2026 Blue Ribbon and Special Awards Entries

Photos courtesy of Winston Goretsky, Mel Grice, Dale Martens, and Ron Myhr

All

Division Award

Section Award

Special Award

<em>Sinningia speciosa</em> species ‘Pedra Lisa’ exhibited by Dave Zaitlin

Sinningia speciosa species ‘Pedra Lisa’ exhibited by Dave Zaitlin

<em>Sinningia speciosa</em> ‘Dale’s Silver Lining’ exhibited by Dale Martens

Sinningia speciosa ‘Dale’s Silver Lining’ exhibited by Dale Martens

<em>Sinningia</em> ‘Jung’s Snowy Owl’ exhibited by Dale Martens

Sinningia ‘Jung’s Snowy Owl’ exhibited by Dale Martens

<em>Sinningia</em> ‘Ozark Rosy Cheeks’ exhibited by Vicki Ferguson

Sinningia ‘Ozark Rosy Cheeks’ exhibited by Vicki Ferguson

<em>Sinningia</em> ‘Dale’s Twice as Nice’ exhibited by Dale Martens

Sinningia ‘Dale’s Twice as Nice’ exhibited by Dale Martens

<em>Sinningia bullata</em> ‘Cânion Fortaleza’ exhibited by Dave Zaitlin

Sinningia bullata ‘Cânion Fortaleza’ exhibited by Dave Zaitlin

<em>Sinningia</em> ‘Dale’s Pink Cockatoo’ exhibited by Lan Wu

Sinningia ‘Dale’s Pink Cockatoo’ exhibited by Lan Wu

<em>Sinningia</em> ‘Kevin Garnett’ exhibited by Brandon Erikson

Sinningia ‘Kevin Garnett’ exhibited by Brandon Erikson

<em>Chrysothemis pulchella</em> ‘Black Flamingo’ exhibited by Erika Geimonen

Chrysothemis pulchella ‘Black Flamingo’ exhibited by Erika Geimonen

<em>Achimenes misera</em> exhibited by Karyn Cichocki

Achimenes misera exhibited by Karyn Cichocki

<em>Kohleria</em> ‘Bud’s Strawberry Shortcake’ exhibited by Brandon Erikson

Kohleria ‘Bud’s Strawberry Shortcake’ exhibited by Brandon Erikson

×<em>Smithicodonia</em> ‘Heartland’s Joy’ exhibited by Vicki Ferguson

×Smithicodonia ‘Heartland’s Joy’ exhibited by Vicki Ferguson

<em>Chautemsia calcicola</em> exhibited by Mel Grice

Chautemsia calcicola exhibited by Mel Grice

<em>Gloxinia erinoides</em> exhibited by Dale Martens

Gloxinia erinoides exhibited by Dale Martens

<em>Codonanthe devosiana</em> exhibited by Josh Higgins

Codonanthe devosiana exhibited by Josh Higgins

<em>Columnea crassifolia</em> exhibited by Vanuzia Coyle

Columnea crassifolia exhibited by Vanuzia Coyle

<em>Episcia</em> ‘Tiger Stripes’ exhibited by Erika Geimonen

Episcia ‘Tiger Stripes’ exhibited by Erika Geimonen

<em>Nematanthus fissus</em> exhibited by Josh Higgins

Nematanthus fissus exhibited by Josh Higgins

<em>Cobananthus calochlamys</em> exhibited by David Turley

Cobananthus calochlamys exhibited by David Turley

<em>Aeschynanthus pulcher</em> exhibited by Josh Higgins

Aeschynanthus pulcher exhibited by Josh Higgins

<em>Petrocosmea rotundifolia</em> exhibited by Toby Green

Petrocosmea rotundifolia exhibited by Toby Green

<em>Primulina petrocosmeoides</em> exhibited by Toby Green

Primulina petrocosmeoides exhibited by Toby Green

<em>Primulina huangii</em> exhibited by Erika Geimonen

Primulina huangii exhibited by Erika Geimonen

<em>Primulina sinovietnamica</em> exhibited by Nathan Mamere

Primulina sinovietnamica exhibited by Nathan Mamere

<em>Primulina tabacum</em> exhibited by Brandon Erikson

Primulina tabacum exhibited by Brandon Erikson

<em>Primulina</em> ‘Tan Boy’ exhibited by Jim Vlasic

Primulina ‘Tan Boy’ exhibited by Jim Vlasic

D24a Primulina 'Rachel'_Gary Mikita_myhr

<em>Primulina</em> ‘Rachel’ exhibited by Gary Mikita

Primulina ‘Rachel’ exhibited by Gary Mikita

<em>Primulina</em> ‘GCCC’s Alfonso’ exhibited by Karyn Cichocki

Primulina ‘GCCC’s Alfonso’ exhibited by Karyn Cichocki

<em>Primulina</em> ‘Candy’ exhibited by Gary Mikita

Primulina ‘Candy’ exhibited by Gary Mikita

<em>Saintpaulia ionanthus</em> subsp. <em>velutinus</em> exhibited by Minh Bui

Saintpaulia ionanthus subsp. velutinus exhibited by Minh Bui

Saintpaulia ‘Hunter’s Whitetail Fawn’ exhibited by Terri Vicenzi

Saintpaulia ‘Optimara Little Intermezzo’ exhibited by Roy Roberts

Saintpaulia ‘Rob’s Jitterbug’ exhibited by Ralph Olliges

Saintpaulia ‘Little Bo Peep’ exhibited by Karyn Cichocki

Saintpaulia hybrid exhibited by Vanuzia Coyle

Saintpaulia ‘Roulette’ exhibited by Karyn Cichocki

D29 Saint Roulette CLOSE DM Dale Martens - CopySaintpaulia ‘Roulette’ exhibited by Karyn Cichocki

