This is Neoregelia "Castigado"; I don't know the parentage on this cross offhand - but it is in the tradition of "Picasso", "Inkwell", "Lorena", "Lou Wilson", "Frazier's Grande", etc. I have a large selection of these color forms - and I really love them. All they want is high light and moderate moisture - and they really thrive. I grow under 70% shadecloth in the summer.
Greetings ..........
For those of you who live in the Central Florida area - The Bromeliad Society of Central Florida is having it's Annual Bromeliad Show & Sale on friday, May 9th - through Sunday, May 11 at the Fashion Square Mall, 3201 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida. Particulars are available online @: mybscf.org
The Orlando Area Koi & Pond Club is having it's Annual Koi & Water Garden Pond Tour on Saturday, May 10th - from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.. There are some very beautiful Ponds and Gardens on the tour which are accessible only on this occasion. Tours are self guided - and info and maps are available @: Orlandokoi.org
Both of these events are free - and there is sure to be something of interest for every taste. We hope to see lots of you at these events!
John
noice one John.
Greetings all ...........
We set up the Bromeliad Show last night ............. far past my usual bedtime - but well worth the effort! There are some really spectacular entries this year; last year there were mostly large plants. This year there is a nice balance of large and small. There were so many entries when I left last night that we were running out of display space!
The sales tables are loaded to the hilt - and there are some great Broms with very reasonable prices. I noticed a number of rarities and difficult to find species ......... certainly something for every taste ........... or lack thereof. I will try and take some pictures of the top winners and post them at a later date.
Judging begins at 9:00 this morning - and we are all waiting with "baited breath" to see who walks away with the top honors. We'll soon see ..............
John
Ohh, I wish I was there! I've never been to a show, and was very dissappointed when I booked a holiday to Cairns for the end of June, and found out I am missing a huge Bromeliad show there by one day
I hope you do get some pictures John! Did you enter anything yourself? You have so many lovely Neos. It would be hard to be a judge, me thinks.
Sue
Greetings Sue ........ et al ..............
The show was wonderful, sales were brisk, and there were some very beautiful plants to be seen. I entered 5 plants, took 3 blues, one red, and an A.M. - which was promptly passed since it had no blossoms during judging. Ah well ......... you can't always win!
I thought the Judges were very "out of line" this year; I don't know WHAT they were thinking. Many of us are quite irritated by their choices .......... especially Best in Show - which is a commercial plant - in poor and dirty condition - and leaning like the Tower of Piza! It should never have even been considered for anything!!!
At any rate ..... there were some very rare and beautiful plants. Here are a list of most of the winners - with photos and commentary:
Best of Division II
Special Award
Cryptanthus Microglaziova ........... This is an outstanding specimen - beautifully
grown and cared for.
Division I - Section B (flowering)
Award of Horticultural Excellence
Vriesea Partalina ....... This is a very exotic looking plant with the most beautiful
pendant bracket in shell pink with yellow blossoms. This is
a rare species - and extremely difficult to flower. This was
one of my favorites. Pictures do not capture the exquisite
subtlety of color.
Sweepstakes Winner with 18 Blue Ribbons
Neoregelia Carcharodon "Rainbow" - This is a species; the upright growth habit
is marvelous.
Best of Division I
Best Species
Aechmea Brassicoides - A most bizzare and appealing bromeliad. The center
looks like an ear of corn in the husk. The flower spike
pokes right through the tightly wrapped leaves! It's as
sharp as a knife! This is another rarity in cultivation - and extremely difficult to flower. I think this was my
favorite in the show. They are very finicky about too
much or too little light. When overexposed - they turn
bright yellow!
Best of Division II - Section A
Vriesea Erythrodactylon "White Cloud" - This is a stunning specimen; the white
absolutely "jumps out" at you!
Best Vareigated Bromeliad
Best Neoregelia
Neoregelia (Carolinae x Hannibal Lector) x (Hannibal Lector) x "Tiger"
This is another of Chester Skotak's incredible hybrids - and among my very alltime favorites. These are very difficult to acquire ....... and no two are ever alike. This example is superbly grown.
Best of Show - Artistic
Neoregelia Heat Wave "Red Hot Mama"
This is hysterical ............ and absolutely looks fake!!! - BUT ........ it is all real, and there is no paint or dye used. Lots of fun and very creative!
and finally ............ Best of Show
Guzmania Conifera
This was not worthy - and was entered illegally. It was grown by a commercial grower; he did not own it for the required 6 months prior to the show. The plant is very messy, it leans at a dizzying angle in the pot .......... and it has mineral stains all over. When not in flower .......... it's boring!
From what I've heard - the owner won't be allowed to enter the show next year. Shame ........ shame on you!
............... here's a closeup of the bracket .........
I am so glad the weekend is over ............ between the Bromeliad Show, The Pond Tour, Dinner Company after the tour ........ and the ensuing cleanup - I am wiped out!
Hope you enjoyed the pictures!
John
Thanks john, for taking us through the show. How bizarre that the Guzmania conifera won when all the specs were wrong! Maybe some money passed hands eh?
N. 'Red Hot MaMa' is a scream! LOL
I saw a Vriesea erythrodactylon 'White Cloud' on Ebay and missed the bidding while at work! It didn't get much money either, and would have been a bargain for the winner! I haven't seen one on there yet?
How long was that inflorescence on the V. partalina? It looks as though it a definite relation of V. guttata. I recently purchased one and now can't wait to see it flower. I hope its not difficult also?
Thanks again for that, and have you a link for your pond tour?
Sue
Greetings Sue ..............
Stuff happens!
