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Pleurothallis tarantula grown by Andy Wright and displayed in the Mt. Baker show. Photo by George Grantham |
April 2003
APRIL MEETING April
14, 2003 Mini-Cats Bill Zimmerman, a local AOS judge, will speak to us about mini-cats. This will be a slide show discussing the species behind mini-cat breeding and the various breeding lines that have evolved into todayıs hybrids. There will be an emphasis on recent awards and breeding trends. Beginner's program (starts at 6:30 p.m.): This month, Rob Lucas will be on hand to answer your questions. Feel free to bring in your plants if you have questions about a specific plant or plants. If you believe your plant has an insect infestation, please bring it in a plastic bag so to not spread them to other members plants. Plant Table: Bring your blooming orchids to show! Sales Table: Members may bring up to 10 plants to sell. Raffle: Win a new orchid for your collection and support NWOS. FROM THE PRESIDENT First off, I would like to congratulate all of you who helped in putting on such a successful show and sale at Sky Nursery. I would especially like to thank Robin Kemph for all the work she has done as Show Chairperson. I would also like to thank George and Cylvia Grantham for being at the sale from beginning to end. And last but not least, I would like to thank Sky Nursery for letting us use their space. Moving right along, the Master Gardeners have invited us to participate in their spring sale on the 12th and 13th of April at the Center for Urban Horticulture. We will be selling society plants, books and potting mix, and handing out information on orchids and membership to our great society. If anyone would like to be a member of the Board, now is the time to speak up. Let Jerry Hoffmiester, Andy Wright or Shannon Boling know of your interest. At the last board meeting we decided to quit having the picnic and auction together. The picnic will still be in August (location still undecided) and the Auction will be the October meeting. It was felt by the Board that there would be more participation in the auction by moving it back to the meeting night in October like it used to be. In May we will be having our potting clinic. It will be the Monday evening following the regular meeting. Same time but in the Douglas Classroom down by the greenhouses. The reason I am telling you about this now is that I need a couple of volunteers to help with the potting clinic. Now what I would like to do is have a panel-type clinic where the members of the panel go out into the room and look at the plants that have been brought and then pick out a few to replant and talk about. We will be able a cover many genera that way and it will have a personal touch as we will be talking about their plants. Then after and hour or so of this we will have everyone get their hands dirty and repot and divide everything thatıs left. Sounds like a lot of fun to me. If anyone is interested in helping let me know. Happy growing and remember to send plants to shows whenever possible. Jamie
Notman WEB SITE OF THE MONTH Zuma Canyon Orchids This month I am pointing your browsers to one of my favorite Phalaenopsis growers, Zuma Canyon Orchids. One of the owners, George Vazquez, was a recent speaker at our meeting. If you are ever in the Los Angeles area you have to check out this place. It is just a little North of Malibu and is tucked away in a beautiful ranchlike setting. Zuma Canyon provides picnic tables for lunch at the ranch. George and his staff are very eager to show you around the numerous greenhouses. If you are lucky, George might even take you into the "special" greenhouse. This incredible place is full of award winning plants and plants chosen to be the next parents of the latest craze. The last time I was there, George showed me several plants that he was setting seeds on to find the perfect miniature pot plant. He explained to me that this would be a plant that would bloom in a year or two after sowing, stay relatively small but have a lot of branching spikes and flowers, and rebloom for the hobby grower. Check out their web site. I've never been disappointed with their plants. — Darrow Chan February
2003 Web Site of the Month: Charley's
Greenhouse SHOWS PAST AND FUTURE Seattle Flower and Garden Show in February included a display by our society for the first time since we discontinued having our annual show there. Our display was on each side of the entry to the orchid sale area. It consisted of natural elements such as moss and branches with murals painted by Linda Petchnik providing a stunning background. Thanks very much to all those who provided plants, and a special thanks to John Corya, Darrow Chan and John Gleisner who helped with setup and teardown.
