In 1985, during his tenure at the Orchid Zone, the late Herb Hager registered a hybrid of Phal. Be Glad and Phal. Melinda Nan as Phal. Glad Melinda. Two plants received AOS awards: ‘Zuma Canyon’ received a 78-point HCC and ‘Jana Brown’ received an 81-point AM. The hybrid has been described as nice, cute, attractive: several ways of saying that it was not particularly impressive. Most of the flowers were white with varying degrees of pink blush and, occasionally, some spotting centrally. Lips were usually colored, running the gamut from yellow to red and everything in between. On larger plants, the inflorescences usually branched. Fifteen years later, this wallflower is slowly begin to outshine its contemporaries and is leaving an ever-growing footprint in the sands of time.

Phal. Melinda Nan (Mistinguett x Mouchette) was registered by Shaffer’s Tropical Gardens in 1979. Its ancestry is exclusively French breeding that should provide the necessary genes for both pinks, pink blushes and spots as well as "normal" fertility. Two clones ‘Kirstin’ and ‘Bill I’ received 77 and 75 point HCCs respectively in 1981. In addition to P. Glad Melinda, its most important offspring are Dtps. Rosina Pitta (x Dtps. Marta di Rivilla) and P. Melinda Rose (x P. Corralitos Rose).

P. Be Glad (Swiss Miss x Cassandra) was registered in 1978 by Hager’s Orchids. P. equestris is a grandparent on both sides and and also appears further back in the pedigree. Most of the flowers from the original cross were white with a pink blush centrally, usually accompanied by a red lip. About 10 years ago, a white variety of this grex was made and was fairly widely distributed. About 20 clones of P. Be Glad have received AOS awards. The offspring of P. Be Glad include P. Fairy Tales (x Elise de Valec), P. Nobby’s Amy (x Rothschildiana) and P. Bedford Sneezy (x Terilyn Fujitake). The various clones of P. Be Glad are apparently riddled with fertility problems, which are often passed on to its progeny.

All except 4 of the first-generation offspring of P. Glad Melinda were registered in the ’90s, yet collectively they already have well over 20 AOS awards among them. Many of them are quite well known and some have been meristemmed and are now available at very reasonable prices. There are now three generations of offspring, which total about 100 hybrids. We shall examine a few of these hybrids here.

Phal. Small Sensation (Glad Melinda x Swansong) is an interesting hybrid. Its species makeup is very similar to that of P. Dawn Treader (see below) with one major difference: there is approximately double the input of P. equestris (over 14%) and a resulting decrease in P. stuartiana and P. schilleriana to just over 44%. There are three awarded clones: ‘Mis Amigos’, ‘French Masterpiece’ and ‘Maria Teresa’. The size of the awarded clones ranges from 5.8 cm to 6.5 cm respectively. The base color ranges from white to cream to light pink. Branching is only mentioned in the description of the ‘Maria Teresa’ clone. Considering the fact that the hybrid was registered in 1989 and that the awards are all about 10 years old, the fact that there are no registered hybrids appears to be an indication of either sterility or at least a finicky breeder. Considering the fact that the ‘Maria Teresa’, AM/AOS has now been meristemmed and widely distributed, we can expect to either see a spate of registered hybrids or confirmation of sterility.

P. Little Fly (x equestris) is a charming multiflora. The flowers are small (about 1½ - 2 inches) and two plants have received AOS awards: ‘Malibu Moonlight’ and ‘Zuma Cutie’ each received HCCs of 76 pts. The color varies from white suffused with soft pale pink to rose-purple with white picotee, similar to the P. equestris parent. Two hybrids have been registered using P. Little Fly: P. Hamana Fly (x Carmela’s Pixie) and P. Hamana Little (x Little Richard).

P. Terradyne (x Mancini) is one of the few hybrids with P. Glad Melinda bred to a French spot. Two plants of this hybrid have received AOS awards, one HCC and a JC to a quasi-peloric form. There are several hybrids registered with P. Terradyne but they have received limited distribution at best.

Without doubt, P. Gladrose (x Melinda Rose) is the most well-known offspring of P. Glad Melinda. The other parent, P. Melinda Rose, mentioned above, is also an offspring of P. Melinda Nan, making this a case of close linebreeding. There are 8 awarded clones (5 HCCs and 3 AMs) of P. Gladrose. They average about 18 flowers on one inflorescence. Branching is only mentioned in 3 descriptions: one plant had one branch and another had 4. Flowers are generally white, occasionally with a pink blush and/or some spotting centrally. Lip color is often white, sometimes with yellow, very often with spotting. To date, P. Gladrose is the parent of about 25 offspring, including P. Baby Angel, P. Dawn Treader, P. Joyful, P. Pee Wee, P. Western Light, P. Small Sensation and P. Zumita Blush. However, it should be pointed out that P. Gladrose is one hybrid that is well known for having fertility problems – not all clones but enough of them to drive a hybridizer crazy.

