MOS

Official Newsletter of the Michiana Orchid Society

August, 2005

Editor Shirley Keim sak12000@aol.com

AUGUST 13^th MEETING AT THE HOME OF DENNIS NORKUS

Plan to join fellow orchid growers at 1:30 for the August 13^th meeting of the Michiana Orchid Society at the Mishawaka home of Dennis Norkus. We’ll see how Dennis grows his orchids and chat about our favorite subject---orchids! Bring your blooming plants for other members to admire, too. His address is 1539 Kensington Place, Mishawaka, Indiana 46544. Phone: (574)255-4355. Please see directions below.

Meeting will be at 1:30 Indiana time

ROAD TRIP TIME!

It’s time for our annual pilgrimage to some of our favorite Michigan orchid vendors: Porter’s Orchids in Grand Ledge, Green Acres Orchids in Charlotte, and Rob Halgren’s Littlefrog Farm in Stockbridge. We’ll have to decide whether to go on August 20, which is the date of the Summer Open House at Porter’s Orchids, or August 27, which is the official Summer Open House at Green Acres. Since August 20 is also the date of the Ann Arbor Judging, Rob would probably not be available on that date. We’ll decide at our August meeting. Check your calendars! Also, check out the websites: www.portersorchids.com , www.greenacresorchids.com and www.littlefrogfarm.com .

CHICAGOLAND ORCHID FESTIVAL

SEPTEMBER 22-24

More orchid madness! Form a carpool and go west to the Chicagoland Orchid Festival on September 22, 23 and 24. There are five locations for this festival, with orchid vendors from other states and countries at each venue. Plan your circuit to get to all of them---or follow John Bannow as he zips from one to the next. (John holds the record for most orchid vendors visited in the shortest time.) There will be orchid specials and refreshments at each establishment.

Here’s the scoop on the Chicago orchid establishments and their guest vendors:

Orchids by Hausermann: Fox Valley Orchids, Illinois; Orchid Inn, Illinois; Creative Orchid, Malaysia; and Evan’s Orchid Lab, Florida

Klehm Growers: Orquídeas del Valle, Colombia; Greenview Gardens, Illinois; Water Gardens, Taiwan; J & K Orchids, Wisconsin; and J & L Orchids, Connecticut

Natt’s Orchids: Miranda Orchids, Brazil; Best of Thai Orchids, Thailand; Galaxy Orchids, Michigan; and William J. Shaban, Illinois

Oak Hill Gardens: EFG Orchids/Powerplant, Florida; Andy’s Orchids, California; Cal-Orchid, California; and Plantio La Orquídea, Venezuela

Windsong Orchids: Hoosier Orchid Company, Indiana; Ecuagénera, Ecuador; and The Orchid Trading Company, Illinois

Round up some friends and carpool to this annual orchid frenzy!

INDY SHOW OCTOBER 1-2

We’re looking for a couple of volunteers to set up the MOS exhibit at the Indiana Orchid Society Fall Show in Indianapolis. Set-up will be Friday, September 30. Let’s take some of our northern Indiana flowers to Indy and enjoy their always lovely show.

MID-AMERICA ORCHID CONGRESS

OCTOBER 22-23

The fall Mid-America Orchid Congress will be held at King’s Island Resort and Conference Center in Mason, Ohio. This exciting event is sponsored by the Miami Valley Orchid Society and the Greater Cincinnati Orchid Society. The Mid-America is always a great show to visit for the outstanding exhibits, many vendors, and the informative talks by orchid speakers from all over the world. Of course, this is the weekend before our fall show, so it will be a fall season jam-packed with orchid events! Enjoy!

Minutes from July Meeting

The MOS July meeting, adjusted to Michigan's summer time, was held at John Bannow's home near St. Joseph. His large porch shaded by tall trees and overlooking the St. Joseph River was a perfect spot on this warm summer day. Bird feeders attracted brightly colored Goldfinches who ate, then retreated to the trees and sang. John wisely anticipated our coming at lunch time, and had a delicious buffet spread that we all enjoyed upon our arrival. Next we turned our attention to the orchids brought to exchange. A very long table, 8 x 3 feet, was loaded with plants! Pots were lifted, labels read, comments exchanged, and in short order small piles of plants were seen in various corners of the porch. Now it was time for the meeting.

President Sandy Ohlund called the meeting to order at 2:10 (IN time). Twenty-two were present including four guests; Bill Storey, Betty and Henry Kersey, and Jan Brown. It was nice to see Eletta Selm, a member who hasn't been present for quite awhile. The secretary report was accepted as printed in the Newsletter. There has been no activity for the treasurer to report, but Deb had new membership lists which she passed out. Ann showed a new book purchased for our library. "Orchids" by Joyce Stewart has received a Gold Medal from AOS, and Ann said, "It has both good pictures and good information."

Our Orchid Show at Holy Cross will be October 29-30. Deb is looking into more signs. She also needs addresses of places to send publicity to, and preferably the name of someone who is responsible for the publicity. Greg is checking on the book titled "Pests and Diseases" to see if we have enough copies for the show. Shirley will order 100 mixed orchid pins and some orchid t-shirts to sell at the show.

The Carter & Holmes order arrived and was distributed. Several plants had spiked, and three were in flower. Another order can be sent. They give 25% off to societies, and there's no sales tax.

Lovely orchids for Bring 'n Brag were brought by Shirley Keim, Sylvia Groat, Katie Payeur, Brittany Payeur, and Greg Filter.

The official meeting was adjourned at 3:00 p.m. Then many toured John's greenhouse which is full and brimming with orchids. Many were blooming too.

For your calendar:

August 13, MOS meeting, 1:30 Indiana time, Dennis Norkus' in Mishawaka.

Later in August - Road trip to Rob's, Green Acres, Porter's

Sept. 23,24,25 Chicagoland Orchid Festival (Sandy says,"Eat at Oak Hills. It's the best lunch!)

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara Wich co-secretary

TREASURER'S REPORT

July 29, 2005

INCOME

Dues--$25.00

Book sales--$5.00

total income--$30.00

EXPENSES

Book purchase--$26.40

ENDING BALANCE--$1,742.33

AMOUNT IN SAVINGS--$2,938.54

Respectfully submitted,

Deb Longworth, treasurer

MEMBERSHIP LIST

The 2005 membership list was distributed at the meeting in July. If you missed the meeting (always pleasant as usual!) Deb will send the list to you. Look for it in the coming days.

I received this email from Shirley V.

Hi Shirley,

I was to serve snacks in May and ended up in the hospital with two new stints in two arteries to my heart. I now have 5 stints. (bionic woman) My orchids are not blooming at this time but I am still having Larry take them to the shower and they love it!!! I miss all of you wonderful, beautiful positive people and hopefully will be able to attend in August. I am much better so hope so. I have not received but one newsletter so hope I can get this next one.

Greetings to all Shirley Vanderbosch

At the July Meeting some of us were discussing if a Milt. would need to be put outside to bloom. I have the only Milt., in my collection outside with my Cym. It is under the shade from the pines. There are now 3 spikes on it. So I guess either it needed more light, it was ready to bloom anyway, or it knows that the only way to get back into the basement cool is to bloom. I am in any case, satisfied!

Shirley K.

Refreshments

August Dennis’ House

September Sally

October Vicky & Rick

November Ann

December Sherry’s House

January 2006