The Gold Coast Orchid Society Bulletin
“Serving South Florida’s Orchid
Enthusiast Since 1965” Volume 44 Issue 04 April, 2009
|
“Serving South Florida’s Orchid
Enthusiast Since 1965” Volume 44 Issue 04 April, 2009 |
President’s Message
|
|
By Tim Seay 
Spring is finally here and with it the warm
weather, rain and our greenhouse friends:
aphids, mealy bug & scale.
Now is the time to examine our plants closely and deal with any pest
problems, as it will only get worse during the long, hot months ahead. A regular spraying with dishwashing soap will
keep most pests at bay. For something a
little stronger, see Frank who mans our monthly supply table. Be sure to ask Helen how to use pesticides
properly. Handled correctly, they are your best line of defense against an
infestation. Spring and (and summer
mean) rainy days, fungal & bacterial problems with our orchids. Dousing your orchids with Physan is a good
preventative against black rot. Captan
is also a good way to prevent black rot keep those leaves spotless. I mix it with dishwashing soap, which helps
it stick to the leaves and pseudobulbs.
Our March show table had
some real showstoppers! Ming Lin’s, Paph. Saint Swithin received the Dr.
Harold Book memorial award for her spectacular specimen. Another plant
that really caught my eye was Gloria Messler’s species C. violacea. Be sure to
bring your blooming orchids to our April meeting and share them with our
membership. To make your plants look
their best, use a little whole milk & water (or lemon juice) and wipe down
the leaves. You’d be surprised how nice
your plants can look when well groomed.
Marc has arranged for a
fantastic guest speaker this month. Mac
Rivenbark will present a special program on the orchids of the Philippines,
which is the source of many of the species in our collections. Do not forget, our very own Helen Schwartz
will conduct her pre-meeting Orchids 101 miniclass at 7:30pm. Attending the monthly miniclasses gives you
the opportunity to benefit from Helen’s 30 years of orchid experience! Most of what I learned about orchids came
from Helen. If you have any specific
problem with a plant, bring it in and “Dr. Helen” will diagnose it.
I will be conducting an
advanced series, for those interested, of 3 or 4 flasking classes.
This is a program for those interested in making
your own orchids. The first class will
be in May, on a Saturday. I will have a
sign-up sheet at the membership table. Space for the first series of classes
will be limited. For those of you who
just want to see how it is done, but not planning to flask yourselves, I will
have a special program just for you.
For those of you
attending May’s Redland’s Orchid Festival (May 15-17), and interested in
Brazilian species, I will have copies of Floralia’s price list & contact
information at the membership table.
Floralia is the premier orchid nursery in Brazil. You can contact them via e-mail and preorder
plants and you do not need any permits!
They will bring them to the show for pick-up or mail them directly to
you from Miami. For those of you, who
would like me to e-mail the list to them, let me know ([email protected]).
Each month, as space allows
I would like to give you the head’s up on orchid related web sites that I find
helpful. The Orchid Mall (www.orchidmall.com)
is a great resource. I like their “Unclassified
Ads” where people, like us can post plants for sale or plants we are looking
for. They have a “Reading Room” with
lots of great articles. “Orchid Sources”
contain links to almost all orchid nurseries worldwide. Another site worth visiting is Carmela’s
Orchids (www.carmelaorchids.com). They’re having an April special (4” Cattleyas
for $10).
I hope to see everyone
at our April meeting, which happens to be our club’s 44th
anniversary! Gold Coast will provide the Birthday cake and drinks, and members
traditionally bring in their favorites treats. See you then!
Tim.
Mac is Back
By Marc Plotkin,
Program Chair
Thanks to all who came out to last
month to see Tom Kuligowski. We had a
full house and some awesome plants were raffled off. While I didn’t win any, I was so impressed
that I ordered a few from Oak Hill and will give the Angraecums a try. Our speaker this month will be Mac and
Filipina Rivenbark from Mac’s Orchids.
For those who haven’t seen Mac speak before or even if you have you need
to come out for this one. Mac's
presentation will consists of a short introduction, followed by a digital slide
show. He will show slides of the
Philippines and a few of the more impressive Dendrobium species from
there. The climate and culture tips will
also be included in this mini class.
Mac and his Filipina wife started an orchid business 10
years ago after many fascinating trips to the Philippines.
With extensive study Mac is becoming
a specialist in Philippine species, currently grows, and blooms over 200
different types. Mac and his wife are
doing more shows and winning more awards, the best of which is the AOS show
trophies for best exhibit for the Deerfield show held at the AOS headquarters
in 2004, and the Boca Show in 2006. Most recently, we won a bronze medal on our
third place exhibit, one first place ribbon best in show, and two-second place
ribbons given for our plants and exhibit in the 19th WOC in Miami
Florida.
Mac will be bringing some plants for sale as well as a raffle
table. Mac was the past president of
the Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society He
and his wife are also members of the AOS and Delray Orchid Society.
Dr Book Award:
Paph St. swithin x Paph oracstaie, Ming Lin
Blue Ribbons:
C. violacea - Gloria
Messler BC Anne Hamilton ( C. violacea x L nodosa,)
- Roy Rosenthal
C. Gold Digger - Jeanene
Booth Phaius Dan Rosenberg ‘Tropic Ice’ - Amy Werba,
Pleione Maculata (codogny
maculata) - Carol
Kingry Rhyncholaelia Aristocrat (B
glauca x digbyana) - Enid Rosenthal
Phal, Baldan’s Kaleidoscope
- Scott Hutcherson.
Membership:
Membership remains the same
$20.00 per person or $30.00 for two in same household.
