North Jersey Orchid Society Show

Posted on By Donna Miele

The twin has been quiet lately. The drugs content her; maybe they are not exactly, precisely what she needs, but she seems to accept the gesture from those who are trying so hard to understand her–me, my rheumatologist, my husband, my mother, our friends, the many resources we all turn to. Quick acknowledgement today of the many, many sweet healthcare providers and self-adminstrators of subcutaneous injections for videos showing me how to give myself a shot; and to the kind, matter-of-fact nurse on the Enbrel hotline who made sure I would hold down the clicker for fifteen full seconds, no less.

All of this is to say . . . I think I can go out! I think I can go to the North Jersey Orchid Society show in New Brunswick, New Jersey, ninety minutes away by car, with a packed lunch and my day’s meds and a few beloved companions, attend for a few hours, and make it home without getting sick!

My favorite “show” videos are by Nature Nel. He’s down in South Florida, where they have shows almost year-round. Nelson has been an artist and small business owner in that area for years. So, when he turned his passion, skill, and talent to showcasing orchids, he naturally began showcasing his circle of friends and acquaintances, his gently self-deprecating humor, his love of life, and his gobs of charm for his YouTube audience. I latched on to Nelson’s channel as a way of getting through my physical therapy routine when my arthritis was really bad. The combination of fascination with orchids I’d never seen and giggles at Nelson’s narration relaxed me and gave me the oomph to get through it.

I can’t really be Nelson; I have little skill with a camera, let alone video editing. But, inspired by Nature Nel’s love of the orchid community, here are some images of the action at the North Jersey Orchid Society show, my first live AOS (American Orchid Society) event. Thanks to the NJOS for . . . making my eyes feel like they were popping out of brains! Yes, you apparently CAN grow healthy vandas and enormous cattleyas in New York and New Jersey! Thank you, especially, to Carrie Buchman, who welcomed and guided me to vendors who might have blue orchids, and to Lori Jennex, who made sure I would be in touch with an AOS society in my area. Hopefully there will be more to come about that connection. Enjoy the pics!

A profusion of orchids, many varieties and colors
The North Jersey Orchid Society’s central display. You can grow all of this in New Jersey!
big, purple cattleya blooms. The lip is purple and magenta with a hint of yellow.
Cattleya Drumbeat “Martin Kenwood” HCC/AOS (so nice I got it twice…)
A cascade of blush-colored blooms, reddish-mottled, with a softly fringed lip
Clowesetum Elizabeth Anne Gallagher
yellow-and-brown patterned, waxy bloom, very flat, with petals that open like arms
Rossioglossum Rawdon Jester
pale purple Brassocattleya blossoms, thin petals and sepals, white lip with a purple edge
Brassocattleya Jairak Kiku
Two clusters of buttery-colored flowers, bright orange centers
Dendrobium Sakurako
spidery blooms, long petals and sepals, broader, shorter lip, yellow with dark red pattern
Brassidium Kenneth Biwu
Cascade of waxy, speckled blooms, bloodred and pale yellow
Fredclarkeara After Dark SVO FCC/AOS
Whimsical display of a small orchid in a glass jar, speckled with condensation. A sign reads, "Please do not tap on the glass or open the jars. It will scare the orchids!"
Don’t scare the orchids!
Cluster of bright pink blooms, bright orange centers that look like muppet noses
Dendrobium pseudoglomeratum
A cascade of black, waxy blooms
Fredclarkeara After Dark SVO Black Pearl FCC/AOS – STUNNING!!
Cluster of pale purple vandaceous blooms
Vanda Motes Adorbs Maplewood – “adorbs,” indeed!
A profusion of orchids, including exotics like masdevallia and aerangis, in various colors
An exotic display by J&L Orchids. The orange Masdevallias are striking, but how about that glorious cascade of Aerangis blooms?
A cascade of sweet, round-edged white blooms, tiny golden centers.
Aerangis luteoalba
A profusion of tiny white flowers with pinkish centers
Oncidium Tsiku Marguerite
Blossom shaped like a warrior fairy, orange and yellow striped petals, broad, frilled yellow lip with an orange edge, petals thin and sticking straight up like a headdress from the center, which looks like a fierce little face!
Psychopsis Mendenhall “Hildos” – style and attitude!
A rich profusion of white blossoms with pale green centers
Dendrobium nobile Spring Dream Apollon – dreamy!
on one side, a red Oncidopsis with broad red blooms, on the other a white Oncidium with smaller, classic "dancing ladies" blooms
Oncidopsis Crimson Pride (L), Oncidium Speckle Spire “Snowflake” (R)
Starry blooms, an ombre purple-to-white color
Zygonisia cynosure Blue Birds – MAGICAL. This one had me transfixed!
Paphiopedilum blossom, slipper orchid, a fanlike, deep purple sepal at the top, the petals spreading out to the sides ombre green to deep purple, speckled with black, deep purple lip
Paphiopedilum Delightfully Fred
Profusion of white-and-magenta blooms
Phalaenopsis lianher cranberry “Cha Cha”
cluster of purple and white vandaceous blooms
Vandacostylus Dottie Mortensen
Profusion of orchids in bloom, many varieties and colors
The central display again, details slightly more visible. Look at that big blue Vanda!
Deep pink cattleya blooms, yellow center at the lip
Rhyncholaeliocattleya (RLC) Hawaiian Prominence America AM/AOS
flat but frilly blossoms, burnt orange color
Oncostele Pacific Perspective “Pacific Heat”
Blossoms that look like baby birds asking for food! pale yellow petals and sepals, speckled with brown; green lip with purple stripes.
Dendrobium normanbyense
yellow-green blossom, slightly waxy and succulent, with its pollen held out on a long stem
Cynoches chlorochilon “Giant Swan”
Cluster of golden blossoms, vandaceous, though petals and sepals are thinner than the typical Vanda
Vanda aurantiaca
Big, lush, purple Vanda blossoms, a faint pattern of paler mottling
Vanda Pachara Delight “Kenwood”
loose cluster of sweet little pale purple blossoms, deep red lip, looks like a group of butterflies circling each other
Barkeria ceracifola
Big, lush purple cattleya blossoms, magenta lip with a touch of yellow
Cattleya Drumbeat “Martin Kenwood” HCC/AOS – yep, I got two pics of this one. It was very pushy!
A list of orchids native to New Jersey
Long list! Who knew?
Framed images of some orchids native to New Jersey
Impressive!