Autre Vie: A Body of Work

Nina Rach, AOS Accredited Judge

Edited 4 January 2008



The Genus Stanhopea
The Genus Acineta
The Genus Cirrhaea
The Genus Embreea
The Genus Gongora
The Genus Houlletia
The Genus Kegeliella
The Genus Lacaena
The Genus Lueddemannia
The Genus Peristeria
The Genus Schlimia
The Genus Sievekingia
The Genus Soterosanthus

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The Genus Corymborchis
The Genus Elleanthus
The Genus Fregea ?
The Genus Palmorchis
The Genus Sobralia

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A Selection of my articles, online: [updated]

"Hawaiian, California shipments delayed by LBAM [light brown apple moth]" - published in Houston Happenings, August 2007.

Shake, Rattle, and Roll at Trinidad's "Golden Celebration" - TTOS 50th anniversary show - published in Houston Happenings, November 2006, page 1.

Orchids at the 2004 Philadelphia Flower Show - published in Houston Happenings, April 2004, page 4.

The Orchids of Madison County (Texas) - published in SWROGA NEWS, Fall/Winter 2003.

"Show Table: Judging in Venezuela," Orchids, January 2003, pp. 58-59, 72.

"Ancient Sands of Venezuela's Gran Sabana--Typically epiphytic orchids adapt to growing in a terrestrial environment," in Orchids, June 2002, pp. 516-525.

An Orchid Trek in Venezuela's Gran Sabana [2002] - Part 1 - published in the Winter 2001 edition of SWROGA News.

An Orchid Trek in Venezuela's Gran Sabana [2002] - Part 2 - published in the Spring 2002 edition of SWROGA News.

Venezuelan Orchids [2001] - Handout for Shreveport O.S. talk.

Colombian Orchid Shows [2002] - published in Houston Happenings, February 2002.

The exciting new Phragmipedium kovachii [2002] - published in Houston Happenings, Sept 2002 [2005]

Terrestrial Orchids of the Philippines [2001] - published in the Proceedings of the HOS 2001 Summer Workshop

An Introduction to Orchid Stamps - published in Houston Happenings; SWROGA News

Colors Within the Cattleya Alliance [2000] - published in Proceedings of the HOS 2000 Summer Workshop

An Introduction to the Genus Disa [2000] - published in Houston Happenings

Orchids of the Dominican Republic [1998; 2005] - HOS website

Epipactis gigantea - Information and Cultural Notes [1998] - Handout for HOS mtg

Native Texas Orchids - Part 1 [1995] - published in Houston Happenings

Native Texas Orchids - Part 2 [1995] published in Houston Happenings

Is Your Society an Island? - SWROGA News and San Diego County OS Newsletter


Lectures Available:

Stanhopeas and Allied Genera [1999-2007] - a favorite alliance, see The Stanhopea Pages

Sobralias! [2003-07] - another favorite alliance, these brightly colored gems adorn plants that remain attractive year-round. See The Sobralia Pages

Orchids of Guatemala [new, 2007] - Orchids from the cloud forests of Jalapa and Guatemala Departments; the western highlands near Lake Atitlan; the cool, wet Coban area; and the hot Peten jungle near Tikal. A wonderfully diverse and orchid-rich country. See a selection of my photos at The colors of Guatemala

Vanilla [new]

Orchids of Ecuador [2004] - A showcase of orchids from two distinct areas: (1) the highlands north of Quito and (2) the species-rich southern Ecuador cloud forest, in and around Podocarpus National Park

Reed-stem Epidendrum species and hybrids [2003-06] Oh-so-colorful; partial slide list

Venezuelan Orchids [2003] - Based on field trips in Oct 2000, March 2001, Sept.-Oct. 2001 and 2002, from east to west in this orchid-rich country; AOS-judged shows in Caracas

Orchids of the Gran Sabana, Venezuela [2002] - great safari field trip Oct 2001 through Canaima National Park - the largest national park in the world and home of the tepuis and the Pemon indian tribe

Orchids in Eastern and Southern Africa [1989-1999] - based on 7 months of field work in 1986-87 and subsequent trips in 1990-1992 to Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, RSA, Swaziland

Pedilonum & Calyptrochilus Dendrobiums [1995-1999; 2004]

The Genus Eulophia: Habitat & Award History [1991-2002] - In situ photos, awarded species, and plants in culture

The Genus Arachnis and its Intergeneric Hybrids [1997]

Introduction to Orchid Judging and the AOS Judging System [2003]

Recent American Orchid Society Awards

Natl Parks and Public Orchid Gardens of Indonesia [1992-1998] - Java and Bali

Jewel Orchids and other Terrestrials [1988-1997; 2007] Photo of Anoectochilus chapaensis, Macodes petola, and Stenosarcos Vanguard (left to right)

An Introduction to Orchid Stamps [new talk 2005] - a colorful hobby!


