Rebekah’s Studio

(photo by Peter Krape)

On the last day of the Windward Orchid Society’s Spring Orchid Show in Kaneohe, Oahu, you can sometimes find plants marked down. I got a deal, said the seller, when I picked up four in a box — three blooming phalaenopsis plants and one dendrobium all for $35. The cashier concurred, “You got a deal!”

I love their names: Phal. Showpiece (yellowish flowers on the left), Phal. Magic Art (the lavender one), and the dendrobium B2495 D.Maradona Pearl.

The Show is held in the Kaneohe Amory/King Intermediate School Gym. Various orchid society clubs mount competitive displays, vying for awards and trophies of turned-wood and handmade ceramic bowls; those are on center court. Around the perimeter are the sales tables. If you see something you like in the exhibits, you can look to buy one from a grower. The bromeliad and succulent societies share the floor, too.

Lectures and how-to workshops are offered in one corner. When you get hungry you may check out the snack bar.

I hope these images that caught my eye will give you the county-fair flavor of the event.

V. Tharab Blue by Walter Hiraishi wins Best Blue Vandaceous award

Den. Waianae Profusion by Cristin Wong wins Best in Show, Governor’s Trophy, and Best Flowering Specimen Plant Award

Big-bowl trophies

Best of Cattleya Other Color Award goes to Rth. Carolina Golden D’or ‘Lenette #2’ by Scot and Karen Mitamura

Cattleya

Phal. Circus by grower Kumano

Pam Waki’s Best White Phalaenopsis in Show is Phal. Chainport Whiteyuki ‘Pam’ AM/HOS

Best Species in Show is this Den. smilliae, that also was declared Most Unusual Orchid. By H & R Nurseries. Whole plant pictured below.

Best Display in Show by Ewa Orchid Society

Best of Miniature Species: Den. tanii. By H & R Nurseries

This topiary of a dog covered in succulents was the cutest. In honor of the Year of the Dog.

Huge American and Hawaiian national flags

Snack bar menu board