Orchiflora. November Volume 6, Issue 3. Announcements:

Transcription

1 Orchiflora Volume 6, Issue 3 November 2015 Announcements: Speaker Series: 8:30-9:30 Floral Hall, VanDusen Gardens November 25: Christmas Social, no presentation December 23: Merry Christmas! - no meeting January 27: Chris Janko from Gardenworks; Topic: Mini Plants February 24: David LaFarge (France, author of numerous journal articles & a book on Phalaenopsis; editor of L Orchidophile, the Journal of the Société Français d Orchidophile); Topic: Phalaenopsis March 23: Topic to be announced soon! April 27: Lorne Heshka (Manitoba, published author & photographer, co-author of Orchids of Manitoba: A Field Guide ), Topic: Native Orchids May 25: Topic to be announced soon! June 22: Thomas Mirenda (Washington, DC, Curator of Orchids for the Smithsonian Insti tute, & writer for AOS Magazine), Topic: to be announced soon! Culture Class, held in the Cedar room, VanDusen Gardens from 6:30 to 8: 30 pm, all orchid related questions welcome - culture class is a members only benefit December: No culture class this month January: No culture class this month February: Paphiopedilum Culture Don Harquail March: Semi-hydroponic orchid growing Margaret Prat (and AOS webinar) April: Repotting your orchids Upcoming Events PNWJC The Pacific Northwest Judging Center (PNWJC) meets every 2nd Saturday of the month at Sea Island Community Center, 7140 Miller Road, Richmond, B.C. at noon. Everyone is welcome to bring their orchids for consideration by the American Orchid Society judges. Why attend? This is an opportunity to see more orchids, and many orchids of award quality. Small, friendly atmosphere calendar: November 14 December 12 Monthly General Meetings: 4th Wednesday of each month (except July, August & December) at Van Dusen Floral Hall Doors Open 6:30pm, Meeting starts at 7:30pm Inside this issue: Message From the VOS Board Pg 2 Monthly Show Table 28 Oct 2015 Pg 4 FVOS Show Award Winners Pg 6 Article: Orchid Show Season Has Begun by Jennifer Pell Pg 11 VOS Membership Renewal Form Pg 14 Events Calendar Pg 15 Upcoming Shows & Sales October 30-November 1, Fraser Valley Orchid Society Show and Sale, George Preston Arena, Ave. Langley B.C. November 19 21, 2015 Scientific Orchid Conference on Andean Orchids. Cali, Columbia. Further information can be found at andeanorchidconference.org/ site/?lang=en February 13th & 14th, Victoria Orchid Show and Sale. March 26-27, Vancouver Orchid Society Annual Show and Sale. April 16-17, Ottawa Orchid Society 35 th Annual Orchid Show and Sale