$5.00 for Students, 17 and under.
You may pay at the meeting or mail checks to P.O. Box 613882, North Miami Fl
33261
Welcome to new member Roma Laurent, and welcome back to Gold Coast OS
Eileen Cubillas, Albert Stasko, David Trussell, Gayle and Scott Henderson.
Thanks for renewing membership: Deanna Moss,
Frances Waxman, Anne Edwards, Eunice Smith, Adrienne Plotkin, and Antoinette
Etienne.
Sincere
Condolence:
Maryann Marshall is in our thoughts and prayers at this time for the passing
of her 101-year-old mother last month.
April Birthdays: Diane Butler 01, Emma Barth 03, Tom Biggs 08, Bill LaRue 14,
Ann Lewis 25 and Lawrence Olsen 29.
April is our 44th
Anniversary Gold Coast will supply the cake,
sodas and coffee. As is our custom, members attending volunteer to bring finger
food to complete the Buffet. We always like veggie trays, deviled eggs, petite
sandwiches, and other types of finger foods. Not many organizations last this
long, so lets have a fun meeting.
The Benefits of AOS Membership
Ann Thayer AOS Representative
Whether a beginner or an expert orchid grower, you will find
membership in the American Orchid Society a truly rewarding experience. You’ll
join 18,000 others worldwide who share a passion for orchids, as well as
furthering conservation and research efforts for these wondrous plants. And
you’ll enjoy a wealth of membership benefits:
·
Monthly subscription to Orchids magazine
·
Free and discounted admission to more than 200 botanical gardens and arboreta
·
Receive the annual Orchid Source Directory
detailing orchid suppliers worldwide
·
Access to Members-Only section of the Web
site, www.aos.org
·
10% discount on purchases in the Orchid
Emporium or on-line at www.aos.org
·
Discount on back issues of Orchids magazine
and on American Orchid Society published books
·
Reduced processing fees for American Orchid
Society judged plant and flower awards
·
Discounts on orchid class fees at the American
Orchid Society Botanical Gardens
·
Free admission to the American Orchid Society
Botanical Gardens and 50% off admission for any guests
Throughout its 85-year history, the AOS, in keeping with its
vision and mission, has strived to bring our members timely and
state-of-the-art orchid information. In this section of our website, you will
find a vast array of orchid culture information. Orchid Basics is for the beginner with
only one or a few orchids is anxious to learn more. Orchid Resources is for those of us who
are beginning to be or are already addicted. There you will find helpful
culture articles and select reprints from ORCHIDS magazine. Orchids A to Z has been designed to be your definitive source for
information concerning orchid genera written by renowned authorities. The
section on Pest and
Diseases
provides information and images to help you identify orchid ailments and grow
healthier plants. AOS Culture
Sheets, Monthly Checklists, ORCHIDS magazine, Book reviews and the interactive
Orchid Forum are all found in this section of the website.
Hello orchid friends,
It is with a heavy heart I read the press releases in today’s
newspapers. If you did not see them, I have enclosed their links
below. Essentially, the AOS gift shop is being liquidated over the
course of the next few weeks. The plan is for the gardens to close to the
public at the end of May. The trustees and staff at AOS have struggled with
these decisions. The AOS Public Garden Committee has been fighting for
the gardens we have all grown to love. The reality is that the gardens
are primarily a benefit to us as locals. It is difficult to justify to
the AOS members in Montana that the gardens are necessary for their membership
satisfaction.
That being said, I do not believe that the locals are willing to
relinquish this priceless resource. It is a garden that we can all be
proud of, and we are all owners of this fabulous asset. I submit that the SFLC and the
Public Garden Committee have the resources, manpower, and (frankly speaking)
the moxie to overcome this challenge!
If you look up ‘moxie’ in the Encarta Dictionary, it says.
‘courage combined with inventiveness.’ Do we as a group have the moxie
to save our garden? Does your society have the moxie to face this
challenge outright? Can we save YOUR garden?
What can you do right now? PASS THE
WORD! Pass the word to your society, your orchid friends (AOS members or
not), and your local community! Post the information in your
newsletters! Write letters of concern! Leave no stone
unturned! This is not the time to assume that someone else
will take this matter to heart.
Bottom line, we need to raise money—and we need to do it quickly
and consistently. There is no amount too small (and no amount too
large!) You can donate at the web site, www.aos.org or by mailing a check into Jim Jordan, AOS
16700 AOS Lane, Delray Beach, FL 33446-4351. Please mark your gift
as unrestricted to help us through this crisis. If you cannot help us at
this time please write a letter or email expressing your support.
The Public Garden Committee is meeting next week to determine what
an organized course of action might look like. As soon as there is
something that our group can gather and discuss, we will circle the wagons and
get started. If there is anything I know about orchid people, I know they
love orchids. Anyone that has stepped foot in the garden at AOS falls
immediately in love with every fragrance, texture and sound. It is
time to put our money where our moxie is!
Yours in orchids,
Rhonda Heide, Facilitator (and Moxie Aficionado)
South Florida Leadership Council
AOS Website (Carlos
Fighetti’s Message) http://www.aos.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=6126
President: Tim Seay 305/681-0883 Ex Vice President: Marc Plotkin 305/932-6665 Membership: Joyce Mumford 305/915-8922 Mini Class Helen Schwartz 954/392-5051 Sunshine: Nell Hammer 305/822-0612 Web Master Amy Werba 305/935-4364
Gold Coast Orchid Society Bulletin
C/O Joyce Mumford, Editor
P.O. Box 613882,
North Miami, Fl 33261.