Sonoma County Orchid Society Newsletter

Transcription

1 Sonoma County Orchid Society Newsletter August 2008 Special points of interest The Speaker dinner will be at Kirin's this 5:30pm. Next Month s is on September 9th at 7:30 pm. Next Month s Board is on September 11th at 7:00 pm SCOS BBQ and Auction will be September 20th at the Foster s Inside this issue: August s Speaker 1 July Speaker Review 2 Annual BBQ & Auction 2 Win an Orchid 3 AOS Awards July 3 Show and Tell 3 Announcements 3 Newsletter Editor s Corner August Refreshments 4 Membership Corner 4 In Memoriam 4 Board of Directors and Committee Chairs Highlights of the Board Upcoming Events 6 BBQ and Auction Tuesday August 12, 2008 at 7:30 PM. Veteran s Memorial Building, 1351 Maple Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA August s Speaker Our speaker this month will be Gerardus B.Staal Ph.D. His subject is Pest and Disease Control in Orchids. Gerardus is a Dutch native with a masters degree in tropical agriculture and a doctorate in insect physiology. He worked as a research entomologist for Bay Area companies developing novel selective pesticides based on the insect hormonal system as well as several more traditional insecticides.. ENSTAR and MAVRIK were developed for greenhouse use and other compounds for the control of household and animal pests. He retired from entomology in His orchid interest started in 1974 and developed into an orchid hybridizing and propagating effort that continues today under the PENINSULA HYBRIDS label and the website peninsulahybrids.com. His emphasis is on the creation of hybrids of cool and intermediate growing species and the propagation of rare species.. Many new hybrids in the Cattleya, Pleurothallid and Odontoglossum alliances were registered in his name. More recently, the emphasis has shifted to hybrids and species in the Bulbophyllum and Dendrobium breeding alliances. His hybridizing efforts have been rewarded with many AOS awards, among which three Awards of Quality ( all in Masdevallia) and several Awards of Distinction stand out. In addition, numerous Certificates of Botanical Recognition awards were awarded for species newly introduced to the judging system. One new trigeneric hybrid genus Staalara was also named along with the hybrid Staalara Gerardus, AD/AOS. Gerardus participated in several trips to Ecuador, and one species found there was named Masdevallia (now Spilotantha...) staaliana in his honor. Gerardus has served in various capacities in four local orchid societies including five presidential years in three of these. He also served a term as president of the Pleurothallid Alliance and has been a member of the AOS Research Committee. Geradus will be providing the plants for the Opportunity Table. The August Speaker s dinner will be at Kirin's at 5:30 pm. Call Larry Mead if you plan to attend.