2 Volume 6, Issue 3 ORCHIFLORA Page 2 Message from a VOS Director: Dear Members, Two of the major events over the month of October were the shows of CVIOS and FVOS. A write-up regarding our participation will be covered by Jennifer Pell. Being a new member in the Executive Board, before the first board meeting, I kept asking myself how many members did I know and how often did I have the chance to talk to the members that I know. Frankly, answers to both questions were not that many and not that often. Over a calendar year, we only have 9 monthly meetings. And the meetings are full of attractions from the show tables and the sale tables; not to mention we also have to struggle with which plants we would like to place our raffle tickets on. And at the same time we are always tempted by the kitchen items presented during the coffee break. After listening to the speaker we go home eagerly with the hope to implement what we have just learned. So honestly there is really not too much time left to get to know other members individually and to exchange ideas. Certainly it is even more difficult to talk to them on a group basis to share notes. I guessed some other members might have the same feelings as mine. Therefore, I touched upon this subject in August as my first attempt to organize an orchid chat room for VOS members through cellular connections. Subsequently, during the September meeting, I put forward a proposal and outlined the vision and the structure as how it would work. Thereafter, I was mandated to organize a pioneer group as a trial to find out the response and reception. On September 27, the date of the mid-autumn festival, we started our chat room through the platform of WhatsApp and we initially had 13 members. After going through some minor technical aspects, the group went smoothly into action. The subjects covered, as originally intended, are mainly orchid related: from growing experience, growing set up, sourcing of supplies, flower appreciation and many others. Members can ask orchid related questions and have them answered by others with more experience on the particular topic. The topics being covered are extensive and the involvement from each member is gratifying. As of today, we already have 20 members; fulfilling the target we set for this first group. I believe we all have benefited and gained knowledge through the open discussions. With this kind of remote day-to-day gathering, we definitely witnessed that the exchange of communication is very convenient and effective. The spirit of the group is being built on all the members passion toward orchids. And the sharing of ideas is so generously carried out. The technical requirements for each participant in the chat room is simply to have a smart phone with cellular connection and download an application called WhatsApp. It is not necessary to have an expensive smart phone or commit to any extensive data plan for running and using WhatsApp. As long as there is Wi-Fi connection at home, it will serve the basic purpose. Nowadays, Wi-Fi connection are available in lots of shopping malls and restaurants; which means one can easily hookup to the internet and can chat throughout the day in different locations. In order to create a more homely environment, we intend to keep the number of participants in the chat room not to exceed 20 members. By keeping it small in size, members can easily get to know each other and take part in the discussions. For any further chat room we are going to add, we will also try to ensure there are experienced and knowledgeable members taking part and some of which will be coming from our existing group. This is a balancing act we would like to implement and carry forward. To sum up, we have found that the chat room operation can fulfill the objectives of increasing the interaction among members and benefit our knowledge and know-how towards orchids. Therefore, we will be delighted to create a second one. If any member is interested in taking part, please feel free to contact me through my address dkwok3580@gmail.com. According to the lunar calendar, the winter begins on November 8 this year. While the winter is coming, I can assure you that there are always warm feelings in the VOS chat room. Wishing you and your family a happy holiday season. Daniel Kwok Director

3 Volume 6, Issue 3 ORCHIFLORA Page 3 Executive/Board of Directors President : vacant 1st VP: Evelyn Nash 2nd VP (culture class): Barbara Cable Secretary: Jennifer Pell Treasurer: Judy Buttress Director 1 : Calvin Wong Director 2 : Daniel Kwok Director 3 : Eugene Bazinger Director 4 : Grant Rampton Director 5 : Keith Willet Director 6 : Monica Stefansson Director 7: Patrick Milligen Volunteer/Committees Membership Committee: Grant Rampton, & Natalia Charif Prize Draws: Chuck & Audrey Belotte & Anne Duranceau Kitchen: Marilyn Lew BCCoGC Rep: Radina Jevdevic Library: Monica Stefansson COC/AOS Rep: Calvin Wong Web Master: Adam Ludlow Attention All VOS Members! As the end of the year approaches, don t forget to renew your membership for A copy of the Membership Form is included in this newsletter (towards the back). You don t want to miss out on all the exciting guest speakers and events coming up in the new year! And as an added bonus, your VOS Membership comes with extra benefits like discounts to your favourite vendors: Discounts for VOS members are available at: Gardenworks (10% off) Jon s Plant Factory But wait! There s more! If you renew by the next meeting, you will be entered into a draw for 2 tickets to the Arts Club Theatre. Tickets donated by Jennifer Fabre. Mailing Address: PO BOX 42025, Marpole PRO, Vancouver, BC, V6P 6S6 Newsletter: Holly Martin Please send your contributions to: neesabelle@hotmail.com Article/Photo Submission Deadline: The 10th of each month. Anything submitted after the 10th will appear in the newsletter of the following month. Irene Rohrmoser It is with great sadness that we let you know of the passing of Irene Rohrmoser on Sunday, November 1 at the age of 91. Older members of the VOS will remember Irene as a longtime member of the Society and one of the group who originally started the VOS. She was, for many years, very active in the club and a superb grower wining many awards for both species and hybrids. Irene lived in Whiterock and each summer would host a potluck picnic at her home for Society members. Her daughter Tina Sherwood donated Irene s orchid books to the Society s library a number of years ago.