Phal. Dawn Treader (Dawn Promise x Gladrose) is possibly the best known offspring of Phal. Gladrose. There are three awarded clones of P. Dawn Treader (Gladrose x Dawn Promise): ‘Echo Valley’, ‘Carmela’ and ‘Maria Teresa’. The first two clones were awarded with nineteen (19) flowers each and the third had thirty-two (32) flowers on a "heavily-branched" inflorescence. Flower size ranged from 7.0 cm to 7.6 cm all the way up to 8.3 cm. The base color of all three clones was white with pink or rose centrally. While the flowers of the ‘Maria Teresa’ clone are quite large, it has been used to breed at least one charming multiflora award-winner, P. Brecko Dawnet, AQ/AOS (x Little Netsuke). This is an interesting hybrid: the white species (amabilis, rimestadiana and aphrodite) statistically make up well over one-third, the "branching" species (stuartiana and schilleriana) account for over 50% and P. equestris is there for just over 7%. With only about 10 registered hybrids to date for all three clones, expect many more hybrids and many more awards.

P. Pee Wee (Gladrose x Rainbow Chip) and P. Joyful (Gladrose x equestris) are relatively similar hybrids. The flowers are small, plentiful and quite colorful. P. Joyful produced three AOS awards on plants that remain very compact with small flowers (about 1½-2 inches). The inflorescence on these plants can branch but the plant must be a fair size before this happens. P. Joyful has an extremely limited breeding career but has produced Dtps. Pixie Star with a couple of awards to date. P. Pee Wee has also produced three AOS awards, all of which had branching inflorescences. (What a difference a little infusion of P. stuartiana makes). These plants also remain compact but are a little larger than those of P. Joyful although the flowers are about the same size. To date, P. Pee Wee has produced no offspring.

P. Baby Angel ‘Brother’ (Gladrose x First Choice) was purchased by Mr. Lin of Brother Orchid Nursery. It is the only offspring of P. Glad Melinda that has been used virtually exclusively in novelty breeding. It has been bred to Phal. Brother Flare (= P. Brother Doll Art), Phal. Brother Peak (= P. Brother Doll World), Phal. Brother Delight (= P. Brother Pico Circle), Phal. Brother Kaiser (unregistered at the time of writing) and Phal. Super Stupid (P. Brother Little Spotty). Two clones of P. Brother Little Spotty, ‘Bryon’ and ‘Max’, have received an AM and an HCC respectively.

P. Western Light (Gladrose x Western Daybreak) is the parent of P. Western Blush (x Rothschildiana). The clone ‘Lorrie’ recently received an AM of 80 points.

While P. Glad Melinda is not the only good parent in multiflora breeding, it has shown that it is a truly important parent.  Its first-, second- and third-generation offspring are proving to be top award winners.  The combination of P. Be Glad and a French spot seems to be a real winner.  P. Fairy Tales (Be Glad x Elise de Valec) is one example and P. Glad Melinda is another.  Breeding with them can run the full gamut of possibilities:  plain white, pink blush, solid pink, French spots with lips from white to yellow to red.  Size can vary all over the place.  But, when you see offspring of P. Glad Melinda hybrids being offered, jump on them.  You know they're going to produce very high quality offspring.

Awards to P. Glad Melinda and its offspring

Glad Melinda (Be Glad x Melinda Nan) ‘Zuma Canyon’, HCC – 78 pts.
March 26, 1992 Santa Barbara Orchid Show Sixteen flowers on one inflorescence; sepals and petals basally blushed light rose-pink; lateral sepals spotted dark red-brown; lip spotted rose-red basally. Natural spread 5.9 cm.

Glad Melinda ‘Jana Brown’, AM – 81 pts.
April 17, 1993 Great Plains Regional Thirty-three flowers and four buds on one branched inflorescence; sepals and petals white, blushed violet-pink, darker basally; lateral sepals flushed light green, spotted maroon; lip dark yellow basally, overlaid with maroon spots, lobes flushed violet. Sixteen flowers on one inflorescence; sepals and petals basally blushed light rose-pink; lateral sepals spotted dark red-brown; lip spotted rose-red basally. Natural spread 5.9 cm

Terradyne (Glad Melinda x Mancini) ‘Sarah’, HCC – 77 pts.
June 6, 1992 SE Texas Show Thirteen flowers and two buds on one beautiful, well-shingled inflorescence of typical French-spot color and non-typical Phal. equestris-cross flowers; sepals and petals white, blushed light pink, covered with distinct purple spots fading to no spots at edges; lip white, marked and spotted dark red-purple, callus yellow; substance and texture average. Natural spread 6.3 cm.

