At their annual Fall meeting, Trustees of the American Orchid Society announce the recipients of the AOS’s special awards for the previous calendar year. We were honored this year to receive four of those prestigious awards. Our heartfelt thanks to Tom Kuligowski for the beautiful award images for:
Prra. Hot Lips ‘Copper Bird’ AM/AOS
The Roy T. Fukumura Award is given to the grower of the orchid plant, either species or hybrid, which is regarded as the most outstanding example of the genus Vanda, those genera in the subtribe Aeridinae (=Sarcanthinae) which hybridize with Vanda, and their intergeneric hybrids, excluding Phalaenopsis, awarded during the preceding calendar year. The 2017 Fukumura Award recipient is R.F. Orchids, for Perreiraara Hot Lips ‘Copper Bird’ AM/AOS.
V. Will Riley ‘Crownfox Raspberry’ AM/AOS
The Fuchs Family Award is given to the most outstanding example of the genus Vanda as currently circumscribed, species or hybrid, awarded during the previous calendar year. The 2017 Fuchs Family Award recipient is R.F. Orchids, for Vanda Will Riley ‘Crownfox Raspberry’ AM/AOS.
Rchg. Honky Tonk Woman ‘Crownfox’ AM/AOS
The Paul and Mary Storm Award is given to the grower of the orchid plant regarded as the most outstanding example of a hybrid with at least one valid Myrmecophila species and/or the former Schomburgkia species now classified in the genus Laelia. The 2017 Paul and Mary Storm Award recipient is R.F. Orchids, for Rechingerara Honky Tonk Woman ‘Crownfox’ AM/AOS.
V. Will Riley AQ/AOS
The Martin Motes Orchid Breeder’s Award is given to the breeder and exhibitor of the best Award of Quality or Award of Distinction awarded during the previous calendar year. The 2017 Motes Breeder’s Award recipient is R.F. Orchids, for Vanda Will Riley AQ/AOS (Crownfox Gold ‘Elegant’ FCC/AOS × Crownfox Goliath ‘Full Moon’ AM/AOS).
Deadline for Holiday Orders
We know, we know, it isn’t even Thanksgiving yet, but we wanted to remind everyone about the deadline for holiday gift orders: please be sure we have the order in hand no later than Sunday, Dec. 16. This gives us time to pull the order, pack it and ship it to arrive in time for Christmas delivery. All of the shipping services have sent us reminders about shipping and delivery limits around the holidays. Another reminder: shipping at this time of year is always “weather permitting”, meaning that we need at least 3 nights with temperatures above 32°F during the transit time between here and there. Don’t forget, we have gift cards available, and those can be sent regardless of the weather.