By RYOKO OHNISHI, Rafu Contributor

GARDENA — The Gardena Valley Cymbidium Club (GCC) held its 29th annual Cymbidium Orchid Show at Ken Nakaoka Memorial Community Center on Feb. 20-21 in Gardena.

The GCC was formed in 1985 by a group of cymbidium enthusiasts, primarily Japanese Americans, to perpetuate the cultivation and presentation of cymbidium orchids.

Cymbidium is one of the orchids that can be grown in backyards in the Southern California weather. However, this year, California’s drought and ongoing restrictions on outdoor water use affected the blooms of the flowers.

“This was my only cymbidium that bloomed. The rest of my plants still have many green buds,” says James Ly, one of the awardees of the show.

“I sacrificed my lawn for my orchid because of the water shortage. It’s a trade-off between orchid and lawn,” he chuckles.

The co-founder of the group, Sam Kajikawa says, “My ‘Hiroshima’ cymbidium got a virus and did not make it this year, so I did not bring mine. However, I am glad to see so many members worked hard and make this show happen. Minna gambatta-ne(everybody did a good job).”

GCC will celebrate its 30th show next year. “We all hope that we will have more flowers next year,” says Gary Kennell, the president of the group.

Photos by RYOKO OHNISHI

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