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A hot buffet lunch followed the workshop as we looked forward to another memorable IPA auction . Anyone who has ever been to an IPA event knows that the auction is one of the favorite highlights . To suggest that everyone had a good time would be an understatement , as many participants were thrilled to make exciting new acquisitions and the IPA color fund received a healthy financial infusion . Dr . David McDaniel provided the afternoon ’ s final program : a slide presentation on Phalaenopsis primary hybrids and intergenerics using compact Vandaceous parents , while the second half of his program covered seed sowing , stem propagation and various laboratory techniques . This latter part of the program was a very pleasant surprise , as so many of us have never seen the inside of a seed-sowing lab . Dr . McDaniel showed us exactly what goes on when we send that seed capsule to the lab , and many of us left with a much better understanding of the process . After seeing some of the crosses he is making and seeing some of flowers they have produced , it ’ s very likely that Dr . McDaniel ’ s work is soon going to be in very high demand . After Dr . McDaniel ’ s program , we boarded the chartered bus and were off to Krull-Smith for a delicious meal served outdoors in a most beautiful setting at Frank Smith ’ s residence . We were allowed to roam through Frank Smith ’ s private orchid collection and to purchase plants that had not previously been available at Krull-Smith ’ s symposium sales table . “ Total sensory overload ” was how one Phalaenopsis lover described the feeling of walking down a corridor created by a wall of outrageously well-grown mounted species on one side of the aisle , with a dozen or more massive pedestal-mounted Phalaenopsis gigantea on the other . Add the dazzling sight and powerful fragrance of a magnificent meadow of Phalaenopsis bellina right next to a sea of Phalaenopsis amboinensis with huge , fragrant and brilliantly colored flowers and it ’ s easy to understand why one ’ s senses might be overwhelmed . Before we knew it , the weekend was over , but not before we all had a chance to learn , be entertained , and to spend time with others who shared a common passion . For those who weren ’ t ready for it to be over , we continued online in various forums and via email trading photos of our own plants . A reliable indicator as to how well people enjoyed an event is when they are all talking about next year before they even leave for the airport .
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5 - Katherine Norton , Frank Smith and Mike Mims - Photo : Ben Belton 6 - Ben Belton - Photo : Ben Belton 7 - A view of the judging table - Photo : Ben Belton 8 - Treasures inside Frank Smith ’ s personal greenhouse - Photo : Adrienne Giovino
Phalaenopsis - Fourth Quarter , Vol . 22 ( 3 & 4 ) 2012 31