2 Page 2 July Speaker Review Bulbophyllum: by photographer Ron Parsons With 1500 species in the genus, Bulbophyllum may be second to Dendrobium in numbers. Certainly not second in variety of flowers, some dauntingly bizarre and disgustingly smelly, others hauntingly beautiful and even fragrant, none of them boring or dull. You can see the dissimilarity but they're all called Bulbophyllum, Ron Parsons says, and it is this variety that consistently holds his interest and inspires his photography. Venturing into the wilds of Australia, he found all epiphytic orchids, all rock and tree orchids, grow exclusively along the East Coast. B. winethalia, which bloomed in his personal collection a month ago, grows indigenously 100 feet up in the treetops of pines. The only time you'll find them is when they fall out of the trees during a wind storm. No one climbs these trees to get these things. With a ¾ inch flower on a 1-inch plant, it is one of the few cool/intermediate growing Bulbophyllum, enjoying Pleurothallid conditions. Another cool/int Ron grows in his unheated greenhouse in Burlingame is the Australian B. minitissimum, one of the world's smallest orchids, with pseudobulbs the size of a pinhead or pushpin you stick on a board. These are exceptions to the more common warm/hot growing Bulbophyllums, native to Tropical Asia, Africa; Madagascar; India; Papua New Guinea; S. America; with one species in southern Florida. It is hard to define Bulbophyllums. Ron says, There's all these different species that blend the boundaries between the different groups. Generally they share in common one large leaf per pseudobulb, a unique hinged lip, and with a few exceptions, exude a foul odor that attracts pollinating flies. Especially on a warm day... A species with a name of 'Monkey Doo' is a clue to what you might expect... Usually these dark reds and browns don't smell that good because they're trying to imitate the look of everything stinky... at midday graveolens from New Guinea is a real stinker... He took B. benedictii, with dinner plate-size flowers, outdoors to photograph it. It smelled really bad and the blowflies came flying over. He categorized Bulbophyllum into several groups, such as Lepido-rhiza, citing as an example Kris Foster's B. carunculatum, a beauty with 3-inch flowers and a hinged, warty lip, explaining that the hinge serves for propagation. The fly lands on the lip which throws it against the column and pollen. You know how flies are about things that smell bad. They keep going back. The largest plants are in the Macrobulbon group: B. fletcherianum has six-foot leaves, its red ½-inch flowers nested near the crown. Another group, the exotic Megaclinium, is bizarrely beautiful: With its flat, curving, tessilated rachis, B. purpureorachis has ½ inch flowers woven through the rachis, like unhatched young riding piggy-back on a cobra. And for pleasing fragrance, there are B. ambrosia (known as the sweet-smelling Bulbophyllum); B. warneri (smells like watermelon); and the finger-like, B. lilacinum. Ron loves fringes, and the fringed B. dayanum, with pseudobulbs ressembling striped purple pumpkins, is a favorite. Another reminds him of the Grinch. But if there is one species to grow, it is B. lobbii. From so many countries and so many islands, they are extremely variable and widespread. It is hard to tell where a lobbii ends and another species begins. Incredibly easy to grow, they bloom yearly, with four to six inch flowers with lovely sweptback petals and lovely structure to the whole thing. And grow them mounted on cork or hardwood, or in baskets. And his final words, I hope you saw things you never saw before and maybe you'll start growing Bulbophyllums because they are so amazing. When asked by Larry Mead if he uses natural lighting for photography, Ron said he uses a ring light around the lens. Click! Click! Click! Stand next to Ron and you can almost hear the camera click. by Kathy Dickerson Annual Barbecue and Auction We are having our Annual SCOS BBQ and Auction on September 20 th, at Jim and Kris Foster s. Historically this event has been a major fund raiser for the Society but has not taken place for a few years. This year we are hoping to have a large turnout. This is an event where members new and old can get together, visit, talk orchids and growing techniques and just have a good time, hopefully bidding on some wonderful orchids in both the silent and live auctions. This year, Judy Carney has obtained the plants for the live auction and will be available to tell us about them at the auction. Knowing Judy and her reputation with orchids, we are sure there will be some great plants to bid on. We are also having a silent auction for the members to bring plants to sell. Kathy and Earl Rathbun have volunteered to run the silent auction and will need volunteers to help clerk the sales. This year we are limiting the number of plants that a member can bring to the silent auction to 10 plants per member household. We also request that if you bring 4 or more plants, please bring at least one additional plant to be donated with proceeds going to the Society. Steve Tierra, our treasurer, has volunteered to donate an orchid related door prize and I also hear that there may be a wine tasting for 8 on the auction block this year at a very generous winery. Who knows what else may show up on the auction block. We encourage you the bring your family and friends. The Board has also invited members of the Napa and Marin Societies to attend. Hope to see you all there. See the flyer on page 7.

