Look what I scored..... - Orchid Board

fotofashion · #1 01-07-2012, 07:34 PM

at the HOS meeting Thursday silent auction. Beautiful plant, nice flowers. I do have a small problem with the ID tag, hope someone can fill in the missing letter, please.
Paph Kemp Tower PE?Y 'Five Stars" AM x philippinense
What goes between E and Y if anyone knows I would appreciate it.

Beverly A.

camille1585 · #2 01-07-2012, 08:10 PM

VERY nice plant!

You tag should read:
Paph. Kemp Tower (Prince Edward of York 'Five Stars' AM x philippinense)

How on earth does a silent auction work??

fotofashion · #3 01-07-2012, 08:42 PM

Thanks Camille both for the compliment and the info.
A silent auction is done by putting the plants on the auction table with a paper listing the name of the plant and the minimum price the seller wants for it. Below are spaces for those who wish to bid to put their name and the price they are willing to pay. (Sometimes there is a minimum bid raise, too). The president of the club announces that at a certain time there will be "pencils down" and that is when the last opportunity to bid will be allowed. Whoever has the highest bid wins the plant. When I want a plant, I hang around the table until it is almost time for the bidding to close and quickly write down my bid before the bidding closes but taking enough time so no one else can outbid me.

Sounds complicated but really is simple.
Beverly A.

camille1585 · #4 01-07-2012, 08:44 PM

Sounds like the pen and paper version of Ebay, snipping included!

fotofashion · #5 01-07-2012, 08:49 PM

Well, sort of, but you can see what everyone has bid and who has bid, too.
Beverly A.

camille1585 · #6 01-07-2012, 08:50 PM

Sounds like fun though. I've never been to any sort of auction, dutch orchid societies just do normal sales.

fotofashion · #7 01-07-2012, 09:12 PM

We have several types: The aforementioned silent auction, then there is the raffle (you buy 30 tickets for $5.00 for example) and there are usually 10 or so plants to choose from, in addition there is the door prize for wearing your name tag (2 tickets) and another drawing for bringing in "box tops for education" one ticket for each box top (I won a nice in bud Catt. this time). Then the speaker usually brings plants to sell. This time the talk was on miniature orchids and she brought a lot of nice plants.
There are times when no one brings anything for the silent auction and the speaker doesn't bring plants but there is always the raffle.
It is a rare meeting when I do not bring something home.

Beverly A.