements

SECTION L - Arrangements of Fresh Cut Gesneriad Material
Class 56 "Kite Festival" - Whether flown singly or in tandem, the multishaped fliers attract attention with their swooping and soaring. Your interpretation in a mobile design. Niche size: 24"H ◊ 16"W ◊ 12"D.

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Entry No. 181, Kite Festival, exhibited by Judy Zinni. Score: 91. First Place.
Entry No. 265, Kite Festival, exhibited by Karyn Cichocki. Score: 89. Second Place.


(Navigating flickr.com: Photo sizes in the slideshow view are larger than the standard page-by-page view. While in slideshow, you can click "show info" to see the description. Wherever possible, I've included info from the judging sheets in the descriptions - for educational and informational purposes.)

July 21, 2009

Class 55 Challenge Class - "Rock Creek" arrangements

SECTION L — Arrangements of Fresh Cut Gesneriad Material
Class 55 CHALLENGE CLASS – all materials will be provided, except mechanics and container. The class title will be announced at 3:30 p.m. at the opening of Entries, and materials will be available at that time. Niche size: 10"H × 10"W × 8"D.

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Entry No. 208, Challenge Class, exhibited by Barbara Stewart. Score: 98. First Place.
Entry No. 178, Challenge Class, exhibited by Barbara Festenstein. Score: 96. Second Place.
Entry No. 319, Challenge Class, exhibited by Jill Fischer. Score: 95. Third Place.
Entry No. 332, Challenge Class, exhibited by Julie Thompson. Score: 94. Honorable Mention.
Entry No. 499, Challenge Class, exhibited by Paul Kroll. Score: 92.
Entry No. 494, Challenge Class, exhibited by Rosemary Platz. Score: 91.
Entry No. 197, Challenge Class, exhibited by Neale W. Stuart-Merriman. Score: 85.


(Navigating flickr.com: Photo sizes in the slideshow view are larger than the standard page-by-page view. While in slideshow, you can click "show info" to see the description. Wherever possible, I've included info from the judging sheets in the descriptions - for educational and informational purposes.)

lotus season

Very off topic, but it's lotus season here in D.C. (These photos are from Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens - a National Park http://www.nps.gov/keaq/ across the Anacostia River from the National Arboretum.)

July 20, 2009

Class 54 "Cherry Blossom Parade" arrangements

SECTION K - Arrangements of Fresh Cut and/or Growing Gesneriad Material
Class 54 "Cherry Blossom Parade" - Using blossoms, buds and calyces only, interpret this herald of Spring in Washington. No foliage, but other line material permitted. Niche size: 8"H ◊ 8"W ◊ 8"D.

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Entry No. 498, Cherry Blossom Parade, exhibited by Paul Kroll. Score: 94. First Place.
Entry No. 263, Cherry Blossom Parade, exhibited by Karyn Cichocki. Score: 84. Second Place.
Entry No. 419, Cherry Blossom Parade, exhibited by Olive Ma Robinson. Score: 79. Third Place.

(Navigating flickr.com: Photo sizes in the slideshow view are larger than the standard page-by-page view. While in slideshow, you can click "show info" to see the description. Wherever possible, I've included info from the judging sheets in the descriptions - for educational and informational purposes.)

Class 53 "Folger Shakespeare Library" arrangements

SECTION K - Arrangements of Fresh Cut and/or Growing Gesneriad Material
Class 53 "Folger Shakespeare Library" - Your interpretation of any of the bard's works (supply title). Skulls permitted. Niche size: 12"H ◊ 12"W ◊ 12"D.

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Entry No. 453, A Midsummer Night's Dream, exhibited by Mel Grice. Score: 94. First Place.
Entry No. 177, Love's Labour Lost, exhibited by Barbara Festenstein. Score: 80. Second Place.
Entry No. 196, A Midsummer Night's Dream, exhibited by Neale W. Stuart-Merriman. Score: not scored.

(Navigating flickr.com: Photo sizes in the slideshow view are larger than the standard page-by-page view. While in slideshow, you can click "show info" to see the description. Wherever possible, I've included info from the judging sheets in the descriptions - for educational and informational purposes.)

July 19, 2009

Class 52 "International Spy Museum" arrangements

SECTION K - Arrangements of Fresh Cut and/or Growing Gesneriad Material
Class 52 "International Spy Museum" - Light and dark with shades in between will define this twin arrangement. Niche size: 18"H ◊ 18"W ◊ 18"D.

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Entry No. 195, International Spy Museum, exhibited by Neale W. Stuart-Merriman. Score: 97. First Place.
Entry No. 176, International Spy Museum, exhibited by Barbara Festenstein. Score: 95. Second Place.
Entry No. 418, International Spy Museum, exhibited by Olive Ma Robinson. Score: 92. Third Place.

(Navigating flickr.com: Photo sizes in the slideshow view are larger than the standard page-by-page view. While in slideshow, you can click "show info" to see the description. Wherever possible, I've included info from the judging sheets in the descriptions - for educational and informational purposes.)

Class 51 - "Fireworks" arrangements

SECTION K - Arrangements of Fresh Cut and/or Growing Gesneriad Material
Class 51 "Fireworks" - This colorful celebration of the 4th of July bursts forth annually on the National Mall. Free-standing design not to exceed 18" in any dimension.

Click through for more photos. (Go straight to the slideshow.)