3 Page 3 Win an Orchid How can I win an orchid? Let me count the ways! 1. Bring a refreshment, or help with set up or take down and receive a raffle ticket for the first drawing of the Opportunity Table. 2. Wear your name tag and be entered into a drawing to win three raffle tickets. 3. Bring a plant for Show and Tell and your name will be entered into a drawing held quarterly. 4. Be the first to solve the Newsletter Editor s monthly quiz. Show and Tell Every time you bring a plant to Show and Tell, you will receive a chance to win the Three Month Plant. When you bring in your plant (or plants) to share, fill out the card identifying each plant along with your name and drop it in the box. A drawing will be held every three months. Announcements 1. Julius Sargent and Arnold Adams have decided to shut down their orchid greenhouses. All orchids will be for sale in August, September, and October. Most will be priced at the $5, $10, and $15 level and none over $25. Buy three and get one of their choice free. They will be open anytime someone wants to come to the greenhouse, except evenings. Call first to make certain that they will be home. (707) The Society still has some small sized Rexius Bark available in 2 cu ft bags at a cost of $15.12/bag including tax. If anyone needs medium sized bark, the Fosters still have a supply for sale at the same price as the society. 3. Jim and Kris Foster have a supply of perlite, charcoal and medium sized bark available for sale. Contact them for prices and sizes at Your announcement could be here. Contact the Newsletter Editor-Jim Foster at Newsletter Editor Thanks to all for your input on the Newsletter. Last month, the quiz winner was Marilyn Barquero. She won a free orchid which she came to my house and claimed. She will not be able to compete for the next free orchid. The answer to last month s quiz was: Permanent ice or total desert There will be no quiz this month since when you receive this bulletin I will be somewhere between San Francisco and Alaska on the Dawn Princess. There will be a quiz next month, so keep on reading. If you have any items, photos, or announcements that would be of interest to Society members please feel free to contact me by telephone or foster@sonic.net. Jim Foster... AOS Awards for July 7/1/ Pacific Central Judging Center - San Francisco Oestlundia (Encyclia) cyanocolumna 'Winston', CCM 84 species, Exhibited by Amy and Ken Jacobsen 7/2/ California Sierra Nevada Judging Center - Sacramento Macroclinium lexarzanum 'Gold Country', CCE 90 species, Exhibited by Gold Country Orchids Paphiopedilum Lyro Blackhawk 'Sierra Sunset', AM 80 (Paph. St. Swithin x Paph. glanduliferum) Exhibited by Curtis Gean 7/21/ Pacific Central Judging Center - Oakland Slc. unnamed hybrid 'Amy', HCC 76 (Slc. Sierra Doll x C. loddigesii var. harrisoniae), Exhibited by Amy and Ken Jacobsen (according to the new naming conventions this is a Sc unnamed hybrid)

4 Page 4 August Refreshments This month the refreshments will be provided by China Dusk, Kristin Tanner, Marlene Spano, Becky Jackson, Judy Carney, Barbara Wolsko, and Lisa Olson. Also a great big THANK-YOU to Ann Conger, Yvonne Jackson, Marlene Spano, Patty Connick, Susan Anderson, and Kathy Dickerson for bringing last month s refreshments. Remember, anyone who brings in refreshments will receive a ticket for a special drawing of only those who have brought in refreshments. If your ticket is drawn, you will receive first choice of a plant from the table. Membership Corner Thanks to everyone who has paid their membership dues so promptly this year. The new membership listing will be ready for the August 12, 2008 meeting. To be included in the main membership listing, please send me your check by July 31, Checks received after the main list has been sent to the printer, will be included in a subsequent addendum. Welcome to new member Ashby L. Chadburn, D.D.S. We are looking forwarding to meeting you at our next monthly meeting on August 12, If you have a question, please call me -- Barbara, In Memoriam Delman D. Smith, D.D.S. passed away suddenly on July 18, Dr. Smith was born in Jefferson, Oregon on December 18, He graduated from UCSF in Pharmacy and Dentistry and practiced dentistry for 55 years in Sausalito. He successfully bred and raised Morgan horses on Sky Ridge Morgan Horse Ranch which he created over 40 years from a barren piece of land into a beautiful tree filled oasis for his beloved horses. He and his wife, Lil, showed their Morgans with great success for 30 years until they decided to concentrate their efforts on the ranch. After retiring from dentistry, Delman became involved with raising orchids and belonged to the Sonoma County Orchid Society. Delman touched so many lives with his kindness and generosity. He always made people laugh and kept them happy with his great sense of humor. He was the beloved husband of Lillian A. Smith for 56 years. Delman was loved by many and will be missed by all who knew him. A memorial service is planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Heart Association would be greatly appreciated. There will be a memorial service on Sunday, August 3rd, from 2pm to 4pm at the Vintage House, 264 First Street East, Sonoma, CA.

