PITTSBURGH ORCHID SHOW 2011

          Wow, Thursday - Sunday were 4 of the most grueling and rewarding days of my life.  Set up and registration were Wednesday - Thursday.  Set up of exhibits can literally take 8-10 hours.  It can be crazy.  some will literally turn a plant around and re-situate a single plant for 15 minutes.  Just to show the right angle or the best flowers.  It is like the comedy about the dog show.  Very competitive and somewhat psychotic.

           Registration was from 10am till 10pm Thursday.  I was the registrar for the entire show.  I was responsible for the registration of every plant exhibited in the show, 325+ plants.  This takes a knowledge of all orchids (1,500 genera and over 25,000 species and an additional 50,000 hybrids) .  It also takes a knowledge of the classification system used in the show.   This is something of which I am very proud.  Knowledge I gained over the past 25+ years in the Orchid Society of Western Pennsylvania and 10 years of research.  There were a few times I got really annoyed with people.  Mostly cute old ladies who were adorably oblivious to the registration process, even though  I have known them for almost 25 years. (ROFL).  One vendor I would very much like to never see again, but...  Without my new friend Linda I would have run out of gas around 8pm.

          Friday was judging.  That can be both fun and grueling.  Fun in that this is where ribbons are awarded.  Grueling in that it is 3-4 hours on you feet.  I came away with 3 blue (1st) and 1 red (2nd) place ribbons for 4 plants entered.  Trophies for best of class are awarded as well.  One of mine was considered for a trophy but lost by one vote to another plant.  HRUMPH!!!!   National awards are also given.  Usually 5-10 national awards are given at each Pittsburgh show.  There were 7 this year.  These are awarded for exceptional flowers, rare or new species, or for plants exhibiting good culture and large numbers of flowers.  One received a quality award and a cultural award.  Amazingly enough this plant was one of teh first hybrids ever registered.  This plant is is nearly 200 years old, passed down by division from days gone by.

          Saturday - Sunday were open to the public.  This is when the general populace descends upon the show like the biblical locust.  Every size, shape, color, sex, personality, and age come to view the orchids (and buy plants from the vendors).  These days it was my job to walk around and answer any questions anyone would have about orchids, help the vendors sell plants, and occasionally flirt with a few hot guys. This is why Linda gave me the nick name "THE ORCHID PIMP" .   ROFL.  Of course I purchased plants.  This time only 3.  Two for breeding and one just because I thought it would be cool.  Two of my purchases are (hopefully) pregnant now.   Knock on wood, I should be selling en mass again in 2 years or so.

           Sunday at 5pm sharp, it all comes down.  What took hours to create disappears in about 20-30 minutes.  Nearly everything is gone after an hour. After 1 1/2 hours the floors are swept.  It is humorous how fast things disappear after a 4 day show.  All the preparation and time....  then in about and hour it is gone until the next year.  The end of the show is both depressing and a blessing.  4 days is about all a person can take.  I feel like jelly from the middle of my back down.  I will sleep like the dead tonight!!!!