James and Leona Bloom Memorial Orchid Collection
(see copyright notice: ASA)
Vanda Nellie Morley 'Leona' AM/AOS 80 pts, October 12, 1966
Laeliocattleya Royal Emperor 'Bloom's Ideal,' produced this flower
(November 1973 above). The lip, as shown here, was superior to 'Wade'--AM/AOS/TMP
83 pts, November 27, 1974 (In this image of the original photograph, the
color is too dark by one shade.)
Royal Emperor crosses through 12-31-01:
x Pot. Hisako Akatsuka 'Volcano Queen' AM/AOS
x Lc. Red Cedar
x Lc. Stradivarius Teide
x Blc. Korat Sunset
x C. Little Dipper 'Sato' as Lc. City Lights
x Blc. Oconee 'Mendenhall' as Blc. Ponkan's Southern Lady
x Blc. Jeremy Island 'Carmela'
x Lc. Stradivarius 'Miltonia'
x Lc. Lisa Ann
x C. Chocolate Drop
x Slc. Orpetii
x Blc. Nai Thong Bay No.4
x Lc. Waianae Blaze
x. Blc. Star of Bethelahem 'Lynn Corson'
x L. Milleri
x Lc. Gold Digger 'Orchidglade Mandarin' (off of C. Warpaint)
x Lorraine Shirai yields Lc. Orchidglade's Royal Lady 'Roman
Holiday' AM/AOS
x Blc. Hertha Fry Don Massey Rustic Spots (new cross in 2000)
x Golden Slippers
x Blc. Malworth 'Orchidglade' FCC/AOS AM/RHS
x Blc. Sunset Sails Shao Jye Duh Duh's Smile
x Blc George King 'Serendipity' AM/AOS
('Chris') x Lc. Sc. Batemanniana 'Snowfire' AM/AOS
x Lc. Pirate King as Lc. Dal's Jackpot
x Blc. Royal Splendor 'Orchidheights' as Blc. Pisgah Royale 'Pisgah
Heights'
x Blc. Toshi Aoki 'Pizazz' AM/AOS
Lc. Royal Emperor 'Bloom's Ideal' (Nov 1973) in broad daylight
This is Royal Emperor again, this time in the slat house, in a more
shaded environment, in 1973. (This time the "computer retouched red"
is not quite purple enough. In real life, 'Royal Emperor' is redder than
'Autumn Symphony,' and Autumn Symphony is actually considered to be orange.
You have to look at the actual flower to see the slight trace of orange.)
Laeliocattleya Autumn Symphony 'Bloom's Ideal'
This is the actual flower the award was presented for in November of
1961. Interestingly, between November of 1961 and December of 1967, this
cross was awarded 4 HCCs and 5 AMs, ranging from 76 pts as 'Cardinal' to
82 pts, as 'Red Sunset.' The last time it was exhibited and awarded was
in December of 1967 as v. 'Ruben' 80 pts. Because the standards and the
path of discovery have advanced 40 years since the era of this hybrid's
'hay day,' it might not be considered for an award today! professional
growers, familiar with the klones of this cross, say that the best example
of Autumn Symphony is v. 'Bloom's Idea.' (A note: A plant owner, who exhibits
a named hybrid, which they have cultivated, may, at their discretion, submit
and register a new varietal, or cultivar, name. This is done to reflect
that something has been contributed to the quality of the flowers, on that
particular plant, related to its treatment (e.g., "care and feeding"),
in a particular growers environment.
The research for this project began in the fall of 2001, and the text will be added to and updated as more information comes in. Given that there is not yet enough information to stand firmly behind the following statements, I will make them anyway: Curiously, "Autumn Symphony" has been as highly awarded (1961-1967), and it has been awarded on more occasions, than "Royal Emperor (1974-1976)," but it appears that it has been used as a parent for new crosses only twice, most successfully as v. 'Cardinal,' with Blc. Oconee 'Mendenhall,' to make Blc. Rugeley's Mill HCC/AOS--77 pts. (A crossing of paths: "Oconee" was made from Blc. Norman's Bay and Lc. Belle of Celle, one of "Autumn Symphony's" "stable mates." "Belle of Celle" was awarded in the cultivar of Bloom's Nursery as v. 'Color Plus,' December 9, 1964.) This coincidence is mentioned because, one of the things that gets the attention of growers and breeders is a plant's award status, and because there were no other awards for Belle of Celle. A last note: The plant had not been named prior to being awarded. So, Jim Bloom contacted the hybridizer, Wichmann, in Germany, a few days after winning the award, with an idea for a "catchy" name--C. Nigrella x Lc. Edgard Von Belle became Belle of Celle--reg. RHS--Feb. 1965.)
