I started growing with the same question. Which flowers are the best ones. A better question is what orchids will grow and thrive in the environment I want to grow them in. Because the number of species and hybrids is very large you still get an enormous menu to choose from. The best specific advise will come from someone that lives in your area or who has lived there with orchid experience. What I do in Florida will be different than zone 8.

http://www.aos.org/about-us/affiliated-societies/affiliated-societies-lookup.aspx is a link to the list of affiliated local orchid societies. This by far is the fastest way to ramp up your knowledge on orchids. And a good place to buy orchids. They invite commercial growers to speak and they bring orchids for sale. The senior members know all the local tricks and love to talk about orchids. You can go to the meeting as a guest and see what you think. The best advice for you will come from that group!