As the subject line says, these are Phrag besseae 'Haven' x 'Smokin'

Neither one is fully open yet; I'll post again once they're all the way open... I just couldnt stand the waiting anymore! :)

Anyway, this first one is much more orange-red, and the second is more scarlet-red. I'm not sure how well that will come through in the photos. Both of these were in bud when I got them, and the buds were damaged during shipping (I assume), so they aren't as perfect as they will be the next time they bloom. Anyway... here they are :)

http://www.goreorchidconservatory.com/GalleryStorage/besseae'wildfire'firstbloom.jpg

It has an oddly shaped pouch at the moment. I'm hoping that it will fill out a bit, but I guess I doubt that it will.

http://www.goreorchidconservatory.com/GalleryStorage/besseae'mountainfire'second.jpg

This one is the second bloom on the spike. The first one was terribly damaged during shipping, but was absolutely FLAT. I don't think that I've ever seen a flatter besseae. It also had great yellow striping on the pouch. I'm hoping that this one will flatten out in couple of days; this one really only opened this morning, so the petals are still angled forward quite a bit, which is why it looks so disfigured :)

-Matthew Gore[/img]

:) Looks like the first few on mine also. I'm really finding that by buds two or three they are almost perfect. I can't get over the size/roundness of both the pouch and the petals on this cross. When compared to the others I have open, they are just so much larger and fuller.

I have a 'Big Bob' x 'Colossal' opening today, looks to be much lighter in color. Will post when it's open (dorsal isn't deformed on this one but it is very "pebbly".)

Thanks Matthew!!

Very nice, love the besseaes

Beautiful as all besseaes are! Thanks for posting.

very nice

Great photo's keep them coming

Very nice phrags!

Matt,

Very nice!

THANKS

watch out for the AHM raid :poke: Heather
very nice

Well, it looks as though these are about as open as they're going to get. The first one here has pretty decent form...

http://www.goreorchidconservatory.com/GalleryStorage/besseae'mountainfire'bloom2.jpg

It isnt nearly as flat as the first bloom on the spike, so it may still be opening just a bit, but it might just be normal variation. In this picture you can also see how much yellow there is in the pouch. Tons of it! Very nice striping :)

http://www.goreorchidconservatory.com/GalleryStorage/bess'mountainfire'bloom2sid.jpg

The second plant's bloom is still strangely shaped. I guess I'll have to wait for the next one to get a good idea of the quality of the blooms on this one. All things considered, it's not THAT bad. The petals are nice and full, and the petal span is pretty decent for a first bloom.

http://www.goreorchidconservatory.com/GalleryStorage/bess'wildfire'firstbloom2.jpg


Still,
J. Matthew Gore

A little mishapened, probably from being shipped but I love the petal shape.