NOID No More!!!! Found it's name!!!

[ChasWG]

So after owning this plant for three years I finally found it's name! I took my kids to the Denver Botanic Gardens last month and discovered that they have really expanded their facilities and created a whole orchid walk area loaded with tons of wonderful orchids that line a wall just outside of their greenhouses and growing rooms. A truely beautiful facility!

Anyhow, amongst those plants in bloom were something I've been looking at for a long time now. The blooms were the same, same size, same coloration, the leaf structures, heavy and ribbed and the plant size was diffinantly the same. My former Harliquin NOID is rather distinctive because it is so huge! One of it's leaves measures 14" long and the spikes are some 18 to 20" long loaded with lots of Raspberry colored and white splotched pedals, just like the plant I found at DBG. I found someone that worked there and they did some research and found me the name.

(drum roll please)

Phal. Fiuhbao Fairy x Phal. Sweet Strawberry

So I wrote up a name tag and gave it it's name! A happy moment that doesn't happen much with NOIDs. But this plant deserves it.

It's in bloom again right now and it is truely gorgous with 4 spikes and probably some 20 or more blooms.

Pictures:

Just a testiment to how strong these spikes are. One of our Budgies enjoying a more natural moment.






This orchis is almost fully open and if last year was any indicator, these blooms will last almost 5 to 6 months! This plant is amazing and one of my favorites!