Nina Rach, 12/2001 You can contact me at nrach@autrevie.com


2007-08 Speaking Engagements:

5 March 2007 -- Fort Worth OS [Jewel Orchids]

17 March 2007 -- Houston Judging Center, Judges' Training [The Award of Distinction, AD/AOS]

19 April 2007 -- Central Ohio Orchid Society, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus [Sobralias]

21 October 2007 -- Virginia Orchid Society, Richmond [Stanhopeas]

23 January 2008 -- 19th World Orchid Conference, Miami [ The Genus Stanhopea]

7 February 2008 -- Houston Orchid Society [Orchids of Guatemala]

11 February 2008 -- Utah Orchid Society, Salt Lake City

12 February 2008 -- Denver Orchid Society


2006 Speaking Engagements: [10]

6 Jan 2006 -- Greater North Texas OS, Dallas [Stanhopeas]
8 Jan 2006 -- Tulsa OS, Oklahoma [Gran Sabana, VZ]
12 Feb 2006 -- Coastal Carolina OS, Charleston, South Carolina [Stanhopeas]
20 Feb 2006 -- Coalition for Orchid Species (COS) meeting, Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens, Coral Gables, FL [Sobralias]
21 Feb 2006 -- Pan American Orchid Society, Miami [Stanhopeas]
19 April 2006 -- OS of Southern Arizona, Tucson [Reed-stem Epidendrums]
20 April 2006 -- Desert Valley OS, Phoenix, AZ [Reed-stem Epidendrums]
1 June 2006 -- Guatemalan Orchid Association (AGO) Universidad Francisco Marroquin, Guatemala City [Sobralias]
15 July 2006 -- Houston Judging Center, Judges' training [Judging Stanhopeas]
5 Aug 2006 -- Houston Summer Orchid Workshop [Reed-stem Epidendrums]

2005 Speaking Engagements: [7]

10 Jan 2005 -- Galveston OS [Orchids of Ecuador]
7 April 2005 -- Houston OS [Sobralias]
10 April 2005 -- Oklahoma OS (Oklahoma City) [Orchid Stamps]
11 April 2005 -- Utah OS (Salt Lake City) [Orchids of Venezuela]
20 July 2005 -- South Florida OS (Miami) [Orchids of Ecuador]
29 July 2005 -- Alamo OS (San Antonio) [Orchids of the Gran Sabana]
20 Sept 2005 -- Malibu OS (Pacific Palisades, CA) [Sobralias]
2004 Speaking Engagements: [10]
6 Jan 2004 -- Houston Orchid Society [Stanhopeas]
12 Jan 2004 -- Atlanta Orchid Society [Stanhopeas]
13 June 2004 -- OS of Greater Kansas City [Stanhopeas]
21 July 2004 -- OS of Southern Arizona (Tuscon) [Stanhopeas]
22 July 2004 -- Desert Valley OS (Tempe, AZ) [Orchids of Venezuela]
7 August 2004 -- Houston OS Summer Workshop [Orchids of Ecuador]
7 Sept 2004 -- San Francisco Orchid Society [Stanhopeas]
18 Sept 2004 -- Mid-America Orchid Congress, Nashville [Orchids of Ecuador]
14 Nov 2004 -- Shreveport Orchid Society [Sobralias]
20 Nov 2004 -- Orchid Society of Minnesota [Sobralias]

Pre-2004 speaking engagements:

Alamo OS (San Antonio, TX) [twice, most recently Nov. 2003]
Asociación Guatemalteca de Orquideología, AGO, (Guatemala City), 2006 [Sobralias]
Batavia OS (Chicago area), March 2003 [Orchids of Venezuela]
Baton Rouge OS (LA)
Brazos Valley Orchid Club (College Station, TX), 2003 [Orchid Judging]

Cape OS (Cape Town, RSA)
Cape Fear OS (Wilmington, NC)
Coalition for Orchid Species (Coral Gables, FL), March 2002 [Stanhopeas]
Denver OS [twice, most recently 2003]

Eastern Province OS (Port Elizabeth, RSA)
Fort Worth Orchid Society (TX) [twice, most recently 2003 - Stanhopeas]
Galveston OS (Texas City, TX) [several; Venezuela, Ecuador]
Greater North Texas OS (Dallas) [3x]
Heart O' Texas OS (Austin, TX; several)