The Mount Baker Orchid Society Show on March 1-2 (display shown above) was a little bigger and better than last year. I believe all who went would agree that it was well worth the drive up to Mt. Vernon. Our display included a very nice variety of plants ranging from large colorful hybrids to weird and wonderful species. I believe it is important to include a wide range of orchids in our displays to fairly represent the broad range of plants grown by our members, and to include both the aesthetic and educational aspects of our hobby. Thanks very much to Ingrid and Barry Bridge, Jamie Notman, Andy Wright, Mike Pearson and Abby Chang, Harry Marr, Mike Foster and Donna Pierce, Caroline Mann, and Jay Perez for providing plants. Special thanks to Ingrid and Barry and Mike and Donna for helping with teardown. NWOS Show and Sale March 15-16 included a large informal display in the center. Initially it looked rather sparse but did improve as more plants were added Saturday when members arrived. Thanks very much to all who participated. The Spokane Orchid Show will be in the Northern Quest Casino this year just west of Spokane April 5-6. We will be gathering plants Wednesday, April 2, at my house. If you have plants but are unable to bring them to my house please call me (206-440-9266). I may be able to pick up or make other arrangements to include your plants in the display. The Oregon Orchid Society will be having their Spring Show on April 26-27 (setup on Friday, April 25) in Hillsboro at the traditional location for their fall shows. I will be gathering plants on Wednesday, April 23, for the show. If you wish to come to either of these and help with setup or teardown, please let me know. The South Central Washington Orchid Society Show will be in Richland on May 24-25. I will be on vacation at that time. If you are able to help either with setup or teardown please contact me. George Grantham, 2nd Vice President SHOW COMMITTEE NEWS There has been much excitement in the society in these past two months. We finally wrapped up the Spring Orchid Sale at Sky Nursery and made a little more money for the bank account. There were seven vendors selling plants, and many members who participated in the sale. After all the expenses and vendor payments, we made $2,217. The greenhouse we used for the sale was bright and spacious. Sky Nursery felt our sale was a big draw, and they would like us back next year. There are a few minor bugs to work out, but all in all a good space to hold a spring sale. Any suggestions you might have to improve the sale in that space is greatly appreciated. Talk to someone on the Show Committee with your ideas so we can discuss them at our next show committee meeting. Moving right along.... the next big money-raising event is the Fall Show and Sale in November. The show committee is making plans for that one right now. This year there will be a large variety of vendors selling plants, pots, mixes, and orchid art. There is still time to get your suggestions for invitees in. Let me know at the next meeting. I will need names, addresses and phone numbers of the vendors you suggest. Anyone who sold plants at the SOS should see Christine Peterson to retrieve your plant tags. They are bulky to mail, and sometimes do not get delivered because of the suspicious package they make. If you will not be at the next meeting, let Christine know what you would like done with your tags. Her phone number is in the roster, and listed in the newsletter under "Treasurer." If you are interested in becoming a member of the Show Committee, let me know. I am always looking for volunteers to help us out, and the group is fun to meet with. Our meetings are held at my place, usually on a Tuesday or Thursday evening at 7 p.m. I live in the North end of Seattle (Crown Hill), and I always have some food there for those who are just coming from work. There is a lot of work to do for the Fall Show, and the group would like some fresh perspectives. Give me a call or see me at the next meeting. Robin Kemph, Show Committee Chair WHAT'S IN A NAME? Orchid names are largely based on Latin and Greek (and "latinized" words from other languages). Two good books explore the origins of orchids and their names; Orchid Names and Their Meanings by Hubert Mayr and The Orchid in Lore and Legend by Luigi Berliocchi. (Mayr's book appears to be out of print, but may be available from the AOS Bookstore). In Greek mythology, Orchis was the son of a nymph and a satyr. During a celebratory feast for Bacchus, Orchis committed the sacrilege of attempting to seduce a priestess, resulting in his being torn apart by wild beasts, then metamorphosing into a slender and modest plant. Theophrastus was the first of the Western authors to mention orchids. It was he who first applied the name Orchis scientifically, echoing the myth of Orchis and reflecting the resemblance of the double root tubers to the male genitalia that got Orchis in trouble in the first place. Albus/alba means white Cordatum (or any word with "corda" as a root) is a reference to the heart. Pubescens means "with hair." The ending "oides" indicates eyes or seeing. The ending "opsis" (as in Phalenopsis) means ³looks like² (phalenopsis is ³looks like a moth²). Lingua or glosso means tongue. Pedalum means foot or shoe. Hence, the Paphiopedilum is the "slipper orchid." Cypripediums are sometimes called "Venus slippers" because "Cypri" is reference to the island of Cyprus where Venus was born. GROWING TIPS Are you having problems with bud blast, misshapen flowers or lack of flowering? One potential cause is ethylene gas (C2H4). Ethylene gas is a natural odorless gas released by ripening fruit, especially apples, avocados, peaches, apricots and passion fruit. The common practice of placing an avocado or banana in a paper bag to hasten ripening is an example of ethylene at work. Its effect on flowers and flowering plants, especially