Entry No. 497, Fireworks, exhibited by Paul Kroll. Score: 95. First Place.
Entry No. 207, Fireworks, exhibited by Barbara Stewart. Score: 91. Second Place.
Entry No. 417, Fireworks, exhibited by Olive Ma Robinson. Score: 90. Third Place.
Entry No. 262, Fireworks, exhibited by Karyn Cichocki. Score: 89.

(Navigating flickr.com: Photo sizes in the slideshow view are larger than the standard page-by-page view. While in slideshow, you can click "show info" to see the description. Wherever possible, I've included info from the judging sheets in the descriptions - for educational and informational purposes.)

July 17, 2009

Class 42C - new flowering hybrids/cultivars

SECTION F - New Gesneriads - This SECTION is for introductions made within the last 5 years, but not previously entered in this SECTION of The Gesneriad Society Convention Show. Exhibitor must provide a white card (not to exceed 8-1/2"◊11") giving educational information such as name of hybridizer, collector, place of origin, special cultural requirements.
Class 42C Hybrids or named cultivars in flower


Click through for more photos. (Go straight to the slideshow.)


Entry No. 297, Chirita 'Louisa', exhibited by Carolyn Conlin-Lane. Score: 96. First Place.
Entry No. 226, Chirita sinensis x longgangensis, exhibited by Jay Sespico. Score: 90. Second Place.
Entry No. 296, Chirita 'Elyse', exhibited by Carolyn Conlin-Lane. Score: 88. Third Place.
Entry No. 364, Streptocarpus 'Heartland's White Gold', exhibited by Brian Connor. Score: 87. Honorable Mention.

(Navigating flickr.com: Photo sizes in the slideshow view are larger than the standard page-by-page view. While in slideshow, you can click "show info" to see the description. Wherever possible, I've included info from the judging sheets in the descriptions - for educational and informational purposes.)

July 16, 2009

Class 33A - Chirita (no flowers)

SECTION E - Gesneriads Grown for Ornamental Qualities Other Than Flowers - Decorative fruit and calyces are permitted, but no flowers or buds showing color. A plant should have some special quality of color, texture or growth habit to be entered in this section.

Class 33A Chirita


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Entry No. 124, Chirita 'Hisako', exhibited by Carol Hamelink. Score: 95. First Place.
Entry No. 389, Chirita sinensis 'Angustifolia', exhibited by Richard G. Carr. Score: 89. Second Place.
Entry No. 512, Chirita 'Naine Argente', exhibited by Kristina Schmid. Score: 85. Third Place.
Entry No. 302, Chirita sinensis 'Hisako', exhibited by Betsy R. Sherwin. Score: 70.

(Navigating flickr.com: Photo sizes in the slideshow view are larger than the standard page-by-page view. While in slideshow, you can click on the photo to see the description. Wherever possible, I've included info from the judging sheets in the descriptions - for educational and informational purposes.)

July 14, 2009

Class 4B - rosette flowering tuberous Sinningia hybrids

SECTION A - New World Gesneriads in Flower - Tuberous
Class 4B - Other Sinningia hybrids with rosette growth pattern

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These are small ones:

Entry No. 158, Sinningia 'Ozark Red Lightning', exhibited by Doris Brownlie. Score: 93. First Place.
Entry No. 237, Sinningia 'Heartland's Double Dilly', exhibited by Tim Tuttle. Score: 90. Second Place.
Entry No. 432, Sinningia 'Ozark Rosy Cheeks', exhibited by Charlene Marietti. Score: 88. Third Place.
Entry No. 507, Sinningia hybrid, exhibited by Carolyn Conlin-Lane. Score: 84.
Entry No. 414, Sinningia 'Super Orange', exhibited by Nancy Carr. Score: 82.


(Navigating flickr.com: Photo sizes in the slideshow view are larger than the standard page-by-page view. While in slideshow, you can click on the photo to see the description. Wherever possible, I've included info from the judging sheets in the descriptions - for educational and informational purposes.)

Classes 10 and 11 - flowering Seemannia and Smithiantha

Classes 10 and 11 had only one entry each, so I combined them into one post. (For the most part, I am giving each Class its own photo set even though the resulting slideshows are shorter than I'd want. The Show was judged by Class, so it makes the most sense.)

Click through for photos of both classes. (Go straight to the slideshow.) And apologies now for not-so-great photos of these.


SECTION B - New World Gesneriads in Flower - Rhizomatous
Class 10 Seemannia and its intergeneric hybrids

Entry No. 148, Seemannia nematanthodes 'Evita', exhibited by John Boggan. Score: 85. Second Place.

This is being offered commercially as hardy to zone 7b (probably with good drainage) for part sun to light shade. Reportedly good in full sun in the DC area.


SECTION B - New World Gesneriads in Flower - Rhizomatous
Class 11 Smithiantha

Entry No. 222, Smithiantha 'Nocturne', exhibited by Jay Sespico. Score: 76. Third Place.


(Navigating flickr.com: Photo sizes in the slideshow view are larger than the standard page-by-page view. While in slideshow, you can click on the photo to see the description. Wherever possible, I've included info from the judging sheets in the descriptions - for educational and informational purposes.)

July 12, 2009

Classes 13A and 13B - other flowering rhizomatous New World

SECTION B - New World Gesneriads in Flower - Rhizomatous

Class 13 was split into two. Click through for photos of all plants in both A and B. (Go straight to the slideshow.)