Houston OS - meetings & Workshops
7th IBTA Conference (Kingston, Ontario)
Massachusetts OS (Elm Bank, Wellesley) [Stanhopeas]
Mid-America Orchid Congress (Louisville, KY, Aug. 2003) [Stanhopeas; Sobralias]
Miranda OS (Sociedad Orquideas Estado Miranda, Caracas, Venezuela), Sept. 2002 [Stanhopeas]

Natal OS (Durban, RSA)
National Capitol OS (Wash. DC) [2003: Sobralias]
NFPS (National Fauna Preservation Society, Blantyre, Malawi), 10 Nov 1986
New Orleans OS (LA) [twice, most recently Sept 2002]

North West Orchid Society (Seattle), 10 Nov 2003 [Stanhopeas]
Piedmont OS (Charlotte, NC), Feb. 2003
Sandhills OS (Southern Pines-Fayetteville, NC), Feb. 2003
Shreveport OS (LA), twice [2004: Sobralias]
South Florida OS (Miami), July 2003
Southeast Texas OS (Tyrell Park, Beaumont), 2003 [Big Thicket orchids]

Utah OS (Salt Lake City) [twice, most recently 2003]
Triad OS (Greensboro, NC), Feb. 2003
Triangle OS (Raleigh, NC) [twice, most recently 2003]
16th World Orchid Conference, 1999, Computer Panel Discussion (Vancouver)


A baker's dozen AOS Awards: [HJC=Houston Judging Center]

Phal. Malaya 'Mem. David Rach', AM/AOS 80 pts (Grace Palm x amabilis, reg. 1964) -- March 1996, Galveston OS Show [AQ 28/122P]

Liparis tricallosa 'Autre Vie' CHM/AOS 81 pts -- 26 Feb. 2000, Alamo Judging Center; award photo by Patsy Webster [AQ 31(4)/275]

Dendrobium tobaense 'Autre Vie' HCC/AOS 76 pts -- 14 Oct. 2000, HJC; the award photo, by Charlotte Randolph, was chosen to illustrate December of the upcoming 2003 AOS Orchid Calendar! [AQ 32(2)/73P-color on 88]

Catasetum Jumbo Eagle 'Linda Livesay' HCC/AOS 79 pts (sanguineum 'E.T. x expansum 'Jumbo') -- 18 Aug. 2001, HJC; award photo by Nina Rach [AQ 33(1)/8]

Gongora aromatica 'Autre Vie' HCC/AOS 76 pts -- 16 Feb. 2002, HJC; award photo by Charlotte Randolph

Mormodes tigrina 'Autre Vie' CBR/AOS (OIC #13499) -- 20 April 2002, HJC
[this award nullified in June 2002 due to a CBR being given elsewhere]

Stanhopea Assidensis 'Autre Vie' HCC/AOS 79 pts (tigrina x wardii) -- 15 June 2002, HJC; award photo by Charlotte Randolph

Trichosalpinx orbicularis 'Autre Vie' CBR/AOS (OIC #13703) -- 12 July 2002, Baton Rouge OS Show; award photo by Ronnie Kennedy.
"Diminuitive 12 cm tall plant with 12 growths growing in a 6 cm pot; 3 inflorescences borne from the leaf axes; dorsal sepals dark rose apically, chartreuse basally, lateral sepals dark rose; petals chartreuse; lip hinged, burgundy; substance firm, texture crystalline. Native of Costa Rica. Recognized for educational value, rarity, novelty and charm."

Coryhopea Off the Wall 'Le Balzak' HCC/AOS 78 pts (Stanhopea wardii x Coryanthes macrantha) -- 17 August 2002, HJC; award photo by Charlotte Randolph.

Stanhopea florida 'Miguel's Gift' HCC/AOS 75 pts (OIC #______) -- 20 Sept. 2003, HJC; award photo by Charlotte Randolph.
Beige form, Ecuador.

Stelis nanegalensis Lindl. 'Autre Vie' CBR/AOS, identified by C.A. Luer --- 17 January 2004, HJC; award photo by Theresa M. Riggs. [initially awarded as S. costaricensis]

Zygolum Louisendorf 'Rhein Harlekin' AM/AOS 80 pts (Zygosepalum labiosum x Zygopetalum Artur Elle) -- 18 March 2006, HJC; award photo by Theresa Riggs.

Paph. Annabellchen 'Autre Vie' HCC/AOS 77 pts, (liemianum x delenatii), 4 August 2006, Houston Orchid Society Summer Workshop; award photo by Theresa Riggs.



Where have I judged?
USA: CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, IL, LA, MD, MI, MS, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, SC, TN, TX, WA, WI
Canada, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad, Venezuela, Ecuador, Scotland, Indonesia, New Zealand


Where have I gone to photograph orchids?
North America, Central America, South America, Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands