your oldest orchids

[kman]

I'm sure not to be the only one who would love a photo of Aunt Judy's Cymbidium tracyanum, when that is possible. So many of the early Cymbidium species clones are identifiable and hence we can trace them back to their place of collection.

It is heartwarming to see how a particular plant can bridge generations and bring enjoyment for so many decades. Thanks for sharing this.

 

[BrucherT]

I'm sure not to be the only one who would love a photo of Aunt Judy's Cymbidium tracyanum, when that is possible. So many of the early Cymbidium species clones are identifiable and hence we can trace them back to their place of collection.

It is heartwarming to see how a particular plant can bridge generations and bring enjoyment for so many decades. Thanks for sharing this

Thank YOU so much. I miss her so deeply plants, especially hers, are the only tangible comfort.

Typing this message out has moved me toward accepting that I will have to part with this plant someday. There: I said it. I would prefer to see it go to an institution but recognize that that’s likely naive. I used to blow off virus testing as irrelevant but am planning to do my whole collection within a year; if virus free, I will approach folks I know to pass it along and/or parcel out pieces. CBG has two that are half the size of mine, with lighter-colored flowers. I do everything I can for this plant; it thrives outdoors but I feel it suffering in my house all winter. I keep my home cold for the plants but inevitably severe weather requires heat. If you are interested, when I divide I would be happy to send you a chunk. I am guessing what you want is flower photos? I always figured it was C. tracyanum and the first time I repotted it for her, 20some years ago, we found a metal tag with the word “Burma” all that was legible (barely). I don’t know what became of that tag. Judy called it “my Tigress.” I fear it will never bloom for me. The piece that broke off will need repotting in spring because it is sending roots upward through the mix, into the air. In winter, I water with tap water only because even weak feeding seemed to start pushing soft growth last year. I grow several other Cymbidiums, including 2 imported C. quiebiense. C. sinense and C. cyprifolium as well as a rehabbed and thriving C. “Peter Fire Torch” and a miniature-foliaged, large-flowered “Peachy Keen” (renamed by one of the OZ-collection rescuers). This plant is simply too big for my apartment and your message has helped me see my responsibility to it’s legacy with clarity. I’m just a hobby grower and kind of a plant hoarder and loving something this precious probably means letting it go, or at least sharing it. If it does bloom for me, I will try to self and have flasks made for friends. Thank you again for your kind response. I don’t mean to commandeer this wonderful thread with so many sharing their treasures. Reading it brought up unexpected, unresolved emotions.

 

[merc]

heartwarming indeed! thank you so much for sharing. chicken soup for the soul.

 

[kman]

Yes, @BrucherT, I would love a piece of this if it is truly virus free. Older collected Cymbidium species that have been passed around are often not virus free. A flower picture someday would go a long way helping to ID this special plant, if you can bloom it. Since it is an early blooming species your late summer - early fall night temperatures might not be low enough to trigger it.

This species can grow very large and can be a real showstopper.

In any case, a wonderful story and memorial. So happy you shared this.

 

[Phred]

I still have the first Paphiopedilum... Paph wardii. I was invited to a private orchid event at A World of Orchids in 1996 and picked this up as a tiny bare root seedling. Here's what it looked like in 2014. I've given many pieces away over the years but still have one for myself.

 

[southernbelle]

Grew phals on windowsills for 20 years, none of those left. Many were virused and the others not special enough to keep in my limited growing space (9 x 12 climate controlled grow room under LEDs). In 2014 I bought my first cattleya Dinard ‘Blue Heaven’. Huge, with 15 flowers on 5 inflorescences. It was spectacular as you can imagine. Darn near killed it before it finished blooming trying to grow it on windowsill (in leca in clay) with eastern exposure. Took it back to Floradise and they repotted, dividing it into 3. Two did not survive, but the one that did is still going strong. It won best cattleya at VOS 2024 show with 5 flowers on 1 inflorescence. But my two oldest plants are orig divisions of C. trianae ‘Mary Fennell’ HCC/AOS jungle collected by Lee Arthur Fennell of Orchid Jungle in 1888 (according to his grandson). It was used in crosses that created ‘Cashen’s’, Newberry and Mendenhall. The plants Fennell used in hybridizing were virused but those that grew in trees (Orchid Jungle grew most plants as they grew in the jungle) were not touched and stayed clean. And Bc. Empress of Russia ‘Imperatrice de Russie’ awarded its FCC/RHS in 1899 (Charles Maron). Both are virus free after all these years and I treasure them above all. But ‘Blue Heaven’ will always hold a special place in my heart as it started my passion for cattleyas.