Sunset Valley Orchids
Fred Clarke
1255 Navel Place
Vista, CA 92081

fred.clarke@att.net

Cyc. William Clarke
(Cyc. herrenhusanum ‘SVO' x Cyc. cooperi ‘Dark Jem' AM/AOS)

The classic swan shaped Cycnoches flowers in a new, very unusual colors ranging from green, gingersnap, chocolate and some have spots! Expect 3" flowers on long inflorescences carrying 25 or more blooms.

Cyc. herrenhusanum
(Cyc. herrenhusanum 'SVO' x Cyc. herrenhusanum 'Cindy Hill')

Golden yellow to greenish yellow flowers. This sibling cross will be the first step in improvement of this species. We are looking for fuller and flatter flowers from this paring of two vigorous growing and blooming cultivars, this was confirmed last fall when a plant of the cross took an AM/AOS.

(Cyc. barthiorum 'Sunset Valley Orchids' AM/AOS x Morm. colossus 'RK)

Flower color is from orange to rose-red. Expect 10 or more flowers in the 2-3" size range. These are strong growing and blooming plants.

Cyc. cooperi
(Cyc. cooperi 'SVO' AM/AOS x Cyc. cooperi 'SVO II' HCC/AOS)

This is the first release of a series of crosses to improve Cyc. cooperi. Here two of my best dark chocolate colored cooperi's were used. Expect superior flower shape and color.

(Mo. Painted Desert x Ctsm. fimbriatum var. moorianum)

This yet un-named hybrid will become the next generation of Fredclarkeara (Fdk.). As with other Fdk. hybrids flower longevity will be greatly improved over the Catasetum parent, expect longevity of 5-7 weeks. The Painted Desert will impart its fine shape and color, the fimbriatum has an incredible solid dark purple flower color. These will have very dark flower color, possibly in the black range. This is a very promising hybrid with a very limited supply.

(Mo. Painted Desert x Ctsm. Maria Helena)

Another new Fredclarkeara (Fdk.) hybrid. Ctsm. Maria Helena (macrocarpum x galeritum) Has helmet shaped flowers with very dark interiors and green exteriors. The Painted Desert should improve the overall shape and lend its color. The expectation is for long lasting, slightly cupped flowers produced 10-15 per stem in dark in colors.

Cycd. Chocolate and Cherries
(Morm. sinuata 'SVO' HCC/AOS x Cyc. warscewiczii 'SVO' AM/AOS)

The deep red color from the sinuata will dominate the flower color and the fine shape of the warscewiczii will lend its form. This is a proven combination giving excellent results. I am expecting 7-11 flowers in the 3" size. Limited supply

Cyc. barthiorum (Cyc. barthiorum 'Sunset Valley Orchids' AM/AOS x Cyc. barthiorum 'SVO II')

My first successful sibling cross with the two excellent Cyc. barthiorums. Full shaped rose flowers with spotting will be produced from this mating. Superb line breeding for improvement in flower color, shape and size.

(Morm. Exotic Treat 'SVO II' x Cyc. warscewiczii 'SVO' AM/AOS)

Exotic Treat is a deep yellow flower with dark burgundy spots, fantastic color. The warscewiczii will predictably impart its fine form and allow for the Mormodes color to come through. Bright yellow flowers with spots and excellent shape!

Ctsm. denticulatum
(Ctsm. denticulatum 'Sunset Valley Orchids' AM/AOS x self)

2003 winner of the Ann and Phil Jessup Botanical Trophy. A spectacular small growing Catasetum with mature bulbs only 5" tall. Expect 20+ flowers of good color measuring 1.5" across. Very rare, desirable and cute, a must have species. Limited supply

(Cyc. cooperi 'SVO III' FCC/AOS x Cyc. Jean E. Monnier '#2')

My cross of Cyc. Jean E Monnier has earned an impressive 5 AM and 6 HCC, this hybrid combines one of the darkest Jean E. Monnier that carries 35 flowers combined with the best cooperi awarded. This is the next level of improvement in this line of breeding. Expect 30-35 large 4" flowers in colors ranging from deep chocolate to light bronze with dark spotting. This is a "must have" hybrid.

Cyc. barthiorum (Cyc. barthiorum 'Sunset Valley Orchids' AM/AOS x Cyc. barthiorum 'SVO III')

My second successful sibling cross. Cyc. barthiorum 'III' is by far the best in my collection. Full shaped, dark rose flowers with random spotting are produced from this mating. Superb line breeding looking towards significant improvement in quality and for future AOS awards.

Cyc. Jean E. Monnier
(Cyc. cooperi ‘SVOIII' FCC/AOS x Cyc. barthiorum ‘SVOII')

This has all the potential to be the best Jean E. Monnier yet. The cooperi is by far the most superior in size, color and it can carries over 40 flowers, the barthiorum outstanding as well and is surly going to be awarded. This is a cross you need to add to your collection.

(Mo. Painted Desert ‘SVO' HCC/AOS x Ctsm. tenebrosum ‘Ed #3')

Here is a new Fredclarkeara (Fdk.) grex. The flower longevity will be greatly improved as with other Fdk. hybrids, expect lasting qualities of 5-7 weeks. The Painted Desert used here is the parent of the famous Fdk. After Dark and the tenebrosum bred the highly awarded Ctsm. Donna Wise grex another parent in the Fdk After Dark. Superior parents used with a proven track record in breeding dark colored flowers. Is it possible this cross could lead to more black flowers? This is a very promising hybrid with a limited supply.

Cycd. Opalina
(Morm. horichii 'SVO' x Cyc. warscewiczii 'Giant Swan')

Cycnodes hybrids have a high average of quality, this one is no exception. These plants will produce strong upright stems carrying 13-17 large rose-purple flowers with darker lips. Expect excellent shape and hybrid vigor from this breeding line.

(Fdk. After Dark ‘SVO Amazing' x Ctsm. Donna Wise ‘Long Last')

This is the first hybrid with the world famous Fdk. After Dark. Here we have bred it back to ‘Long Last' a sibling of its parent ‘Kathleen' which has solid dark flowers that last and last, thus the name. Hard to improve on Fdk. After Dark but this should increase flower size and maintain the dark coloration. Can you imagine 3” black flowers! Very limited

(Fdk. After Dark ‘SVO Amazing' x Ctsm. Mark Dimmitt ‘Ed Wise')

Once again a hybrid with the famous Fdk. After Dark. The very dark burgundy colored Ctsm. Mark Dimmitt (Ctsm. Donna Wise x Ctsm. Orchidglade) has the potential to significantly improve the shape and size of the After Dark while adding its dark color genes. I am expecting bigger and better flowers than After Dark. Very limited.

(Fdk. After Dark ‘SVO Amazing' x Ctsm. Donna Wise ‘Kathleen' AM/AOS)

One more offering with Fdk. After Dark, here it crossed back with its parent ‘Kathleen'. Once again the potential for larger black flowers may be unlocked here. A superior hybrid with amazing potential. Don't wait on these supply is limited.

(Morm. tezontle alba ‘SVO' AM/AOS x Cyc. warscewiczii ‘Giant Swan')

The tezontle alba carried 46 flowers when it was awarded and ‘Giant Swan' blooms with up to 9 flowers. The Mormodes will dominate flower color and count the warscewiczii will lend its fine form. Expect 25 or more green flowers on mature plants.