Class 13A Other rhizomatous gesneriads

Entry No. 185, Amalophyllon clarkii, exhibited by Jo Anne Martinez. Score: 97. First Place.
Entry No. 434, Amalophyllon rupestre, exhibited by Charlene Marietti. Score: 93. Second Place.


Class 13B Other rhizomatous gesneriads

Entry No. 249, Pearcea hypocyrtiflora, exhibited by Nancy Kast. Score: 97. First Place.
Entry No. 223, Pearcea, exhibited by Jay Sespico. Score: 90. Second Place.
Entry No. 122, Gloxinia 'Dragonsong', exhibited by Carol Hamelink. Score: 86. Third Place.

Gloxinia 'Dragonsong' is one of quite a few hybrids by local chapter members. Jim Roberts wrote about this cross in the March 2007 issue of Petal Tones.


(Navigating flickr.com: Photo sizes in the slideshow view are larger than the standard page-by-page view. While in slideshow, you can click on the photo to see the description. Wherever possible, I've included info from the judging sheets in the descriptions - for educational and informational purposes.)

Class 9B - flowering Kohleria

SECTION B - New World Gesneriads in Flower - Rhizomatous
Class 9B Kohleria

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Entry No. 166, Kohleria 'Peridot's Mango Martini', exhibited by Kathy Spissman. Score: 95. First Place.
Entry No. 130, Kohleria 'Manchu', exhibited by Carol Hamelink. Score: 92. Second Place.
Entry No. 134, Kohleria 'Snakeskin', exhibited by Carol Hamelink. Score: 85. Third Place.
Entry No. 146, Kohleria 'Snakeskin', exhibited by John Boggan. Score: 82. Honorable Mention.
Entry No. 136, Kohleria 'Texas Rainbow', exhibited by Carol Hamelink. Score: 75.
Entry No. 348, Kohleria 'Emily Roberts', exhibited by Carol Hamelink. Score: 75.


(Navigating flickr.com: Photo sizes in the slideshow view are larger than the standard page-by-page view. While in slideshow, you can click on the photo to see the description. Wherever possible, I've included info from the judging sheets in the descriptions - for educational and informational purposes.)

Class 21A - flowering Chirita species

SECTION D - Old World Gesneriads in Flower
Class 21A Chirita species

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Entry No. 475, Chirita dielsii, exhibited by Bill Price. Score: 95. First Place.
Entry No. 252, Chirita subrhomboidea, exhibited by Nancy Kast. Score: 91. Second Place.
Entry No. 102, Chirita heterotricha 'Chastity', exhibited by Bev Promersberger. Score: 87. Third Place.
Entry No. 254, Chirita spadiciformis, exhibited by Nancy Kast. Score: 85. Honorable Mention.
Entry No. 101, Chirita sp. USBRG 98-083, exhibited by Bev Promersberger. Score: 83.
Entry No. 344, Chirita gemella, exhibited by Sylvia Taub. Score: not scored.


(Navigating flickr.com: Photo sizes in the slideshow view are larger than the standard page-by-page view. While in slideshow, you can click on the photo to see the description. Wherever possible, I've included info from the judging sheets in the descriptions - for educational and informational purposes.)

July 11, 2009

Streptocarpus dunnii

One of the reasons to go to a plant event like the Convention is the peripheral benefit of a sudden increase in curiosity - requiring immediate reading.

One such question for me - how long to bloom for Streptocarpus dunnii, known as a large unifoliate red, and one of the parents of Streptocarpus Dale's Scarlet Macaw (this year's Best New Registered Hybrid, a Dale Martens creation)? I just came across The Gloxinian, Vol. 52, No. 2 (second quarter 2002) in which Alan LaVergne reported on growing 13 unifoliate Streptocarpus species from seed to bloom. S. dunnii clocked in at 41 months. The Gesneriad Reference Web has a spectacular photo of it in situ.

[Update: in case you missed the Comment. Wallace W. says: I planted seeds of dunnii in October 1994 and the plant flowered in April 1997. It needs usually two winters to bloom. Also the soil must be very free draining like a cactus mix.]

Class 38B - other species grown not for flowers

SECTION E - Gesneriads Grown for Ornamental Qualities Other than Flowers - Decorative fruit and calyces are permitted, but no flowers or buds showing color. A plant should have some special quality of color, texture or growth habit to be entered in this section.
Class 38B Other gesneriad species

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Entry No. 314, Nautilocalyx glandulifer, exhibited by Paul Kroll. Score: 94. First Place.
Entry No. 258, Sinningia reitzii, exhibited by Karyn Cichocki. Score: 93. Second Place.
Entry No. 313, Corytoplectus cutucuensis, exhibited by Paul Kroll. Score: 92. Third Place.
Entry No. 358, Pearcea hypocyrtiflora, exhibited by Stephen Maciejewski. Score: 91. Honorable Mention.

(Navigating flickr.com: Photo sizes in the slideshow view are larger than the standard page-by-page view. While in slideshow, you can click on the photo to see the description. Wherever possible, I've included info from the judging sheets in the descriptions - for educational and informational purposes.)

Class 9A - flowering Kohleria

SECTION B - New World Gesneriads in Flower - Rhizomatous
Class 9A Kohleria

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Class 9 was also split into two. In 9A were:

Entry No. 147, Kohleria 'Pink Shadows', exhibited by John Boggan. Score: 91. First Place.

Entry No. 133, Kohleria 'Green Goblin', exhibited by Carol Hamelink. Score: 90. Second Place.

Entry No. 325, Kohleria 'Peridot's Kitlope', exhibited by Emma Bygott. Score: 82. Third Place.

Entry No. 142, Kohleria 'Jester', exhibited by Carol Hamelink. Score: 80.

Entry No. 135, Kohleria 'Lemon Demon', exhibited by Carol Hamelink. Score: not scored.

Entry No. 175, Kohleria 'Marquis de Sade', exhibited by Barbara Festenstein. Score: not scored.

Entry No. 433, Kohleria 'Kapo', exhibited by Charlene Marietti. Score: not scored.


(Navigating flickr.com: Photo sizes in the slideshow view are larger than the standard page-by-page view. While in slideshow, you can click on the photo to see the description. Wherever possible, I've included info from the judging sheets in the descriptions - for educational and informational purposes.)

Class 7 - other flowering tuberous New World

SECTION A - New World Gesneriads in Flower - Tuberous
Class 7 Other tuberous gesneriads

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Two entries in this class:

Entry No. 123, xSinvana 'Mount Magazine', exhibited by Carol Hamelink. Score: 92. First Place.
This is (Sinningia conspicua x Paliavania tenuiflora). You can read a little about this cross here.

Entry No. 425, Nautilocalyx antioquensis, exhibited by Olive Ma Robinson. Score: none (there was no flower at the time of judging, and this is an "in flower" class). A species from Colombia (Antioquia).

(Navigating flickr.com: Photo sizes in the slideshow view are larger than the standard page-by-page view. While in slideshow, you can click on the photo to see the description. Wherever possible, I've included info from the judging sheets in the descriptions - for educational and informational purposes.)

July 10, 2009

Class 39 - other hybrids grown not for flowers

Class 39 - Other Gesneriad Hybrids, in SECTION E - Gesneriads Grown for Ornamental Qualities Other Than Flowers - Decorative fruit and calyces are permitted, but no flowers or buds showing color. A plant should have some special quality of color, texture or growth habit to be entered in this section.

Click through for more photos. (Go straight to the slideshow.)

There were three entries in this class:

Entry No. 245, Columnea 'Frosty Hills', exhibited by Nancy Kast. Score: 93. First Place.
Entry No. 359, Smithiantha hybrid, exhibited by Stephen Maciejewski. Score: 84. Second Place.
Entry No. 285, Kohleria 'Silver Feather', exhibited by Paul Susi. Score: 78. Third Place.

(Navigating flickr.com: Photo sizes in the slideshow view are larger than the standard page-by-page view. While in slideshow, you can click on the photo to see the description. Wherever possible, I've included info from the judging sheets in the descriptions - for educational and informational purposes.)

more on Conandron ramondioides

What is this Conandron that won Best in Show? Is it one of those alpines?

Well, read on....

When I learned of it a few years ago, I thought it should be growable in the DC area (envision Rock Creek Park or the Asian slope at the Arboretum) with a little micro-climate tweaking along the lines of a sprinkler/waterfall in the spring and summer, and some extra protection in the winter. I had hoped for some outdoor growing space to test this theory, but alas....

What follows is basically the results of my web research. There should be more information available, especially in Japan, China and Taiwan.

First, the World Checklist on Gesneriaceae:

Conandron ramondioides Sieb. & Zucc. var. ramondioides
Distribution: Japan (Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu)
Synonyms: Conandron minor Ito, Conandron ramondioides f. leucanthum (Makino) Okuyama, Conandron ramondioides f. pilosum (Makino) Ohwi

Conandron ramondioides var. taiwanensis Masamune
Distribution: Japan (Ryukyu Islands: Iriomote), China (Anhui, Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Taiwan)
Synonyms: Conandron ramondioides var. ryukuense Masamune, nom. nud., Conandron ramondioides var. ryukyuense Masamune


According to the BG Plants database (of plants in its BG) of Chiba University (with my rough English translations of the common names):


Conandron ramondioides Siebold et Zucc. (common name "rock tobacco plant") 

Conandron ramondioides Siebold et Zucc. f. leucanthus (Nakai) Okuyama (common name white-flowered rock tobacco plant)

Conandron ramondioides Siebold et Zucc. var. pilosus Makino
(Conandron ramondioides Siebold et Zucc. f. pilosus (Makino) Ohwi - synonym) 

Conandron ramondioides Siebold et Zucc. var. taiwanensis Masam. 
(Conandron ramondioides Siebold et Zucc. var. ryukyuensis Masam. - synonym) 


And now for photos. This page shows it growing on a rock wall in Kamakura, some 60 km / 37 miles south of Tokyo on the coast. And on this page (if you scroll down) are more photos of it on a rock wall on the grounds of Tokeiji Temple, in Kita(north)-Kamakura, which is further inland but still at a fairly low elevation - it's about a 40 min walk up to the top of a nearby "mountain" of 150m (500ft). According to this (blog) page, it is f. pilosus that grows around Kamakura, blooming about a month earlier than the non-hairy variety. However, in cultivation, the bloom period is reportedly about the same. Blooms in mid-May to early June means that it flowers before the rainy season arrives in full force, and before the real summer heat.