4 Volume 6, Issue 3 ORCHIFLORA Page 4 Monthly Show Table 28 October 2015 Paphiopedilum Transvaal Flower Quality Exhibitor: Wayne Riggs Masdevallia Machu Picchu Plant Culture, Members' Choice Exhibitor: Don Harquail Judges in Attendence: Mary Sang, Jennifer Fabre, Ryan Young, Beverly Hansen Paphiopedilum Raisin Jack Flower Quality Exhibitor: Don Harquail Chondrorhyncha lendyana Species Exhibitor: Jennifer Fabre

5 Volume 6, Issue 3 ORCHIFLORA Page 5 Monthly Show Table 28 October 2015 (cont d) Haraella retrocalla Unusual Species Exhibitor: Linda MacCarthur All Photographs by: Judith E. Higham Phragmipedium Jason Fischer 4N Plant Culture Exhibitor: Don Harquail If you would like a picture of your plant, please Judy and she will gladly you the file (Higham@shaw.ca)

6 Volume 6, Issue 3 ORCHIFLORA Page 6 Fraser Valley Orchid Society Show & Sale 31 October 2015 VOS Award Winners (BCOC Awards) Grand Champion Dendrobium biggibum Exhibitor: Jim Poole Show Trophies Reserve Champion Catasetum FDK 'After Dark' Exhibitor: Jim Poole Show Table Awards: Tied for COC Medal - Vancouver Orchid Society

7 Volume 6, Issue 3 ORCHIFLORA Page 7 Fraser Valley Orchid Society Show & Sale 31 October 2015 VOS Award Winners (BCOC Awards) Best Other in Laelia subtribe, Epicattleya Don Herman 'Gold Rush' HCC/AOS, Exhibitor: Calvin Wong Best Oncidium Oncidium Heaven Scent 'Sweet Baby' Exhibitor: Jennifer Pell Best in Vanda Group Vanda coerulea Exhibitor: Calvin Wong All Photographs by: Ribbon Awards Judith E. Higham If you would like a picture of your plant, please Judy and she will gladly you the file (Higham@shaw.ca)

8 Volume 6, Issue 3 ORCHIFLORA Page 8 Fraser Valley Orchid Society Show & Sale 31 October 2015 VOS Award Winners (BCOC Awards) Best of all others, Chondrorhyncha lendyana, Exhibitor: Jennifer Fabre Best in Dendrobium grouping, Dendrobium tobaensa, Exhibitor: Calvin Wong Ribbon Awards Best Orchid Grown exclusively under artificial light, Masdevallia Machu Picchu, Exhibitor: Don Harquail Best Orchid grown on a windowsill with no artificial light, Angraecum distichum, Exhibitor: Bev Hansen

9 Volume 6, Issue 3 ORCHIFLORA Page 9 Fraser Valley Orchid Society Show & Sale 31 October 2015 VOS Award Winners (BCOC Awards) AOS Nominations The following plants were also recipients of AOS Nominations but were not scored: Epicattleya Don Herman 'Gold Rush' HCC/AOS, Exhibitor: Calvin Wong Vanda coerulea, Exhibitor: Calvin Wong Dendrobium tobaensa, Exhibitor: Calvin Wong Chondrorhyncha lendyana, Exhibitor: Jennifer Fabre As well as one additional plant that was not previously mentioned in this newsletter and the accompanying photo can be found directly below: Brassolaeliocattleya Prada Green Deluxe 'NN', Exhibitor: Calvin Wong