orchids, is less positive—flowers fade faster, buds can drop without opening (commonly called "bud blast"), and some orchid flowers can be deformed. In-home orchid growers should keep their produce and plants as far apart as possible. ______________________ Tired of trying to get the moss to stay on the front of the plant when you are putting it on a slab? Cut a piece of plastc gutter guard and place it over the moss, fold it around the back of the slab and using small wire, just wire it in place. Plenty of air and the moss doesn't wash out. Plastic gutter guard comes on rolls from the hardware store. AOS BOOK SALE Six American Orchid Society (AOS) books will be available at the March meeting with deeply discounted prices for NWOS members. These prices include sales tax. The books will be in the plant sales area. In keeping with the March program on home orchid growing, Growing Orchids Under Lights, should be of special interest. This guide by Charles Marden Fitch explains the needs of orchids under various types of grow lights, discusses how to select equipment and timers, and covers the basics of good culture. Almost one-third of the guide is devoted to 32 genera that are especially suited to growing under indoor lights. 95 color photos, 76 pages. Growing Orchids (James B. Watson, editor) explains culture basics, pests and diseases, propagation, nomenclature, repotting, orchid names, and how to grow orchids in the home, under lights, and in the greenhouse. Readers will learn how to grow 30 popular genera. 120 color photos, 108 pages. Your First Orchid, by Stephen R. Batchelor, is aimed at the neophyte grower. The author tells how to select orchids and discusses suitable growing areas, fertilizers, repotting, and ailments. He also recommends orchids for beginners. 70 color photos, 64 pages. The Orchid Tourist: An International Guide to Public Orchid Collections, is a pocket-sized worldwide directory of 115 orchid collections open to the public in 37 countries including the U.S. and Canada. Each listing has contact information plus details about the collectionıs content and size. 64 pages. Orchid Pests and Diseases is a guide to diagnosing insect, noninsect, bacterial and fungal diseases with remedies. 77 color and 25 back-and-white photos; 118 pages. The Handbook on Judging and Exhibition will help you understand what AOS judges seek when they assess orchids. Quantities of this book are limited. Kathy Murray NOMINATIONS NEEDED FOR GARY BAKER SERVICE AWARD It's time to think about nominating someone for the Gary Baker Service Award. This award is granted annually to recognize a society member for outstanding service during the past year. The original intent of the award was to honor a member with exceptional overall participation and contributions but feel free to nominate someone who has made particularly outstanding contributions in a specific area. The Board will select the recipient by secret ballot from nominations made by the general membership. Please give your nominations by written note, e-mail or telephone to George Grantham by May 1. It is helpful if you include with your nomination a brief note indicating why you feel that individual is deserving. The ideal time to make your nomination would be at the April meeting, or right now before you forget it! George
Grantham MEMBER ARTIST PARTICIPATES IN NEW YORK SHOW NWOS member and artist Linda Petchnick has been asked to put on an exhibit, along with Angela Mirro and Carol Woodin, at the New York Orchid Show this month at Rockefeller Center. The exhibit will be up throughout the month of April. Each artist will have five paintings on display. NEW ONLINE DISCUSSION BOARD AVAILABLE The Northwest Orchid Society web site now lets member share information and ask questions through an online forum. Webmaster Mike Pearson has installed new software to create the "Orchid Forum Message Board" that allows members to post messages with tips, questions, advice, or orchid-related news. Members will need to register online and create a username and password to post messages, but anyone can read messages without registering. Registration requires only disclosing your name and e-mail address and you can choose not to publicly display your e-mail address in messages you post. The NWOS newsletter is also available through the NWOS web site now and PDF software is not required to read it. Stop by online and check out all the new features at the NWOS web site at: 2003 SPEAKERS SCHEDULE May - Sam Tsui of Orchid Inn will give a presentation on Paph Breeding and Culture. June - Scholarship winners will present their results. July - Mark Bamber of Out on a Limb Orchids intends to speak about Miltonias as well as a general talk on pests and diseases. August - Picnic, location TBD September - Larry Moskovitz will give us a talk entitled ³Bizarre Orchid Species² October - NWOS Auction - This year, weıre going to have the auction at a regular meeting instead of the August picnic. November - Open December - Christmas party, program TBD January - David Morris of Clackamas Orchids will tell us about orchids in the Maxillarieae tribe with an emphasis on Lycastes. Got a suggestion for a speaker or program? November 2003 and most of 2004 is currently open and first vice president Jerry Hoffmeister is interested in knowing what you would like to hear about at upcoming meetings. E-mail at jerry@hoffmeisters.com or call him (206-932-9912) with your suggestions. UPCOMING EVENTS APRIL 5-6,
2003 APRIL 5-6,
2003 APRIL 26-27,
2003 MAY 2-4,
2003 MAY 24-25,
2003 MAY MEETING PRE-ORDER Sam Tsui of Orchid Inn in Illinois will be our speaker at the May meeting. He has offered a minimum 10% discount for any pre-order (except NET and packages items). Here is his latest flask list and plant catalog for those interested in placing pre-orders that Sam will bring with him to the meeting.
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