Terradyne ‘Mulligan’, JC
January 21, 1995 NE Regional Four flowers and two buds on one inflorescence; flat quasi-peloric form with vivid purple violet spots on white sepals and petals; commended for exceptional color form. Natural spread 8.0 cm.

Little Fly (Glad Melinda x equestris) ‘Malibu Moonlight’, HCC – 76 pts.
November 13, 1995 Pacific South Regional Ten full flat flowers of unusual pastel coloration and four buds well spaced on one arched inflorescence; sepals and petals white, evenly suffused soft, pale pink; lateral sepals blushed very pale green, spotted dark pink on inner halves; lip distally golden bronze, fading to pink proximally, mid-vein dark gold bronze; substance firm; texture crystalline. Natural spread 3.9 cm.

Little Fly ‘Zuma Cutie’, HCC – 76 pts.
January 27, 1997 Pacific South Supplemental Regional Seventeen flowers and eight buds on one branched inflorescence with open arrangement; sepals and petals rose-purple with white picotee; lateral sepals white with fine purple dots basally; lip dark purple with fine purple dots basally and yellow calli; substance firm; texture velvety. Natural spread 4.7 cm.

Gladrose (Melinda Rose x Glad Melinda) ‘Happy Face’, HCC – 75 pts.
December 11, 1989 ??? Nine flowers and two buds on one inflorescence; flowers overall white with attractive maroon spots throughout mid-portions of dorsal sepal and petals; lateral sepals spotted darker; lip white, flushed yellow, spotted maroon; low flower count precluded higher score. Natural spread 6.2 cm.

Gladrose ‘Zuma Bay’, HCC – 76 pts.
March 3, 1990 ??? Eleven flowers with good arrangement on one inflorescence; dorsal sepal and petals white, with light pink spots at base; lateral sepals white with more definite, larger pink spots on inner halves, which are also tinged with green; lip yellow with central pink spots, becoming white toward tip, side lobes white, spotted with pink and edged in yellow. Natural spread 6.5 cm.

Gladrose ‘Diane’, AM – 82 pts.
March 1, 1990 ??? Fifteen well-shaped flowers and nine buds on one inflorescence; flowers white, with fine maroon spots intensifying in size and darkness toward center; lateral sepals with larger maroon spots; lip white with yellow flush and spotted maroon; substance good; texture crystalline; arrangement on branched inflorescence very pleasing, but better spaced flowers may have raised the score. Natural spread 7.0 cm.

Gladrose ‘Debbi Davis’, HCC – 77 pts.
March 3, 1990 ??? Fourteen well-formed and well-arranged flowers on one inflorescence with one graceful branch; dorsal sepal and petals finely spotted pink, becoming a diffuse blush toward margins with a 0.1 cm picotee; lateral sepals similar but spotting more pronounced; lip side lobes dark lavender-pink distally, white with dark red spots proximally, midlobe similar but with yellow overlay and less pronounced spots basally, callus yellow with dark red spots and lines; substance good; texture matte. Natural spread 7.0 cm.

Gladrose ‘Suzanne’, AM – 81 pts.
March 16, 1991 ???? Twenty well-shaped and presented flowers and nine buds on one inflorescence; base color white, with central region, including column, blushed with pinkish lavender; lateral sepal with basal part with dark lavender spots; lip with central part with dark lavender spots, side lobes with basal dark lavender stripes, the callus yellow with dark lavender spots. Natural spread 7.5 cm

Gladrose ‘Blumen Insel’, HCC – 75 pts.
October 25, 1991 ??? Fifteen flowers well-displayed on one gracefully, arching inflorescence; sepals and petals paper white, suffused on inner half with rose spots; lip white, spotted rose, midlobe flushed butter yellow. Natural spread 6.8 cm.

Gladrose ‘Zuma Ermine’, HCC – 79 pts.
April 3, 1992 Venezuelan Society Show Twenty flowers on one inflorescence; dorsal sepal and petals flat white with maroon larger spots; lip white with large maroon spots, callus bright yellow; would have scored higher with darker spots and better spacing of flowers. Natural spread 7.3 cm.

