Paph Lady Isabel

[emydura]

My avatar in flower again and this year it has 3 flowers which I'm stoked about. What do the orchid judges out there think about the potential of this plant being awarded? Do I need more than 3 flowers? To have it judged I have to take it to Sydney which is a long drive. I might leave it to next year as there are 2 immature growths which are bigger than the current one so next years flowering should be even better.

David


Paph Lady Isabel (rothschildianum x stonei)

 

[Darin]

Initial thoughts... that is a great looking flower well presented on a nice plant. A few things that we would need for judging would be the natural spread and the measurements of the segments.

A couple positives going for the flower:
Nice coloration. not overly muddy coloration
Well shaped dorsal sepal with well defined striping
Good size and well shaped synsepal

A couple of points that would detract from the flower:
inconsistent twisting of the petals (one is twisted one is not)
Slight symmetry issues (in the photo the pouch and synsepal are in one plane and the dorsal is cocked a couple degrees off to one side (minor but can be used against the plant)
The photo appears to show a slight reflexying along the edges of the dorsal. that could be used against as well


(Can you tell that I am a start at 100pts and subtract for flaws kind of judge rather than add up towards 100 points for positive aspects)

 

[Mathias]

*Sigh* What a beauty! :drool: And a very nice picture too. This is a cross I have been drooling over for a while, but I have not bought a plant yet.

Just a question - how large are the flowers on Lady Isabel compared to P. rothschildianum? Smaller, larger or about the same?

 

[Ernie]

It's always hard to judge from photos, but it certainly has my attention! The synsepal, dorsal, and petals are very wide. The color is fabulous. Minor form issues are scoreable. Flower count is scoreable.

Sorry, but the only way to find out is to take it to judging.

 

[Shiva]

Lovely! And I'm still waiting for mine to flower someday.

 

[e-spice]

A gorgeous plant and excellent photography.

e-spice

 

[emydura]

Initial thoughts... that is a great looking flower well presented on a nice plant. A few things that we would need for judging would be the natural spread and the measurements of the segments.

A couple positives going for the flower:
Nice coloration. not overly muddy coloration
Well shaped dorsal sepal with well defined striping
Good size and well shaped synsepal

A couple of points that would detract from the flower:
inconsistent twisting of the petals (one is twisted one is not)
Slight symmetry issues (in the photo the pouch and synsepal are in one plane and the dorsal is cocked a couple degrees off to one side (minor but can be used against the plant)
The photo appears to show a slight reflexying along the edges of the dorsal. that could be used against as well


(Can you tell that I am a start at 100pts and subtract for flaws kind of judge rather than add up towards 100 points for positive aspects)

Thanks Darin

I see your point on the flaws.

Yes, there was a bit of ruffling on the dorsal of that first flower for some reason. The other flowers were fine. From previous flowerings I don't remember any ruffling. I would want the 2nd flower judged as it seems the pick.

just a few measurements -

Petal length - 15 cm
Petal width at widest - 12 mm
Dorsal width - 5 cm
Dorsal length - 6 cm
Pouch length 6 cm.

I'm not sure if it is me but the flowers seem a little smaller than previous flowerings where I have only had 2 flowers. There maybe a flower count - flower size tradeoff. I am finding with these multis that it is not to you flower them 4 or 5 times that you really start to see there full potential. I think this plant will improve further on future flowerings.

David

 

[emydura]

*Sigh* What a beauty! :drool: And a very nice picture too. This is a cross I have been drooling over for a while, but I have not bought a plant yet.

Just a question - how large are the flowers on Lady Isabel compared to P. rothschildianum? Smaller, larger or about the same?

I haven't seen enough roths to compare. What I have seen there is not that much difference. The petal length on the Lady Isabel maybe a little longer and the dorsal a little wider.

Minor form issues are scoreable. Flower count is scoreable.

Thanks Ernie

When you say scoreable you mean that in a negative sense.

David

 

[Ernie]

Thanks Ernie

When you say scoreable you mean that in a negative sense.

David

Not at all negative! The opposite. There are no bad things that would alone knock it out of contention. All the flaws are minor from what I can see. By scoreable... yeah, there is a little ruffling, but I'd just take a point or two off for that. The symmetry is a tiny bit off, dock a couple points there. If it was totally wonky, that's NOT scoreable, that's fatal. So when I discuss a flower with the team, if I say something negative then say "but it's a scoreable flaw" that's sort of like saying I'm having trouble finding any reason NOT to point it. Or, she's not 100% perfect, but I wouldn't kick her out of bed. Honestly, that's a damn nice Lady Isabel. I try to start plants out with 100% then take off points for minor issues- that's easy to do with this one. When you have to build a plant up to 75 in your mind, the plant/flower isn't that strong.