10 Volume 6, Issue 3 ORCHIFLORA Page 10

11 Volume 6, Issue 3 ORCHIFLORA Page 11 ORCHID SHOW SEASON HAS BEGUN! Jennifer Pell Well, the Orchid shows have begun, it is only early November and already the first two shows are behind us: the Central Vancouver Island Orchid Society (CVIOS) show was held in Nanaimo on October 2nd to 4th and the Fraser Valley Orchid Society (FVOS) show was October 30th to November 1st. At the CVIOS show, our table had 28 plants in total, contributed by Eugene Banziger, Wayne Riggs, Hazel Stewart, Rob Elvidge, Ryan Young, Cris Abel and Margaret Prat. Margaret took the plants to Nanaimo and set up the display (thanks Margaret) and Daniel Kwok went over and brought them home (thanks Daniel). We got 1 AOS nomination for Paphiopedilum Gloria Naugle (Wayne Riggs); and 2 Best of Class: Best Paphiopedilum - Gloria Naugle (Wayne Riggs) & Best grown under lights: Dendrobium Enobi Purple Splash AM/ AOS (Cris Abel). Well done everyone! Vancouver Orchid Society Table at the CVIOS show. At the FVOS show we had 43 plants on our table as well as 7 photos, 1 mini-display and 1 orchid art display entered by Margaret Nakahara, Wayne Riggs, Daniel Kwok, Grant Rampton, Jennifer Pell, Don Harquail, Ryan Young, Margaret Prat, Melanie Gallacher & Jennifer Fabre. Judy Buttress assisted by Kelly Zander brought the plants to the show, Evelyn Nash, Barb Cable Dominic Leung and myself set up the display and Judy brought the plants back from Langley (thanks to all who helped). We were awarded the COC Award for best table and received 1 AOS nomination: Chondrorhyncha lendyana (Jennifer Fabre); 3 Best of Class awards: Best Cymbidium - Cymbidium ensifloium Pennants (Daniel Kwok); Best Oncidium - Oncidium Heaven Scent Sweet Baby (Jennifer Pell); Best of all other classes - Chondrorhyncha lendyana (Jennifer Fabre); also Best Mini-Display Orchid Treasure Chest (Jennifer Pell & Cathy Fitzgerald). In total, I counted 11 1 st place, 13 2 nd place and seven 3 rd place ribbons on our table. Well done everyone.

12 Volume 6, Issue 3 ORCHIFLORA Page 12 Vancouver Orchid Society Table at the FVOS show. I am quite a newbie to the orchid world (albeit I quickly became an orchid addict), I have only been growing orchids for about 3 years and this was only the second show I have entered. I want to let other beginners know that it s fun to get involved in the shows either as a volunteer helping out or by entering a plant to show. You don t have to have a collection of hundreds of plants or own a greenhouse to enter, all you need is a pretty plant, nicely flowering (and free of bugs!). There are lots of categories to enter and you never know, you might even win a ribbon! One category that I particularly like is the Mini-Display (like the one I entered, pictured below) a fun chance to express your creativity.

13 Volume 6, Issue 3 ORCHIFLORA Page 13 Orchid Mini-display Orchid Treasure Chest at the FVOS show. The next show in the region is February 13 th and 14 th in Victoria. We will be needing plants for our table at that show and volunteers to take them and bring them back so keep this in mind! Our show will be on March 26 th and 27 th. Margaret Prat is the Show Chairman (thank you Margaret!!!). It is going to be an exciting show, and we need to start promoting and advertising it. We are going to have two international vendors, Ten Shin Gardens ( and Ching Hua Orchids ( both from Taiwan, as well as many of our regular vendors so there will be ample opportunity to increase your collections with interesting plants. Everyone, please tell your friends about the show and start sharing the addiction!

14 Volume 6, Issue 3 ORCHIFLORA Page 14

15 Volume 6, Issue 3 ORCHIFLORA Page 15 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat November 2015 Date October 30 November 1 November 9 November 11 November 14 November November 25 Event FVOS Show & Sale Culture Class Growing Under Lights led by Grant Rampton Remembrance Day PNWJC Monthly Judging Scientific Orchid Conference on Andean Orchids. Cali, Columbia. Christmas Social December 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Date December 12 December 25 December 26 December 31 Event PNWJC Monthly Judging Christmas Day Boxing Day New Year s Eve

16 Volume 6, Issue 3 ORCHIFLORA Page 16 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat January 2016 Date January 1 January 9 January 27 Event New Year s Day PNWJC Monthly Judging Monthly Meeting Topic to be announced February 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Date February 8 February February 14 February 24 Event Culture Class - Paphiopedilums, led by Don Harquail (also Family Day in BC) VicOS Show & Sale & PNWJC Monthly Judging Valentine s Day Monthly Meeting Speaker David LaFarge, Topic: Phalaenopsis