Here is the non-hairy form growing with ferns on rocky walls in Shinji-cho, which is across Shinji Lake from Matsue City in Shimane Prefecture. That's on the coast of the Japan Sea, some 780 km west (485 miles) of Tokyo. What a coincidence, I was there briefly last year (but no gesneriaceae sightings...). This page says that its range is from Fukushima (290 km / 180 m north of Tokyo) to the southern island of Kyushu. Other pages report this to bloom in July and August, in cool, shady spots.

There are many more photos online, many without specific location information. Both Shinji-cho and Kamakura are coastal areas, with very hilly terrain not far from the coast. The photographs are from locations slightly inland, but not so far as to be into the hilly terrain. Having spent only a couple of days in each place, I can't speak to the climate but I recall Kamakura being very wet and humid, whereas in Matsue I saw layers upon layers of low altitude cloud cover. Oh, and I guess it was raining when I was there.

But some actual weather data would help. Here are comparative monthly high and low temperatures for Matsue, Kamakura (actually a little further south and on the coast, Tsujido), and DC. For a legibly-sized PDF of these (including metric measurements), click here.





Of course, we should keep in mind that these are averages. Also, the weather stations are (presumably) located where they are functional, and not near rocky hillsides with foliage cover, and the topography indicates significant microclimates in both Kamakura and Matsue.

From the temperature data, we can see that DC is colder and is the only location among the three that dips below freezing. (Snow has been recorded in Matsue: greatest recorded was 20 cm annual snowfall.) Also, the difference between the highs and lows is greater throughout the year in DC.

The precipitation patterns in the two Japanese locations show a rainy season in June and July, when temperatures are also rising, but not quite as hot as August. (In DC, the July average temperature is highest.) By August, precipitation is dramatically lower. In contrast, precipitation in DC is relatively steady throughout the year, ranging between 2.8 and 4.4 inches. Total annual precipitation: DC 1.11 m (43.70"), Tsujido 1.45 m (57"), Matsue 1.81 m (71.23"). For Matsue, I found the following relative humidity numbers (Jan to Dec. 1971-2000 averages, also from the Japan Meteorological Agency): 75, 74, 73, 72, 73, 80, 82, 79, 80, 78, 77, 76%.

As noted above, the distribution ranges further north and south, and so it may be tolerant of lower or higher temperatures. C. var. taiwanensis (ryukyuense) hails from Taiwan, China and Iriomote (second largest island in Okinawa), and is likely more heat and humidity tolerant - however elevation and other information would be helpful. Pictures from Taiwanese web addresses here, here, here and here.

Natural habitat conditions should inform (but perhaps not necessarily dictate) how to grow a plant in cultivation. What I'd really like to know is whether it will survive freezing rain if it's on a rock face instead of in the ground? (I would still like a rocky wall with a rainy season on a timer - and frost protection please. Then I could grow some lithophytic ferns too.)

July 9, 2009

Kudos to the Liberty Bell Gesneriad Society

Pictured here is a micro mini Sinningia from the sales room. This packaging is awesome - totally adorable and buyer-friendly. The paper attached to it explains the status of the plant (a cutting that is being rooted) and what the buyer should do with it (nothing for 2 months). Note the red and blue rubber bands and the little sticker about the 2011 Convention in Philly! I plan on being there and I'll be registering as soon as possible. Early registration = early entry to the sales room = new acquisition like this little gem :-)

And they have a nice lecture program - the November one sounds very interesting.

July 8, 2009

general photos of the show room

Some photos of the show room, for starters. More individual shots will be coming soon.

Click on the image to go to my photo album on flickr. The best way to view is probably by slideshow if your computer and bandwidth will allow - there's a link to click toward the upper right of the album page.

Tim's Hybrid Pets

by Brian C. 


Learned a lot from Tim Tuttle's Petrocosmea talk... For the 2009 flower show, class 36 (the non-flowering Pets) had so many entries that it needed to be split into 6 sub-classes. That's remarkable when you consider 12-15 years ago there were few species in cultivation. The only hybrid for years was 'Momo' (P. nervosa x P. flaccida).

At one time, Petrocosmea was considered very difficult to hybridize. Tim attempted hybridization for several years without success. Then he discovered that keeping the plants cool and inside domes for extra humidity produced better flowering and pollen. His cross of P. sericea x P rosettifolia has resulted in a couple of promising hybrids: 'Rosemary Platz' (whose namesake was at the convention and luckily I had a chance to chat with her) and 'Keystones Bantam'. Both have retained the interesting leaf veining of rosettifolia. 'Keystones Bantam' is very petite, as its name suggests.

I am very pleased that leaves of 'Rosemary Platz' that I had put down in March are producing plantlets finally. Tim has suggested that leaf cuttings need little light, cool temperatures, humidity, an open mix and sparse watering. This avoids leaf rot.

Other Pet hybrids have emerged recently also from Joyce Stark ('Shortnin Bread', 'Fluffer Nutter' both P. forrestii x P. flaccida), Jeff Foerderer ('Milan', P begonifolia x P. nervosa) and Nagahide Nakayama ('Asa Blue' and 'Cv25', both re-makes of the 'Momo' cross by its originator). 'Cv 25' has lovely ruffled flowers that occasionally have extra petals.

I find that Pet symmetry and leaf forms really grow on you (no pun intended). Once, I thought they were a little ordinary. Now that I have acquired P. sericea, P. begonifolia, P. minor, (plantlets of 'Rosemary Platz' and P. rosettifolia from leaves and I am waiting for P. sp. 'Yumebutai' leaves) - I have really become a fan and I want more ('Cv 25' or 'Bantam' leaves anyone?)!

