Myrmecocattleya Rio's Little Treasure (Myrmecophila albopurpurea x Cattleya violacea)

 This cross of Myrmecophyla albopurpurea and Cattleya violacea is beautiful and apparently easier to grow than either species.  The flowers are larger than the Myrmecophila parent but smaller than the Cattleya.   Cattleya violacea is notoriously tricky to cultivate and many times it can grow well and bloom for a time only to start to go downhill and die.  My experience with Myr. albopurpurea is that it has failed to thrive and eventually died.   This plant doesn't seem to be as delicate as the parents.  

Dendrobium (aberrans x Little Atro)

This orchid was brought to the April 10 meeting of the AOS judges on Ponce Puerto Rico.  This orchid is small and floriferous with many long lasting flowers.  The only thing I don't like about it is that the flowers are nooding, and if you look the plant from the top you only see the backs of the flowers, which interestingly is showier than the front.