What about the story John
?!
It's beautiful, Wendy. You've done spectacularly well with this.:clap::clap::clap: I'm so glad that you have a piece.
Here's the story: Pamela Gaskill was a good friend and customer of mine who lived in Ottawa, Ontario. One time, while visiting her greenhouse, I drooled all over her Paph. Bel Royal. It wasn't even in bloom; I was just so impressed with the huge, long, wide leaves! I knew it was going to be something to see in bloom. Pam did bloom it eventually and it had 6 flowers on one stem for it's first bloom. With the pot standing on a little 8" stepping stool, the top flower was higher than Pam! Then, about 5 years ago, Pam was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Her prognosis was not good and she began to find new homes for her plants. She sent this plant to me via her daughter and Pam passed away shortly after that. The plant was two growths when I got it and when I repotted it, I saw that each growth had a very healthy root system; so, I divided it and gave one of the growths to Wendy.....as a sort of safe keeping tactic. Although, my piece was in the greenhouse during the freeze, it didn't die; but, it's been seriously set back and now it won't bloom for at least a couple more years. Wendy's piece has been under lights in her warm grow room; so, she is way ahead of me with it. This is the first blooming of either of our pieces and only the second blooming for this clone. Pam bloomed it just once before she gave it to me. I gave it the clonal name 'Pam's Pride' and hope that one day it will get an award. It would be a perfect way to honour Pam's memory. She loved her Paphs!
Here is a photo of Pam with her 'Pride' and joy. Unfortunately, I only had a printed photo, not an electronic one. I put the photo up in my office; but, the sun faded it terribly. Before it went completely blank, I scanned it.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/JohnNM/PaphBelRoyalPamsPride2.jpg