Gladrose ‘Sierra Vasquez’, AM – 83 pts.
May 9, 1992 Toronto Show Twenty white flowers and eight buds on one four-branched inflorescence; dorsal sepal and petals with fine purple spots centrally; lateral sepals flushed pale green, with larger maroon spots; lip yellow, side lobe tips yellow, spotted and barred maroon; substance and texture good. Natural spread 7.2 cm

Small Sensation (Swansong x Glad Melinda) ‘French Masterpiece’, HCC – 77 pts.
November 6, 1990 ??? Fifteen flowers and one bud on one inflorescence; base color cream with rose overlay fading at outer edges, heavily peppered with dark rose spots; lateral sepals with intense "stuartiana" markings; lip pale yellow, with distinct maroon markings; lip rich rose color with spots on side lobes.

Small Sensation ‘Mis Amigos’, HCC – 76 pts.
April 13, 1991 ???? Sixteen flowers and two buds on two inflorescences borne on a delightfu, spotted multiflora-type plant; flowers white with the dorsal sepals and petals finely spotted at base, the spots diminishing to pink diffusion near center; lateral sepals and lip showing "stuartiana" type spots of brighter pink; lip callus and base of midlobe yellow with spots, side lobes with solid 0.9 cm. pink tips; texture crystalline.

Small Sensation ‘Maria Teresa’, AM – 80 pts.
March 21, 1992 Northeast Regional Twenty-three flat, delightful, multiflora-type flowers well presented on one branched inflorescence; sepals and petals light pink, darkening toward column, finely spotted at base and diminishing towards outer portion; lateral sepals and lip cleaerly show the influence of Phal. stuartiana breeding; lateral sepals have pale breen cast on Bckside; lip pale pink, with yellow infusion on upper half with distinctive darker spots, side lobes have solid dark pink edges which perfectly match lip; a trul???

Petite Rose ‘Phyllis’, AM – 82 pts.
December 19, 1992 Northeast Regional Twenty-three flowers of Euphalaenopsis shape with almost perfect presentation on one branched inflorescence; dorsal sepal and petals white with magenta spots and blush centrally; lateral sewpals white, spotted maroon; lip white, yellow centrally, spotted maroon. Natural spread 5.9 cm

Petite Rose ‘EFG’, HCC – 76 pts.
February 5, 1998 Dallas Regional Nine full-formed, slightly cupped flowers and three buds very well presented on one arched inflorescence; sepals and petals white with light pink blush and lavender pink dots basally; lip light yelklow with red-brown dots; substance average; texture matte. Natural spread 6.0 cm

Zumita Blush (Gladrose x Fairy Tales) ‘Nagoya’, AM – 82 pts.
October 22, 1994 Orchid Society of Greater Kansas Show Twenty-five flat flowers on one branched inflorescenc3e; flowers white, spotted magenta; dorsal sepals and petals finely spotted centrally; lateral sepals more heavily spotted centrally; lip deep gold, heavily overlaid with magenta, side lobes white overlaid magenta highlighted by a golden keel with small spots; substance firm; testure sparkling. Natural spread 6.9 cm

Zumita Blush ‘Tinkerbelle’, HCC – 79 pts.
September 21, 1996 Northeast Regional Eight very flat beautifully proportioned flowers and 3 buds impeccably arranged on one branched inflorescence; flowers white with fine pink spots coalescing to form intense central blush on dorsal sepal and petals; lateral sepals white, heavily spotted magenta centrally; lip white with yellow overlay and spotted with clear magenta, side lobes white with yellow overlay on lower margin, keel yellow with clean magenta spots; substance good; low flower count and insufficient branching precluded higher score. Natural spread 7.0 cm

Poco’s Spotted Imp ‘Kimberly Foss’, HCC – 75 pts.
March 26, 1992 Galveston Orchid Society Show Sixteen flowers on one inflorescence; sepals and petals basally blushed light rose-pink; lateral sepals spotted dark red-brown; lip spotted rose-red basally. Natural spread 5.9 cm

Zuma Melinda (Poco’s Spotted Imp x Glad Melinda) ‘Poco Loco’, HCC – 76 pts.
February 28, 1998 San Antonio Regional Ten well arranged shapely flowers and nine buds on one branched inflorescence; flowers white, vividly spotted and splashed with magenta; dorsal sepal proximally flushed and dotted with magenta; lip large, rounded, rose-red with stripes near column; substance good, texture matte.

Ralph Borders (amabilis x Glad Melinda) ‘White Sprite’, AM – 80 pts.
January 22, 1996 Long Beach Regional Twenty-one flowers and three buds displayed nicely on two arched inflorescences; sepals and petals crisp white with maroon stipples on lateral sepals; lip white with yellow across basal wings of midlobe and calli, side lobes striped maroon.