President s Message. June Program

Transcription

1 Eyes on Orchids Newsletter of the Baton Rouge Orchid Society P.O. Box Baton Rouge, LA June, Volume 54 - Issue info@batonrougeorchidsociety.org June Meeting - Wednesday, June 20-7 p.m. Baton Rouge Garden Center Independence Blvd. Program: Finalize Show Plans Continue Discussion of Orchid Maladies President s Message Our society will hold its 33rd Show and Sale on July 13, 14 and 15, James has done his usual fine job to get the preparations well in hand up to this point. Of course there remain things to be done to ensure the beauty and fellowship for which our show is valued, and James will outline those needs at our meeting on Wednesday. I hope that everyone is ready to pitch in and pull together to get the job done. Those who have helped in the past know what is needed. Newer members are encouraged to help in whatever area you have an interest. The more people we have involved, the more satisfying and enjoyable the experience will be for ourselves and for our visitors. Thanks are due to folks who have represented BROS at regional shows recently. Boots, Patty, John, and Tin took responsibility for organizing our exhibits in Houma and New Orleans, respectively. And I am grateful for the help and camaraderie from Clyde and Gene in Alexandria. By the way, congratulations are due to Boots and James for winning AOS flower quality awards for plants in two of the BROS exhibits; they were beautiful flowers which truly were worthy of the awards. We have one more show -- held by the Acadian Orchid Society -- for which we need volunteers for setup (Friday, June 22) and takedown (June 24) in Lafayette. Finally, let me again recognize that two of our local orchid-growing friends have been facing difficult times. I sincerely hope that John Bourgeois and Nancy Rowe can turn to their orchid plants and orchid friends for respite and joie de vivre. June Program July is almost upon us which means that our annual Show and Sale is just around the corner. Therefore, our June meeting will be devoted to finalizing the plans for the Show and being sure that all bases are covered. Show Chairman James Jeansonne will lead this discussion. A successful Show is possible only if all members participate and contribute whatever they can to the efforts. Help will be needed in the kitchen as we feed the vendors and volunteers. Please plan to donate one of your delicious dishes to this effort. Everyone needs to help with publicity. Talk the Show up to all your friends and family. If you have an In with any of the TV or radio stations, let me know. It would be great if we could get TV and/or radio spots. We ll provide flyers for you to distribute to businesses, libraries, etc. Clerks will be needed for judging. Putting up our exhibit requires lots of labor. Help is needed with making plant tags, distributing trophies, etc. There s something for everyone to do! So jump right in and help wherever you can. It s lots of fun! Continued Pg. 3

2 Minutes of May Meeting President Bob Danka called the meeting to order at 7:29 p.m. on Wednesday, May 12, He extended welcome to new member Valery Sonnier and speaker Dr. Raghuwinder Nick Singh. Bob Danka reported on the results of the Alexandria show that he and Clyde Howland set up and took down. James Jeansonne had two plants awarded AM. Beth reported on the successful acquisition of plants from Whole Foods. She invited members to bring home some plants: repot, grow, and bring them back in bloom. James Jeansonne reported on the Show progress. He invited members to fill in the different empty spots on the various committees that are necessary to make the July BROS Show successful. Frank Zachariah announced he would be selling fertilizer for $5.00 a bag at the next meeting. Lata Johnson introduced the guest speaker: Dr Raghuwinder Nick Singh, director of the LSU AgCenter Plant Diagnostic Center. Nick gave a most informative program on the disease problems of Orchids. He organized them into fungi, bacterial, viral, and care. The door prize and silent auction were held. Meeting adjourned at 9:45pm In the absence of Secretary, Sue Ellen Graham, Carolyn Clay took notes of the meeting. Thanks to Carolyn for filling in. From Left: Ana Cris Garcia, Dr. Singh, and Marie Williams Photo by Lata Johnson BROS Officers, 2012 President Bob Danka (h) rdanka@cox.net Vice-President Bob Lank pops1548@cox.net Secretary Sue Ellen Graham jmg44@cox.net Treasurer Blair Many blair@blairmany.com Show Chairman, 2012 James Jeansonne Newsletter Editor Danna Spayde orchidnut_2000@yahoo.com Board Members Clyde Howland, thru 2012 Lata Johnson, thru 2013 Beth Blackstock, thru 2014 SWROGA Representative: James Jeansonne AOS and Orchid Digest Representative: John Huner Chairs of Standing Committees: Program Co-Chairs Lata Johnson, Tin-Wein Yu, Tanner Singleton Membership Bob Lank Finance Blair Many Librarian Bob Danka Condolences Those of us who know Nancy Rowe of the Acadiana Orchid Society have been upset and saddened by the disappearance of her daughter, Mickey Shunick on May 19. Please continue to hold Nancy and her family in your prayers.