They take up little space and are unique additions to a plant collection. BTW, Tim also had some good cultural tips: Cooler temperatures are beneficial but not absolutely necessary... When wicking Pets need a very porous soil mix, they like it a little drier than AVs or rhizomatous gesneriads and Pets have very shallow roots. Tim thought bulb pans make good pots. Or recycled condiment containers if the plant is small. He said even an azalea pot can be too deep once the plant is ready for a 3" pot (pictured species from the show P. forrestii and P sericea).

B

[We were fortunate to have Tim as a speaker at our Chapter in March. He passed out a cultural sheet, which he has graciously allowed us to make available on the web. You can find it here - for permission to print etc., please contact Tim directly. --PT editor.]

Sinningia and Friends

On Day 1 of the sales, I gathered up my two boxes of sales plants and headed over to check out: who do I find will be tallying up my purchases? Alan and Debra LaVergne! Their Sinningia and Friends website (including tuber descriptions and pictures) is a fantastic resource. For example, I was just thinking - as a result of Peter Shalit's presentation during the GHA meeting on tri-species hybridizing - that it would be nice to have a table showing which Sinningia species have been successfully crossed. Well... guess what I found on Alan LaVergne's website? Yes, that's right. Annotated tables with just such info. The more I learn about Sinningias, the more the site seems to have. Highly recommended reading.

July 7, 2009

Best New Registered Hybrid

Gail Gray won Best New Registered Hybrid with Entry No. 186, Streptocarpus 'Dale's Scarlet Macaw'.

This is a cross by Dale Martens between S. 'Texas Hot Chili' and S. dunii, registered in 2008. 'Texas Hot Chili' is S. ('Joker' selfed) x self.

Mauro Peixoto on Sinningia

by Aarti


I just wanted to share a few quick impressions I had of Mauro Peixoto's talk.

First-it was absolutely wonderful. He went through photographs of new varieties, species and examples of Sinningias he has found, and also pictures of the species that we all know growing in their natural habitat. Both were enlightening. It's one thing to know that Sinningias can be found on rocky ground; it's another to see a picture of a beautiful plant, its tuber sitting bare on a small ledge of a rocky cliff, no humus or soil around it at all, exposed to salt water and wind, and thriving!

More than that, I came away with two strong impressions--first, that the variety of what is out there, both in new finds and variations on known plants, is mind-blowing. The second thing I came away with is how important it is for us to grow species.

Viewing pictures of what he's collected was a real treat--and I've found out he has pictures of many of his finds on brazilplants.com! His collections include unusual examples of species we're familiar with, like a red-leaved Sinningia eumorpha or a green-flowered Sinningia braziliensis, as well as stunning Sinningias I at least had never seen before. My favorite--which literally had people calling out during the lecture asking for more information about it--was the stunning Sinningia speciosa Regina - Serra da Vista. Lovely dark green leaves with prominent silver veins and large violet flowers. Another lovely and unusual one was Sinningia speciosa Bahia which had beautiful large eumorpha-type flowers in clear yellow with red lines in the throat. He also mentioned that Sinningia nivalis can withstand brief exposures to temperatures of -7 C.

Mauro also discussed which of the plants he showed were endangered, or the range of area in which some of the species were found. For me, it was a real eye-opener to realize how small the ranges for some of these plants are, and how vulnerable the wild population is. For example, most of us are familiar with Sinningia leucotricha. Given its widespread cultivation, I would have never guessed that it is critically endangered and difficult to find except in one small area. Or that Sinningia araneosa is found only on one small rock population surrounded by private property. Another species, S. insularis, is only found on one small tract of land, and that land is currently used by the Brazilian military for missile practice!

I had not realized how vulnerable the native populations of so many of these beautiful plants are, and how some of the species we grow may not exist in the wild a few years from now. I have to admit that I have been lax about sending seeds in to the Seed Fund--I do it if I remember, but not often enough--and that needs to change. I also have not grown many species, and I think that from now on I'll make a real effort to grow more, and particularly to try to get them to set seed that can be sent to the fund or distributed.

--Aarti

July 6, 2009

Chirita Patina's red hairs

A few days before the Convention, I had a leaf-propped Chirita 'Deco' in one hand and a Chirita 'Patina' in the other, and stood there wondering how to tell them apart. Here is Lee Stradley's 'Patina' show plant:



Peter Shalit explained during his lecture that Deco and Patina are siblings, and the primary distinguishing characteristic is that Chirita 'Patina' has red hairs on the leaves, giving it a "patina" in the right light. Here's a closer look at a leaf, and the hairs.








Convention 2009-Its Over!

by Brian C. 






















What an incredible convention! Initally I was hoping for 150+ horticulural exhibits in the flower show. I never dreamed there would be over 250! Or that I would see so many rare gesneriads like Boea hemsleyana, Conandron ramondoides, Pearcea hypocyrtiflora, Chirotopsis repanda, Chirita dielsii and a new Diastema (probably) species in flower. There were a number of spectacular Columnea, Sinningia, Streptocarpus, Kohleria, Chirita and Petrocosmea....a few giant Aeschynanthus and Alsobia as well. WOW! Our own Carol Hamelink, John Boggan as well as Nancy Kast, Tim Tuttle, Bill Price and many others showed fantastic plants.

