I think what people need to understand is that there are two parts to judging at a show. The first is what is termed ribbon judging. All plants maybe entered for ribbon judging, this is a beauty contest. They must be entered in the correct category. If there is AOS judging at the show -- and even if there isn't -- AOS judges, accredited, probabionary and students, form teams, you are assigned a team and usually a clerk or two. This is looked on as a learning experience for the clerks -- so they may with the team captains explanations and guidance be asked to make the selection, if the judges don't like it then we'll tell you so, and overrule the clerks, oh I can think of one clerk here that I think is as good as most judges. If you catch it in time you can even correct a wrongly entered plant. This is all done before the show starts. Ribbons and trophies are awarded, in fact I have an expensive one from a paph that's day it was. I have a blue vanda, not awardable that won its class 3 years in a row at the local show - then retired. Next as the judges and clerks progress they make mental notes of plants they would like to see for AOS judging, I have seen plants pulled from vendors tables at big shows, one even awarded. Basic rule, they can be judged only once on that flowering, that is why you will see some plants marked not for AOS judging, or if it already has an award, the person doesn't want to pay if it gets one more point on this go round, and the current owner pays though they get no credit for it. After ribbon and display judging plants are marked- usually with paper dots or some such thing and the judges retreat to AOS judging. Plants are pulled from the displays and then debated over -- there are cultural awards but usually they are looked at for the standard FCC,AM and HCC, FCC is 90 pts plus AM 80-89and HCC 75-79, the plants are scored by each judge on the team and an average done. If you get an award and that clone has not been awarded before then you get to name it, such as "Lucky Chance" which was given to a vanda species won at a raffle, if there is no name, then you also can name it, that goes to the RHS, oh you pay, but I named a cross after my teenage son who didn't appreciate that he is recorded as an orchid. It used to be $35 if you got an award, they have recently changed it and you get a discount if you pay on line. If you get the award your plant's pic is taken, used to be you got a slide of it, again now they have gone digital, and a lovely certificate. After judging, plants are returned to the display. Plants maybe brought for AOS judging and not entered. They are generally set on the back tables. SWOGA rules are a little different on show set up and have some other awards, but they are not AOS awards, which are the ones that make a plant maybe worth some money. AOS awards are sought after but there are some famous plants such as Phrag Eric Young 'Rocket Fire' that is a tremendous parent was not and never will be awarded, and I can think of some phals that are that way. When people are buying a plant, it helps if the parents are awarded you can look up the parent even. There are also a number of judging centers, AOS list them on their web site, typically they meet once a month, they have lectures, raffles etc. While I am told it used to be very formal, they are trying to encourage the public, you may ask the chair if you can sit in on a judging -- not of your own plant -- and he will most likely try to assign you to a team whose leader or members are given to explanations. I know when we have visitors we bend over backwards, on our own we can be very perfunctory. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE EDUCATIONAL. Insects -- ugh -- well we don't outright throw them out - for one bug -- but please you are subjecting everyone to your infestation. Insect damaged flowers are not judgable and that is what we are judging. Not the plant, unless you are trying for cultural -- then its out period -- how can we give you a cultural if a slug has obviously been there. It took me awhile to figure out the rules and I still haven't got them all by a lot, the AOS has a rule book and guides, but the easiest way is to clerk a few shows or attend a judging center. Oh all judges usually get is breakfast and at a big show lunch. It always seemed strange to me that if you get an AOS award you pay. But it is still a great honor, and a chance to give an honor to someone by naming the clone or even cross after them.

My tree with son and daughter in law of one year. This was the day before their 1st anniversary and they dressed in clothes they had bought for an anniversary outing at a very snazzy restaurant and we took Christmas pictures for them to send in their Christmas cards. Must have taken 40 pictures, maybe more. My son helped me pick out the tree, my first live one in 4-5 years and it touched the ceiling. You know, when he was a kid and we were picking out trees, they were never big enough for them, even when they WERE tall enough to hit the ceiling. And now, he makes this 8 footer look fairly small. Ornaments are a mix of old, new, and in between and include ornaments the kids made in grade school, ornaments made by or given to me by friends and the kids (daughter as well as son) and other ornaments that have caught my eye over the years. I'm very sentimental and nostalgic an could never imagine buying all new ornaments and not hanging these. Some of my favorites are ones that my mom had hanging on her tree when I was a kid. We lost her in September of 2006 so those particular ornaments have an even more special place in my heart.

Houzz had been "vanishing" posts I tried to submit in December. This is another attempt to mention a few other good sources of color in north Texas this fall. Dogwoods, Crape Myrtles, and some other displays were cut short by a brief drop to the low 20s in early November. Yet we've still not had more than a few hours below freezing at a time, so leaves remain on Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum: Also on 'Little Honey' Oak Leaf Hydrangea: 'Little Henry' Sweetspire is another with great fall color (and nice spring flowers), but has struggled in our unimproved alkaline clay. This surviving division is much happier in a more neutral potting mix and will be tried again in an improved bed:

Strawchicago the scent of Firecrack is just like Lyda.... I think someone told me is musk.... but if you were blindfolded you would not be able to tell the difference of it and Lyda. That is why I am sure it is one of her seedlings.... that and Too Ugly who just got through putting out a great show, but I forgot to take pictures. Rosecanadian.... Firecracker smells just like Lyda rose and is just as strong. This time there seems to be a single stripe in the picture.... but normally not striped. Maybe it is weather. Normally this rose will change colors as the blooms open... I brought these two beauties in to share with my daughter who is home for one her friends father's funeral. I have told her about my creations and just wanted to share them with her.... I will allow the other buds to open on the bush and see if they still go through their progression of dark pink, to light pink and yellow