 

[cattmad]

David,

this would definatly be awardable, if you compare it to any of the other awarded lady isabels in the country (australia) it would compare very favourably.

Judges here in aus dont see the amount of multi-florals the judges in the US do. This clone has got a lot going for it.

I say go for it.

Brad

 

[Paph_LdyMacBeth]

I hope you do take it to be judged because its lovely.

 

[SlipperFan]

It's beautiful -- one of the best I've seen.

 

[Justin]

winner in my book, a special plant I would say.

 

[SlipperKing]

I would say its awardable for sure David. If not this go a round then the next. If you do decide to go for it don't just take this plant only. Take anything you think has a chance, like your praestans if still fresh, you'll be surprized what can come home with a flower quality award. You could offer to take fellow grower's plants as well if they have something they want judged for a small travel fee. Help offset the cost for you.:wink:

 

[John M]

I think it's a crazy awesome Lady Isabel! The negatives are minor. If it was perfect, it'd get an FCC of 100. How many plants do that? I think it''ll get an award; but, it's just a matter of what score? The flowers are superb in every way, IMO; but, I'd like to see 4 or 5 like that, not just 3. The flower count could knock down the score to a lower award; but, I'd be shocked if the judges don't award it anything.

 

[raymond]

it's the very nice clone

 

[paphioboy]

WOW... That's so drool-worthy... I especially like the 2nd pic. Looks like the flower is floating in mid-air...

 

[JeanLux]

Thanks for the judges' comments!!! But in my eyes this is a great plant and, David, I really envy you to be able to watch those beauties 'în person' !!!!
Great growing :clap::clap::clap: Jean

 

[emydura]

Not at all negative! The opposite. There are no bad things that would alone knock it out of contention. All the flaws are minor from what I can see. By scoreable... yeah, there is a little ruffling, but I'd just take a point or two off for that. The symmetry is a tiny bit off, dock a couple points there. If it was totally wonky, that's NOT scoreable, that's fatal. So when I discuss a flower with the team, if I say something negative then say "but it's a scoreable flaw" that's sort of like saying I'm having trouble finding any reason NOT to point it. Or, she's not 100% perfect, but I wouldn't kick her out of bed. Honestly, that's a damn nice Lady Isabel. I try to start plants out with 100% then take off points for minor issues- that's easy to do with this one. When you have to build a plant up to 75 in your mind, the plant/flower isn't that strong.

Thanks Ernie for the detailed elaboration. Interesting to hear the judging process.

David,this would definatly be awardable, if you compare it to any of the other awarded lady isabels in the country (australia) it would compare very favourably.
Judges here in aus dont see the amount of multi-florals the judges in the US do. This clone has got a lot going for it. I say go for it.
Brad

Thanks Brad. Yes, I think your right. Multi-florals are pretty thin on the ground here in general, particularly outside of Queensland. This is another plant I got off John Robertson. It was a first flowering seedling of which he said it was the best Lady Isabel he had flowered. All the rest he has ever flowered had really narrow dorsals. It cost me a bit but not an unreasonable amount.

I would say its awardable for sure David. If not this go a round then the next. If you do decide to go for it don't just take this plant only. Take anything you think has a chance, like your praestans if still fresh, you'll be surprized what can come home with a flower quality award. You could offer to take fellow grower's plants as well if they have something they want judged for a small travel fee. Help offset the cost for you.:wink:

Thanks Rick. Good advice. Fortunately I always tend to have a few nice things (mostly multi’s) open when the Lady Isabel is in flower, so I’m sure I’d have a few things worth a punt. Actually the praestans picked up orchid species of the night at our monthly meeting last night. So it seems popular with the judges. Unfortunately we don’t have enough judges here in Canberra to have things awarded which is why I have to go interstate.

I think it's a crazy awesome Lady Isabel! The negatives are minor. If it was perfect, it'd get an FCC of 100. How many plants do that? I think it''ll get an award; but, it's just a matter of what score? The flowers are superb in every way, IMO; but, I'd like to see 4 or 5 like that, not just 3. The flower count could knock down the score to a lower award; but, I'd be shocked if the judges don't award it anything.

Thanks John. I think you are right. I’m pretty confident it would get a HCC award as it is. It is just a matter of whether it gains enough points (doesn’t lose too many) to get an AM award. Given I expect it to flower on two larger growths next year, I think it is better to wait in the hope of getting 4 flowers and hence give it a better chance of a higher award.

Now as my collection is maturing, I’m finally starting to see some of my multi-florals get higher flower counts. Pretty well everything has increased in flower numbers this season. My roebellinii had 4 flowers 2 years ago, 5 flowers last year and currently has 6 buds. It has taken a while, but it is comforting to see the progress.

David

 

[Clark]

I'm loving it!