Other highlights for me were the GHA (Gesneriad Hybridizers Association) meeting, Tim's Petrocosmea lecture and Mauro's Sinningia talk. I had no idea so many Sinningias are near extinction in their natural habitat.

It was great meeting and talking in person to so many gesneriad growers from all over the US and Canada. As we were breaking down the show, I was chatting with Dale Martens about the small Strepts. She gave me a leaf to propagate from 'HL Baby Egrets' and some flowers/pollen and suggested a cross between 'HL White Gold' and 'HL Baby Egrets'. I am giving it a shot. 'Baby Egrets' has Strept 'Nerys' as a parent I believe. Pictured is 'HL Boyish Grin' on the left, then Aeschynanathus splendidus (with a bit of Columnea 'Midget').
B

Reflections on my first Convention

by Karin F. 


The convention is over and I really enjoyed the part I was able to attend.

Buying plants Friday morning early-8:30am-found us looking at a lot of tables full of plants with each one labelled as to what kinds of gesneriads were on the table.  That made it easy to decide where to go first!!  Also very easy to pick up lots of plants!  My box was full before I realized it, grr-can't get more, no space at home...  Well, checkout was fast and easy.  But it was still too early for the show to be seen.  The judges were still judging and would be for a couple more hours. So we went to the Silent Auction and bid on a couple of items.  They were laid out so nicely it was easy to spot something interesting.  But the judging was still continuing so that was it for Friday.

Saturday morning found me back in Silver Spring (I live in Springfield, VA) ready to checkout the Silent Auction and help with the sales room.  Carol showed me what to do to total the plants that people bought. Usually two of us worked together.  When it got very slow towards the end of the morning, I was released to see the show and check on the Auction.  The plants in the show were amazing!! Beautiful big flowers of many genera that I had not seen in flower before.  Plants, photos, designs were in every corner and table.  Maybe I should try this idea, or that one or one of the too many to count in every direction.

Since I had not been sure I would be able to go, I did not sign up for any meals or extras.  After the regular Auction was over, I was told that my name had been called as a winner in the silent auction!! Some nice person told them that I was around. I followed the crowd and was able to pay for pick up my two items-a box of Russian Streps for my friend and a set of 3 T-shirts for me!!

I consider this convention a very good event especially as it was my first Gesneriad convention.  I met a lot of people who were friendly and talkative from all over the U.S., Canada, and other parts of the world.

A big thank you to all who put this event together. I know it took months, probably years and many many people.  It was a big success!!

--Karin F.

July 5, 2009

Streptocarpus Heartland's Snowbaby

Here's a photo of Dale Martens' new hybrid, mentioned in Larry's post below. For size - the paper to the left of the plant is a show entry card, about 4" wide. It was a nice flat rosette a couple of days earlier (see second photo), when it was on display at the GHA meeting.


convention live auction

by Larry


The Saturday lunch was highlighted by the live auction which netted the Gesneriad Society's Elvin McDonald Research Endowment Fund several thousand dollars. The highest selling item was basket of Streptocarpus leaves, including Dale Marten's new 'Heartland's Snowbaby', which went for $300. Other high selling items were: a cutting of Chirita linearifolia 'Variegated" that went for $265; a plant of Chirita minutimaculata for $175, and many plants went for more than $100, including show plants, like Chirita dielsii and Conandron ramondioides.

Dinner at Phillip's and fireworks

by Larry


Most of the attendees went to the all-you-can-eat buffet of seafood, and then strolled along the walk next to the water after dinner. Even before the main event, there were fireworks going off all around us at the restaurant. We saw the beginning of the fireworks at the Mall before heading back by bus to the hotel.

Best in Show


Conandron ramondioides, shown by Bill Price.

July 4, 2009

mounted Streptocarpus johannis

Shown here is a Streptocarpus johannis (JT-04-06) growing on a tree fern slab. Entered in the Show by Bob Stewart of Massachusetts. I forgot to ask him about it, but I think this might be same plant that was in a photo I saw a few years back? It certainly looks happy and I like how it displays.

The Convention is concluding today and the Show was taken down this afternoon. More reports and photos are on the way - stay tuned.

Friday at Convention - Peter Shalit on Chirita

by Aarti


I have been really blown away by the lectures today. The first one I went to was Peter Shalit's talk on Chiritas, and it was wonderful. (At left, photo of Peter taken in darkness during the presentation.)

Peter had pictures of some newly discovered species, and some species and cultivars that are in cultivation in Asia, but not here in the States. All I have to say is...wow. Unfortunately I don't have any of the pictures to share with you, but what was most amazing about them was the flower forms and shading, they showed far greater variation in coloration and flower shape than I've seen in the varieties typically sold in the U.S. One even looked like small yellow bells! He then discussed the various sub-groups of Chiritas, the section Gibbosaccus, Annuals (section Microchirita), and Miscellaneous (section Chirita). He also discussed propagation, hybridizing, and his own hybrids.

The Gibbosaccus or "Leather-Leaved Chiritas" are what usually comes to mind when you think of chiritas, the smallish rosette-shaped plants with flowers tending to lavender and white. Peter had some beautiful slides of some of the new introductions.

Annual Chiritas are true annuals, living about a year or so. I hadn't known they existed, but based on Peter's slides, many of them are lovely and very worth growing! Getting your hands on these is more difficult than obtaining the Gibbosaccus types, especially as they must be propagated by seed, but Peter recommended obtaining seeds from The Gesneriad Society seed fund.