5 Page /2009 Board of Directors and Committee Chairs BOARD of DIRECTORS President Larry Mead lrm9@sbcglobal.net Vice President Vacant Secretary Kris Foster foster@sonic.net Treasurer Steven Tierra sctierra@sonic.net Membership Barbara Wolsko bwolsko@sbcglobal.net Newsletter Editor Jim Foster foster@sonic.net Past President Ted Pruden None Ways & Means Josie Lee leej@sonic.net Publicity Vacant s Director Becky Jackson dbjacksons@earthlink.net COMMITTEE CHAIRS s Setup Jerry Smith jagmsmith@yahoo.com Greeter Marlene Spano blueorchid9@mac.com Librarian Ann Possinger apossinger@comcast.net Opportunity Table Kathy Fletcher gemlotus@aol.com Ann Conger aconger@cpsrealestate.com Plant Sales Marilyn Barquero mbarquero@sbcglobal.net Mariann Hopkins rmhoppy@aol.com Refreshments Gerry Smith jagmsmith@yahoo.com Ann Possinger apossinger@comcast.net Spring Show Tony Mininno bradtony@sonic.net Bus Trip Vacant Holiday Party Diana Brown dianarhea56@yahoo.com AOS/Orchid Digest Patty Connick connick@sonic.net Webmaster Sara Gibbs and Stephen Henry Board of Director s Highlights Members present: Larry Mead, Kris Foster, Steve Tierra, Jim Foster, Barbara Wolsko. Members absent: Josie Lee, Becky Jackson, Ted Pruden. Minutes of the June 2008 meeting were approved. Treasurer s report was approved. The FY (Fiscal Year) 2007 profit and loss statement and the FY 2008 budget was presented. If anyone wants a copy, please contact Steve Tierra. The application for the federal 501c3 non-profit tax status has been submitted. We should hear about approval within 2 to 6 months. If we get approval this calendar year, all 2008 donations will be tax deductible. Call Steve Tierra with questions. Barbara will be mailing final renewal notices to the 47 members who have not renewed their membership from last year. The new roster will be available at the August meeting. Contact Barbara Wolsko with questions. The Spring Show theme will be the Lore and Legend of Orchids. Tony Mininno is the Show Chair. His proposed budget was approved. The August board meeting will be at 7:00 PM at Steve Tierra s house in Graton, CA.

6 Page 6 August 2008 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat September 2008 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat SCOS Board SCOS Board Newsletter Deadline Upcoming Events August 12, SCOS August 14, Board August 22, Newsletter Deadline September 9, SCOS September 11, Board September 20, SCOS BBQ and Auction, Jim and Kris Foster s, Petaluma. September 20-21, 2008 Orchidfest, SFOS. September 26, Newsletter Deadline October 14, SCOS October 16, Board October 24, Newsletter Deadline SCOS BBQ and Auction Newsletter Deadline October 2008 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat SCOS Board Newsletter Deadline

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8 SCOS ORCHID NEWS 827 Cleveland Avenue. Petaluma, CA Address Correction Requested We re on the Web! SONOMA COUNTY ORCHID SOCIETY The Sonoma County Orchid Society meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month. Plant sales begin at 6:45 p.m. and ends when the speaker begins his/her presentation. The Society provides an opportunity for any member to sell plants or material (with a 25% commission to the Society). A reminder to all members that any plant material offered for sale at the Society meeting, must be run through the Society. Pre-arranged pick-up of plants or materials is OK and does not have to go through the Society. Plant owners assume all risk and responsibility for their property. Your members binder has additional information. The Skill Session, when scheduled, is held at 7:00 at the front of the meeting room. The subject will be announced in the newsletter and a sign will be posted at the meeting. Announcements followed by Show and Tell begin at 7:30 p.m. The speaker will begin after Show and Tell (approximately 8:00 p.m.). Refreshments and opportunity plant drawings occur after the speaker s lecture.