It may be that, "Autumn Symphony" is the "hobbyist's favorite," while
the growers seem to see "Royal Emperor" 'Wade' as a benchmark for red,
and as having more breeding potential.
- - -
Lc. Bonanza 'Lucky Strike' AM/AOS/EGF 83 pts 11-19-64
Cattleya Leona Bloom V.I.P. AM/AOS/MIA 81 pts, 5-13-64
Vanda Sanderiana, 'Bloom's Ideal,' August 1964
Vanda Rothchildiana 'Birdsellers' FCC/AOS/MIA 92 pts, January 1965
At this time, there is no picture available of the awarded flower.
The flower shown is V. Roth 'Leona,' and earned 78 points and an HCC in
1957. In the "FCC flower," the petals and sepals are fuller, and the venting
between them (seen here), is not present. Through 2000, 'Birdsellers' had
the highest AOS point total on record for a Vanda Rothchildiana.
Vanda Rothschildiana was once the most popular vanda genus: In the 53 year period between November 1949 and December 2001, there were 94 AOS awards, and only five of the awarded plants/flowers, among the hundreds submitted, garnered First Class Certificates: 'Aridine'--NYC--90/Jan/52, 'Birdsellers'--MIA--92/Jan/65, Nelly--91/Oct/68, 'Malibu Beauty'--LAC--90/May/77, 'Blue Ribbon'--HLO--90/Jun/78. Fewer than 1 in 10,000 plants meets FCC criteria. For many years, and having been kloned in the late 1960s, 'Birdsellers' was considered the best of the "Roths." Today, in 2003, 'Birdsellers' seems to be virtually unknown and unavailable. No Roth has earned an AOS award since February of 1993, and no FCC has been awarded in the 25 years since June of 1978. (A note: The AOS records show the cultivar name as 'Bird Sellers.')
Broughtonia Sanguinea 'Leona' HCC/AOS/FTL 79 pts, 1-26-67
Vanda Fort Lauderdale 'Bloom's Pride' AM/AOS 81 pts, July 8,
1964
awards (Bloom's Nursery):
Phalaenopsis Elizabethae on Rimstadiana CCA/AOS/MIA 2-15-50
Vanda Burgeffii CCA/AOS/MIA 10-15-52
Vanda Sanderiana 'Bloom's Ideal' SM/SFOS 86 pts, 6-53
(Miami International Orchid Show, 'Best in Show')
Vanda Nora Potter CCA/AOS/MIA 2-16-55 (first submitted)
Vanda Nora Potter CCA/AOS/MIA 2-16-55 (second submitted)
Vanda Nora Potter 'Bloom's Ideal' AM/AOS/MIA 81 pts, 2-25-55
Vanda Sanderiana 'Pride' AM/AOS/MIA 81 pts, 11-55
Vanda Laukapu 'Bloom's No. 1' HCC/AOS/MIA 79 pts, 8-14-57
Vanda Rothschildiana 'Leona' HCC/AOS/MIA 78 pts, 9-11-57
Vanda Jennie Hashimoto 'Leona' AM/AOS/TMP 83 pts, 10-11-58
(FWCOS Bank Show, Best Strapleaf Vanda, Barris Standard Paint Award)
Vanda Jennie Hashimoto 'Leona #2' HCC/AOS/FTL 76 pts, 11-15-58
Cattleya Skinneri 'Fort Lauderdale' CCM/AOS/MIA, 80 pts 3-59
Laeliocattleya Autumn Symphony 'Bloom's Ideal' AD/AOS/MIA, 10-61
Laeliocattleya Autumn Symphony 'Bloom's Ideal' HCC/AOS/EGF, 77 pts,
11-18-61
Vanda Nellie Morley 'Bloom's Ideal' AM/AOS/MIA 80 pts, 4-11-62
Vanda Jennie Hashimoto 'Jablo' AM/AOS/MIA 86 pts, 6-13-62
