Hi, Arthur, In our orchid society, it's customary to drape a ribbon around a leaf of the plant - blue for first place, red for second, and white for third. Each ribbon is about 6"x2" and has gold lettering: FIRST PLACE [outline of State of MN w/ cyp inside] ORCHID SOCIETY OF MINNESOTA Attached to the back of the ribbon is a small white tag with lines for the class to which the orchid belongs, the prize (none for this show), the person who received the award (the grower), the date, and the signature of the judge. No $$ for winning at this show. You get to keep the ribbon. As for judges, people who have a lot of experience judging Paphs or whatever at orchid society meetings typically judge those plants. Often, these folks show at AOS shows. Usually, less experienced members tag along so they can learn. This is a very low-key, informal affair. In our orchid society, there's no rule about the length of time someone owns a plant. My first year as a member, I asked about that, too, and was told I could go out into the retail garden center, where we hold our meetings, buy an orchid plant, and enter for judging that day. I don't know how it is for other societies or shows. My friend's plant that won 1st place had been purchased in bud from a commercial grower a couple of weeks before. Again, we were taking our plants to be used for color. As for how long you should own a plant before showing it - dunno if shows and other societies have rules or guidelines. For me personally, it would be a minimum of one reblooming under my care. How about for you? And what are your shows like? WC8

Thanks to you both for the useful hints! Catc, you are correct as they are without a doubt Italian Arum. We have it growing everywhere -- in the front, in the wooded area of our backyard, along the driveway... -- so I'd be glad to swap some. I do need to get involved with this group more so that I can do the fall swap. How does that work, exactly? The great thing about our new house is that the previous owners, who were 85 when they sold us the house this spring, spent so much time on gardening, and planted so many wonderful things that bloom all year. It seems that every time I turn around, something is blooming that I never noticed before. Case-in-point are the gardenia bushes all along the front of the house, which continue to bloom and provide wonderful smells. And to think I considered taking them out!

I have the Adv 120 and the Monogram oven. (one of each) The Advantium is my 2nd oven as well as microwave. The microwave part is great, and I have baked cookies in the 120 with convection. They were fine! I'm not really sure about the speedcook part - timing is a learning curve if you want crispy reheated pizza crusts and I'm not sure it's as good as putting the pizza on my pizza stone in the big oven. We just got the oven so I really haven't had time to experiment. HOwever, it would be nice to have a 2nd microwave while you are using the Advantium for something else like baking. I love the roll-out racks in the Monogram ZET1 oven. I'm using it now for a huge roast and it is pure joy to pull the shelf all the way out and lift the cover with one potholder!

We went to a little neighborhood Mexican restaurant. I had a carnitas (pork) quesadilla. DH had a carnitas burrito. And of course, chips and salsa. Just a little salsa...oh my heck...it is just a tad bit too hot for me.