Saintpaulia ‘Rob’s Vanilla Trail’ exhibited by Edna Alexander

<em>Streptocarpus</em> ‘GG’s Piece of Cake’ exhibited by Margaret Krygier

Streptocarpus ‘GG’s Piece of Cake’ exhibited by Margaret Krygier

<em>Streptocarpus</em> ‘Heartland’s Nelly’ exhibited by Dale Martens

Streptocarpus ‘Heartland’s Nelly’ exhibited by Dale Martens

<em>Streptocarpus</em> ‘Dale’s Polar Blizzard’ exhibited by Dale Martens

Streptocarpus ‘Dale’s Polar Blizzard’ exhibited by Dale Martens

<em>Michaelmoelleria vietnamensis</em> exhibited by Linda Hall

Michaelmoelleria vietnamensis exhibited by Linda Hall

<em>Episcia</em> ‘La Solidad Bronze’ exhibited by Ray Coyle

Episcia ‘La Solidad Bronze’ exhibited by Ray Coyle

<em>Primulina yungfuensis</em> exhibited by Dave Zaitlin

Primulina yungfuensis exhibited by Dave Zaitlin

<em>Primulina atropurpurea</em> exhibited by Gary Mikita

Primulina atropurpurea exhibited by Gary Mikita

<em>Primulina linearicalyx</em> exhibited by Laura Buckner

Primulina linearicalyx exhibited by Laura Buckner

<em>Primulina dryas</em> ‘Betty’ exhibited by Gary Mikita

Primulina dryas ‘Betty’ exhibited by Gary Mikita

<em>Primulina sinovietnamica</em> exhibited by Margaret Krygier

Primulina sinovietnamica exhibited by Margaret Krygier

<em>Primulina</em> ‘JV The Dark One’ exhibited by Vicki Ferguson

Primulina ‘JV The Dark One’ exhibited by Vicki Ferguson

<em>Primulina</em> ‘Xuan’s Party Dress’ exhibited by Margaret Krygier

Primulina ‘Xuan’s Party Dress’ exhibited by Margaret Krygier

<em>Primulina</em> ‘Silver Surfer’ exhibited by Gary Mikita

Primulina ‘Silver Surfer’ exhibited by Gary Mikita

<em>Primulina</em> ‘Vertigo’ exhibited by Gary Mikita

Primulina ‘Vertigo’ exhibited by Gary Mikita

<em>Aeschynanthus</em> ‘Bolero Bicolore’ exhibited by Karyn Cichocki

Aeschynanthus ‘Bolero Bicolore’ exhibited by Karyn Cichocki

<em>Petrocosmea sericea</em> ‘Ice Shards’ exhibited by Dale Martens

Petrocosmea sericea ‘Ice Shards’ exhibited by Dale Martens

<em> Nematanthus</em> ‘Shady Ladies Mae’ exhibited by Cara Marvig

Nematanthus ‘Shady Ladies Mae’ exhibited by Cara Marvig

<em>Drymonia cuyabonensis</em> exhibited by Erika Geimonen

Drymonia cuyabonensis exhibited by Erika Geimonen

<em>Pearcea rhodotricha</em> exhibited by David Turley

Pearcea rhodotricha exhibited by David Turley

<em>Aeschynanthus longicaulis</em> exhibited by Erika Geimonen

Aeschynanthus longicaulis exhibited by Erika Geimonen