The Miscellaneous group included some real show-stoppers, particularly C. walkerae, C. moonii, and their hybrid, C. 'Moonwalker'. These are tall, shrubby plants with large lovely blue/violet flowers that to me resembled thunbergia blooms. I even bought a Moonwalker, which Peter says needs more sun than most Chiritas.

Surprisingly, he mentioned that C. tamiana may not even be a Chirita at all, that its proper genus is currently subject to some debate.

Peter gave us some tips on propagation, the ones that stuck in my mind were: (1) that the soil can and should be fairly dry. He showed potted leaves and their soil was far drier than that I've typically used for, say, violets. As he explained, this helps solve the problem so many of us have, that the leaf rots before sending up plantlets. (2) He also mentioned that when he puts down leaves, it's not unusual to get 20 plantlets!

Peter also discussed his hybridizing process and some of his hybrids. Chirita seed pods take 1-2 months to ripen, and then 8-12 months from seed to bloom. Interestingly, many of the plants have juvenile forms that are different than their mature forms. I was not familiar with many of the hybrids he showed, but the one I liked the best was 'Deco.' Its leaves are almost oval or round, and very silver, and to me its flowers looked particularly elegant.

I haven't done Peter's talk justice, but really it was great, and if he's ever giving a talk in your area, go see it! It was a measure of how great it was that after his talk the Chirita table in the show room was totally mobbed!

Today was great and I'm looking forward to tomorrow!

--Aarti

July 3, 2009

quick report on the GHA meeting

What I like most about hybridizing talk is that it's so forward-looking and full of possibilities. What if? How could we? And although it's easy to get discouraged -- by the time it takes to hybridize, the space it takes to grow them out, and the plants you grow just for hybridizing potential -- hearing other people talk about their hybridizing project(s) is always good for the heart.

The presentation was set up in half of one of the banquet rooms, and attendance was so high that all seats were taken. (I'd say standing room only, but we snagged some chairs from the other half of the room.) Pictured here is the crowd gathered around the raffle table which was stocked with tubers and leaves etc. for everyone.

Dale Martens' presentation was mostly on hybridization of Streptocarpus for compact size - so packed with information that you really need to hear it twice. If you took notes, you missed things, and if you didn't take notes, your memory has to be a lot better than mine.... She covered not only her hybridizing, but also the efforts of Kenji Hirose and Toshijiro Okuto of Japan, Harold Koopowitz's crossing of Streptocarpus meyeri and dunni (memorable to me because I've heard him speak about hybridizing for teacup-sized Paphiopedilum) and others.

Pictured here is her hybrid Heartland's Baby Egrets - so named because of the upturned flowers being reminiscent of baby egrets. Of the several plants she brought in to display, the one most commented on by people I spoke to was a miniature variegated Streptocarpus with white flowers - beautiful straight leaves in a rosette. (And no, I didn't catch the name or hybridizing background.)

The last part of Dale's presentation featured new hybrids in other genera, including miniatures like Jim Steuerlein's Sinningia Li'l George (sp Rio das Pedras x concinna), and Dale's intergeneric with Gloxinia perrenis, Seemannia gymnostoma and purpurascens.

Peter Shalit also presented an in-progress report on hybridizing with Sinningia speciosa (wild forms), guttata and lindleyi, thus far resulting in guttata-like plants with varying flower color and spottiness (smaller spots, spots in stripey formation, etc.).

I walked away with one very practical tip from Dale's presentation - mark the potential seed pods using a dab of acrylic color on the calyx, and then insert a tag in the pot identifying the parentage for each color. This beats dangling tags or tying color string on each flower!

fully-stocked sales room

This is what about a quarter or the sales room looked like before it opened on Thursday evening - tables fully loaded, some overflow stored underneath. Plants were grouped by genus (with a separate table for bagged cuttings and rhizomes) regardless of seller.

Well, it just turned Friday

and we're still busy getting everything in place for judging. I just
got here for the evening shift, but I think the others have been here
since morning doing one thing or another. And they have to be back
here early tomorrow morning (or I should say early later today). It's
amazing how much work goes into setting the plants in the show room,
spacing them out, labeling the classes, printing and placing the entry
cards, checking for thirsty plants etc.

There are so many entries, it looks spectacular in there!!! No photos
yet, of course.... But you know, nothing beats seeing them in person
to appreciate size, scent, colour, texture, substance etc. If you're
not here this year, I hope you'll be able to go to a future Convention
somewhere.

July 2, 2009

behind the scenes and Wednesday notes

I had a sneak peak in the sales prep room today. I'm not going to give anything away, except that there are a lot a lot a lot of plants.

Oh wait, that's the wrong photo. Those are the boxes to be filled by the shoppers. The second photo is the one of the plants.

You didn't think I'd really give anything away, did you? Let's just say, most of these blurry brown things are boxes of plants, and behind them are more plants......


On a more practical note, I found out today (my first day at the Convention) that there is a garage across the street from the Hilton, with an entrance on Spring. From what I saw, you need to feed the meter with coins - 75c/hour, and the spot I was in had a max of 3 hrs. After 7pm, it's free.

I missed the Selby session, but heard that they handed out a survey asking what genera people have grown. I'm very interested in the results of that survey. I did make the GHA meeting, which was wonderful - hope to have more on that later.