Vanda Eisenhower 'Bloom's Ideal' HCC/AOS/MIA 75 pt, 12-12-62
Miltonia Harvest Moon 'Leona' HCC/AOS/MIA 76 pts, 3-13-63
Dendrobium Thomas Warne 'Bloom's Ideal' CCM/AOS/MIA 84 pts, 3-13-63
Vanda Sanderiana 'Gary' AM/AOS/MIA 83 pts, 11-63
Cattleya Leona Bloom 'V.I.P.' AM/AOS/MIA 81 pts, 5-13-64
Epicattleya Georgia Mariae 'Julep' JC/AOS/MIA 6-10-64
Vanda Fort Lauderdale 'Bloom's Pride' AM/AOS/MIA 81 pts, 7-8-64
Vanda Sanderiana 'Bountiful' CCM/AOS/FTL 86 pts, 10-30-64
(Best Vanda in Commercial Class)
Cattleya Leona Bloom AQ/AOS/FTL 10-30-64
Broughtonia Sanguinea 'Lauderdale' Most Outstanding Specimen 10-30-64
(Specimen Botanical Orchid Award: Florida Orchid Association)
Oncidium Florida Gold 'Jablo' AM/AOS/EGF 83 pts, 11-19-64
Opisanda Juliet Kimball 'Lauderdale' HCC/AOS/EGF 77 pts, 11-19-64
Laeliocattleya Bonanza 'Lucky Strike' AM/AOS/EGF 83 pts, 11-19-64
Laeliocattleya Belle of Celle 'Color Plus' HCC/AOS/MIA 77 pts, 12-9-64
Vanda Rothschildiana 'Birdsellers' FCC/AOS/MIA 92 pts, 1-65
Vanda Nellie Morley 'Leona' AM/AOS/MIA 80 pts, 10-12-66
Broughtonia Sanguinea 'Leona' HCC/AOS/FTL 79 pts, 1-26-67
Cattleya Leona Bloom 'Glory B' HCC/AOS/FTL 79 pts, 1-26-67
Cattleya Leona Bloom 'Gary' HCC/AOS/FTL 78 pts, 3-67
Epilaelia Royal Burgundy 'Leona' HCC/AOS/MIA 77 pts, 6-14-67
Vanda Alicia Ono 'Gary B' AM/AOS MIA 85 pts, 11-8-67
Cattleya Sultan's Ruby 'Bloom's Ideal' HCC/AOS/MIA 78 pts, 6-12-68
Vanda Alicia Ono 'Bloom's Ideal' AM/AOS/MIA 86 pts, 11-13-68
Ascocenda Anjo Mitterer 'Bloom's Ideal' HCC/AOS/MIA 77 pts, 1-10-73
Ascocenda Laikeun 'Bloom's Ideal' AM/AOS/MIA 84 pts, 2-14-73
Vanda Hilo Queen 'Bloom's Ideal' AM/AOS/MIA 81 pts, 2-14-73
Ascocenda Laikeun 'Leona' AM/AOS/MIA 82 pts, 3-14-73
Ascocenda Laikeun 'Gary' AM/AOS/MIA 81 pts, 4-11-73
Laeliocattleya Royal Emperor 'Wade'--AM/AOS/TMP/Miles 83 pts, 11-27-74
Laeliocattleya Royal Emperor 'Chris'--AM/AOS/TSE/Miles 81 pts, 11-20-76
Oncidium Baueri 'Gary' CBM/AOS/MIA--86 pts, March 1976ndab
Brassodiacrum Gary Bloom 'Leona' BMSFOS--78 pts, spring-77?nd
breakdown of awards:
1 FCC (First Class Certificate)
1 SBOA (Specimen Botanical Orchid Award)
3 BS (Best in Show trophies)
3 CCM (Certificate of Cultural Merit--an award to the grower)
17/19 AM (Award of Merit)
1 SM (Silver Medal)
1 BM (Bronze Medal)
14 HCC (Highly Commended Certificate)
4 CCA (Certificate of Cultural Achievement)
1 AQ (Award of Quality)
1 AD (Award of Distinction)
1 JC (Judges Commendation)
and
(first place show ribbons--64 of approx. 110 accounted for)
by year:
1950-57 (missing)
3-1958
3-1961
8-1963
21-1964
3-1966
19-1967
1-1968
5-1969
1-1973
1970-1978 (missing)
- - -
An addendum
(Dendrobeum Gatton Sunray: King of Orchids)
I gave a friend a large specimen Dendrobium Gatton Sunray (FCC/LON,
5/36 and FCC/AOS) in July of 1999,
and this is what he did with it--130 flowers in an 8-inch pot!
(His secret)