CSA-Journal-2016-04

nized its quality and suggested they make a
cross. Burt consented, and Ernest proceeded
with this outstanding plant, Balkis ‘Silver
Orb’, to make “The Big Four” among
the most famous modern cymbidium crosses
of all time: Lillian Stewart (x Carrisona
‘Glendesary’), Edna Cobb (x Profita ‘Mardi
Gras’), San Francisco (x Blue Smoke ‘Pernod’),
and Great Day (x Swallow), gaining
world recognition for Stewart’s Orchids
and Ernest Hetherington, its leader. He
was awarded the AOS Gold Medal of
Achievement for his lifetime service to the
orchid world in April 1990.
Ernest’s role in the CSA was equally
foundational. He was a longtime member
of the Society, and the 12th president. He
promoted the idea of an annual gathering
of cymbidium growers and hobbyists to the
CSA Board of Directors, and in 1976 he
served as the first Chair of the CSA Cymbidium
Congress, a position that he held
for 10 years. He created the format for
the congress that we continue to use today.
And he wrote articles for the various
versions of the Cymbidium Society’s newsletters
and magazines. In 1953 he began
a recurring column entitled “Trends and
Developments in the Cymbidium World”.
This evolved into a semi regular article
called “Grower’s Notebook”. He wrote
tirelessly for CSA publications, as well as
the AOS Bulletin and the Orchid Digest,
involving himself in all levels of these organizations.
The CSA Journal of March/
April 2008 (Vol 8, No. 2) was dedicated
to Honoring Ernest, with more than one
author and/or interviewee indicating that
Ernest did more for longer to promote orchids,
orchid education, and orchid cultural
history than anyone else.
While the steps of Ernest’s life progress
were similar to many, his longevity and the
quality and quantity of his work, writings,
accounts, and participation tops most.
Ernest Hetherington was an outstanding
man. He was 100% dedicated to mankind,
Cym. Balkis 'Silver Orb'
photo courtesy Randall Robinson
he served his nation, he served his employer
the Stewart Family, and he served his family.
He fulfilled his own passion by being one of
the greatest students of orchidology of all
time, which he loved completely.
Paul Gripp has been growing orchids for over fifty
years. A CSA and AOS judge, he is past owner of the
Santa Barbara Orchid Estate, has an extensive library
of orchid books and prints, and in the Editor’s opinion,
is another of our extraordinary orchidmen.
Randall Robinson
will talk about the
Legacy and Contributions of
Ernest Heatherington
at the
2017 Cymbidium Congress
May 18, 2017
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