“Santa Barbara International Orchid Show Grand Champion Cymbidiums”
This Month’s Meeting: Santa Barbara International Orchid Show Grand Champion Cymbidiums, presented by Jim Sloniker.
If this sounds familiar, it’s because this talk was originally scheduled for our February meeting, but was not presented due to technical difficulties. In the meantime, the 78th Santa Barbara International Orchid Show (SBIOS) was held March 20-22, 2026, allowing American Orchid Society Judge Jim Sloniker to include the latest Grand Champion in his overview of Grand Champion Cymbidium Award winners.
Since the 1950s and continuing today, orchid nurseries along the south coast of California have been instrumental in producing these highly awarded cymbidiums. Although the standards for judging the prize winners have adapted to evolving esthetics over the years, many of the most prized flowers continue to be bred and grown here. The winners have been selected by judging experts at each show for nearly 80 years of cymbidium orchid hybridizing. The Samuel B. Mosher Trophy is given to the Grand Champion Cymbidium which recognizes the most superior cymbidium in the show.
2026 Membership Dues
Annual membership fee is $40 for individuals, $50 per household. Due in January, pay no later than March. See Treasurer Angela Watt during the meeting.
Are you interested in being more involved with the OSSB?
We are seeking candidates for President and Vice President (includes Program Chair). Please contact PJ Sanderson for more details: pj-sb@hotmail.com or see her at the meeting.
Meeting refreshments
Remember to sign up to bring in light refreshments and beverages to each monthly meeting. See Hospitality Chair, Richard Hughes during the meetings.
Apr: Leslie Jones
May: We need volunteers!
Jun: We need volunteers!
Location Reminder
Meeting at Maravilla on the 2nd Wednesday of the month, except March and August.
Directions: From Calle Real, enter Maravilla and bear left. On the right is a lawn with a flagpole. The meeting rooms are to the left of the lawn with a flagpole. To park, continue to drive around a loop that will lead you to the parking lot. Additional parking is available to the right as you drive in, any parking space without a number is available. Meeting Rooms: AOS Judging in the Galleria Room, Orchid Society in the Valencia Room.
OSSB at the 2026 SBIOS Show
The entire show was excellent as usual with some new exhibitors. The OSSB display was beautiful this year and most flowers held up despite very hot weather conditions in the main hall. Thanks to everyone who provided plants, helped with set up and teardown of the display and a Huge thanks to Phil Watt who put the display together. There were several ribbons awarded to our plants and the Smith Trophy (Specimen Blooming Plants Showing Excellence of Culture, other than Cymbidium, Cattleya and Cypripedium) was awarded to Jean Week’s Dendrochilum (see lower right of photo – the one with pendulous yellow flower sprays). Thanks to Angela Watt and PJ Sanderson for sales booth and exhibitor snacks and to everyone who brought in orchids to sell (it was busy).
OSSB on the web: Orchid Society of Santa Barbara
