The first picture is a Beallara Marfitch 'Howard's Dream' AM/AOS. This orchid started spiking in late August and the wait has been excruciating! Now that the flowers are open (my first bloom on this orchid) the wait was well worth it. The picture is not the greatest...I used my iPhone since I currently cannot locate my camera. The purple is so deep and vibrant!
The second is Burrageara Nelly Isler 'Swiss Beauty'. My first book about orchids had a picture of a Nelly Isler and it was love at first sight. I bought this one earlier this spring and this is it's first bloom. The scent really is heavenly.
These are my first blooms on these two orchids, which only adds to my excitement! Woohoo!