Isochilus major

Isochilus major has a Cinderella story. Our undemanding little plant sat on a bench in the backup greenhouse for years, never flowering, patiently growing, while its bigger showier neighbors were taken, one by one, to be installed and admired in the Orchid Display House.

One day a space opened up in the Fuqua Orchid Center's High Elevation House. An important place. In fact, the most prominent spot in the entire greenhouse, right up front--the very first thing that visitors see upon arriving. Can a spot like that remain empty? No way. In desperation I searched the greenhouses for an orchid.

And so, in a single moment our Isochilus, passed over for years, was whisked into a world of activity and attention. And what happened next?

Incredible!
Honestly, I can't say for sure why this plant suddenly flowered. Isochilus major does range widely in elevation through Mexico, Central America and northern South America. It could be that our plant was collected from the higher end of this range and should have been installed in the High Elevation House right from the start. (A princess all along!  ...not sure if that make me the prince or the fairy godmother...)
Anyway, a happy ending all around.