C. Ruth Gee 'Diamond Jubilee' FCC/AOS x Guarianthe skinneri 'Carpenteria' FCC/AOS

It is a known fact that having pedigreed parents does not always mean outstanding offspring when it comes to orchids (or people for that matter)! But in this case the result is everything that one would have hoped for in the pairing of C. Ruth Gee ‘Diamond Jubilee’ FCC/AOS and Gur. skinneri ‘Carpenteria’ FCC/AOS. And yet this may be one of the few seedlings from that grex that achieved this level of perfection, as we have talked to several others who also took the chance on it and got nothing special at all. The cross was made by Stewart’s Orchids while still under its original ownership in California. Large, full, vibrant, satiny lavender blooms with near perfect shape and presentation have a warmth and presence about them that stands out among the many thousands of lavender cattleyas in existence. We are waiting for the perfect moment to enter this magnificent plant, which is now becoming a specimen, at an official AOS judging. In the mean time, we have used it as a parent for a couple of our hybrids to be released in the future.