The Vriesea Partalina is similar to Guttata; both carry brackets approximately 18 inches long. The bracket on the Partalina is not as open as Guttata; Partalina is a peculiar shade of green - more in the sage family ........ and it is speckled in burgundy. While I don't know for sure - I would imagine that Guttata is probably on the difficult side when it comes to blooming.
The pond tour link is: www.orlandokoi.org
John
Well my thoughts regarding your show is this. I didn't see one plant in any of those photos that looked better than the ones I've been seeing you post. As a matter of fact I personnaly like yours much better.
I also think the judge must have been out of his or her mind to pick that leaning tower of pizza/bromeliad. As a matter of fact I think it was my least favorite of all. LOL
I know nothing about broms but that has got to be a joke. I suggest ya'll look for a different judge or group of judges for next years show. Just my 2 cents worth. That a about 5 more dollars will get you a cup of coffee someplaces.
Happy Gardening, Marian
Thanks for the link John. If I ever get over your way, I've got directions to come and vsit your pond now! How many Koi have you got, and what is the size range? Do you show them also?
Greetings all .........
Thanks Marian! There were 6 judges!!! We wanted 9 - but it's a small show and our budget wouldn't allow it. Enough said.
Sue ............. I have 2 ponds - the largest being 10,000 gallons (37,854 liters). I currently have around 30 (maybe 32?) koi ranging from 12 inches (30 cm) to 33 inches (84 cm). I am in the process of getting rid of 7 fish; 2 are very fine males who are going to an all male environment - and an assorted group of pond quality fish that don't measure up to show standards.
I do show my fish - and keep only females - who have better conformation and generally grow larger than males. I also don't want to put up with spawning - which is indiscriminate and messy! Needless to say - it all keeps me on my toes ......... but gives me great joy and satisfaction. I had more than 100 people come through on the pond tour, many of them "plant people" who have heard about my bromeliads, hoyas, begonias, and cycads. I really enjoy interacting with all of the varied interests - and the day was very lovely ....... if a bit on the warm side! I have been invited to visit some other area gardens - which is a great benefit of sharing your passion with like minded people - so I think the weekend was a smashing success!
Why don't you go on holiday a day earlier so you can attend the Bromeliad Show?
Also ......... just a final note on V. Guttata vs. Partalina. Partalina is generally taller, the scape is longer and the brackets remain tighter. Guttata is lower with a more open roseatte - and the brackets are definitely spaced apart at blooming. While they are both speckled, Partalina has the more sage hue to it's color. If you viewed them together - you would immediately see the difference. They are both difficult to bloom!
John
Thanks for the info on V. guttata vs V. partalina. I bought V. guttata for its foliage anyway, so if its a long time flowering, so be it!
I'm glad your pond tour was such a success! I can't imagine a Koi at 84cm! Holy carp! (LOL)
I keep gold fish in my boat pond, and they breed like rabbits, except they're under water! I chose mottled ones, mostly black and white, so the birds do not see them so easily, as I don't want to cover the pond for aesthetic reasons.
Geeze, your pond is a size too! We have a 90,000ltr water tank, so your largest pond is more than a third of its size! I've seen pics on the other threads, and I'm guessing that the pond takes up quite a bit of your yard, or is it deeper, rather than wider?
I would love to see a pic of your shade set up for your broms if thats possible?
I just purchased an unknown (possibly) Guzmania today, that has at least 15-20 pups in the pot. The flower has finished, but the foliage is a reddish colour. I think its a fairly common one, but I'll divide it up and pot them on aswell as poke some in the garden.
Are you mostly a Neo collector, or do you have some other treasures?
Sue
Greetings Sue ....... et al ...........
My large pond is 25 feet long x 15 feet wide x 6-1/2 feet deep. It occupies perhaps one third of the yard. The filter pit is hidden on the side of the house and takes up a space 6 feet x 15 feet x 4 foot deep. Aesthetically ....... it all works very well!
I will try to take some pictures of the pergolas and shade cloth later today, after which I will post them.
I love Neoregelias, but I seriously collect Hohenbergias, Billbergias, Aechmeas, Vrieseas, and anything that is tightly vase shaped - or has wicked looking thorns! I love the things that you don't see everywhere. I am becoming very limited in space, so hunting rarities is perfect for me - since I don't find a whole lot that I want. You need to take into account that I also collect Hoyas, Begonias, and African Encephalartos, as well as other types of Cycads - which take up a huge amount of space. I have scaled down from my previous yard which was very large - to this yard - which is very small by camparison. Sometimes I complain at the lack of space, but when I have to do trimming and yard work I count my blessings that the yard isn't larger! Like so many of us ........ I suffer from the disease of more! ............ more of this ........... more of that! Too much of a good thing is wonderful !!! .......... well ........ maybe I'll just buy one more of these ..........
you get the idea. In fact ...... I can clearly see that you have the same problem!
Enough prattle for the moment ...........
John
Thanks john for that astute observation, yes, too much! LOL
I like the thornies too and am collecting full sun Broms and landscape spoecimens e.t.c, but i am partial to Neos, but only if they are quite different from each other. I don't want a whole bunch of slightly different ones, although in the landscape thats not all that important, but when purchasing and spending so much hard earned money, I want value and something I can get excited about.
Here is my score of the week. I got 15 uniformly sized pups off it, with 5 spent mother plants. I'm going to grow them on individually, let them flower and pup again, and then put them in the garden, or possibly sell off a couple, but i still don't know what they are. the spent ones were too far gone to get any detail except a vague form like a G. lingulata hybrid.
Sure do love that "Red Hot Mamma"!
"eyes"