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Streptocarpus ‘Dale’s Monkey Business’ exhibited by Dale Martens

Primulina ‘Hotpants’ exhibited by Nathan Mamere

Cobananthus calochlamys exhibited by Cara Marvig

Titanotrichum oldhamii exhibited by Dave Zaitlin

Primulina ophiopogoides exhibited by Jim Vlasic

Primulina maciejewskii exhibited by Mimi Kirchner

Primulina hybrid and species collection exhibited by Linda Hall

Saintpaulia species collection exhibited by Roy Roberts

Primulina hybrid & species collection exhibited by Margaret Krygier

“Snow, Wind & Fire” exhibited by Karyn Cichocki

“Challenge Class – the 75th Gesneriad Society Anniversary” exhibited by Ginny Heatter

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“Lollapalooza” exhibited by Vicki Ferguson

“O’Hare Airport” exhibited by Karyn Cichocki

“Garfield Park Conservatory” exhibited by Rita Gindt-Marvig

“Challenge Class – the 250th Anniversary” exhibited by Laura Buckner

“Shedd Aquarium” exhibited by Vicki Ferguson

“Shedd Aquarium” – exhibited by Karyn Cichocki

“The Chicago Cocktail” exhibited by Karyn Cichocki

“Chicago-Style Pizza” exhibited by Karyn Cichocki

“Chicago Botanic Garden” exhibited by Mel Grice

Terrarium, straight-sided – exhibited by Karyn Cichocki

Terrarium, straight-sided – exhibited by Lana Gernady

Terrarium, curved – exhibited by Rita Gindt-Marvig

Tray Landscape – exhibited by Rita Gindt-Marvig

Natural Garden – exhibited by Karyn Cichocki

Color print of parts of a gesneriad – Gasteranthus bilsaensis exhibited by Stephen Maciejewski

Color print of a whole gesneriad plant – Sinningia ‘Peridots Pink Pipettes’ exhibited by Dale Martens

Color print of gesneriad(s) growing in a natural habitat – Gasteranthus bilsaensis exhibited by Lan Wu

Monochrome print – Primulina sinovietnamica exhibited by Vicki Ferguson

Painting or Drawing – “Pollination Runway” – drawing Metapetrocosmea tamiana exhibited by Roy Roberts

Needlework or Textile – “Miss Sinningia” Pillow Doll exhibited by Mimi Kirchner exhibited by Roy Roberts

Other Arts and Crafts – Earrings – The Gesneriad Society Diamond 75th Anniversary – exhibited by Nathan Mamere

“Gesneriad Research Expedition” exhibited by Stephen Maciejewski

“Drymonia serrulata” exhibited by Stephen Maciejewski

“Gasteranthus bilsaensis” exhibited by Stephen Maciejewski

“Gesneriad Conservation Center of China” exhibited by Stephen Maciejewski