3 Happy June Birthday to: Ana Cris Garcia 6/11 Al Krotoski 6/20 Tanner Singleton 6/27 Orchids for Seniors The OFS annual Take the Terror Out of Potting Orchids Workshop and Pot Luck lunch will be help on June 25 at 10 a.m. at Independence Park, Room 137. We will have lots of plants to divide, repot, and share. Any of you who would like to join us are welcome. Just bring a covered dish and your own pots. Potting mix and other supplies will be provided. June Program Continued from pg. 1 The May program on orchid diseases generated a great deal of interest. After the Show discussion this month, our resident entomologist, President Bob Danka, will share some information on insect pests. Since we are in the throes of the spring/ summer orchid show season with all the tempting orchid plants on sale, I want to remind you of Rob s Rules: 1. There is always room for one more orchid. 2. There is always room for two more orchids. 2a. See Rule 1 3. When one has insufficient credit to purchase more orchids, obtain more credit.... Rules by Rob Halgren Green Growers Meets on the following dates during July & August - No meeting September 12 October 10 November 14 December - No meeting Mark your calendars now and plan to attend these educational meetings. How Long Have You Been a BROS Member? I recently found a copy of the BROS 1996 Membership Directory, and I saw names of people who are still Society members. In our Directory each year we list the names of people who have been members for 20+ years. Since 1996 was 16 years ago, I figure that some of you who were members then are still members now & probably before So if you ve been a member for 20 years or more, please let me know so we can add you to the list in next year s Directory. I prefer that you this information to me. If you tell me at a meeting, I ll probably forget. My address is orchidnut_2000@yahoo.com. May Meeting Collage - Thanks to Lata Johnson

4 What Happened to the Laelias? [And a brief description of L. anceps] Let s start at the beginning. When we think of the classic Laelias, our mental images are small plants from drier highlands, having small flowers, narrow sepals, and simple lips. Of course, this is wrong. None of the things we observe as a normal Laelia separates it from the Cattleya. Except Let s be Frank About Orchids By Frank Zachariah Lithograph by John Fitch Other Cattleyas have 4 pollinia (pollen sacs). These plants have 8. (So do the Sophronitis and Schomburgkia.) In 1831 John Lindley named a new genus Laelia and began to separate the Mexican species with 8 pollinia from the Cattleyas. In 1852 Lindley added the 8-pollinia plants from Brazil starting with Laelia purpurata. Other orchid taxonomists wrote -- except for the pollinia count -- there is nothing in the morphology (the shape of the flower or plant) that would be unique to a genus Laelia. Lindley prevailed and the name stuck for 150 years. Laelias have been important in the breeding of the florist orchids. Some are yellow and orange and bring these art shades into the white and purple Cattleya palette. The Brazilian purpurata has more named clones than any other Cattleya and has been orchidspecies.com used extensively in breeding. The famous Canhamiana Wedding Flower of the mid-1900 s is a cross between C. (L.) purpurata and C. mossiae. By analyzing DNA in 2000, Cassio van den Berg determined that the Mexican Laelias are distinct from those in Brazil. However, the Brazilian Laelias share a common ancestry with Sophronitis and were very briefly lumped under that genus. There is some genetic distinction with Cattleya, but there are hundreds of hybrids between these groups. Instead of coming up with new intergeneric names [for the discarded names, like Potinara], it was thought best to move all the Brazilian Laelias and Sophronitis under Cattleya. [The old genera names will probably be retained as Sections in Cattleya.] Therefore, Laelia purpurata is now Cattleya purpurata and Sophronitis coccinea is Cattleya coccinea. (A few of the names had to be changed according to taxonomic naming rules.) The remaining Laelias are the original Mexicans -- and some of the old Schomburgkias. As a thumbnail, if a Schomburgkia pseudobulb is hollow at maturity, it was moved into the new ant -hosting genus Myrmecophila. [For example, Myr. tibicinis.] If the pseudobulb is solid, it is now a Laelia. [L. undulata.] A brief description of one of the most important Laelias Laelia anceps is native to Mexico and Central America. A distinguishing feature is its tall raceme which can be three to four feet. A well-known progeny, Lc. Puppy Love, displays this trait, carrying the flowers well above the foliage. Continued Pg. 5 Photos from Santa Barbara Orchid Estate

5 MEET OUR NEW MEMBER! We are delighted to welcome a new member who joined at the May meeting. Her contact information: Valery C. Sonnier Rosedale Rd. Port Allen, LA w c Valycarlo@hotmail.com Laelias continued from page 4 L. anceps is one of the best parents for imparting cold tolerance in its progeny. In California it shows no damage even at 22 F and is a common landscape plant in the southern part of that state. (Note: Do not expect those results here.) In many hybrids, the anceps parentage shrinks the size of its offspring a desirable trait for us with limited bench space - while its color is recessive and does not show up. It has received 114 awards for its many color varieties and its ease in crossing has produced 265 offspring. It tends to sprawl and is better grown mounted as it prefers to have its roots drier than other Cattlike orchids. Note: Frank is a student judge at the Houston Judging Center. This article on Laelias is one he wrote for his studies. BROS Meeting & Program Calendar, 2012 July - It s Showtime! No Meeting August 8 - Andrea Niessen (note change of date to 2nd Wednesday) September 19 - Manny Aybar October 17 - Carlos Fighetti, former AOS President November 3 - Alan Koch, owner, Gold Country Orchids - note that this meeting will be on the 1st Saturday. December - date TBA - Christmas Party Let Lata, Tin, or Tanner know if you have any program suggestions. Long time members Geri Templet & Carolyn Clay in deep discussion at May meeting. New Orleans Show At the New Orleans Show on June 2-3 our exhibit won the Best Society Tabletop Exhibit. Thanks to Tin-Wein Yu, John Nelson, Carolyn Clay, and Patty Granier for their hard work in setting up the exhibit. Several of our members sent plants and were rewarded with ribbons as follows: Bob Danka - Blue ribbon & Best Flower in Category for Rhyncholaeliocattleya Pratum Green, which was pulled for judging. Tin-Wein Yu - Yellow ribbon & Best Flower in Category for Gastrochilus japonicas John Graham - Blue ribbon James Jeansonne - Blue ribbon Carolyn Clay - White ribbon