MOS

Official Newsletter of the Michiana Orchid Society

January 2005

 

 

ESCAPE TO COSTA RICA! 

 

      Come to the Michiana Orchid Society meeting on Saturday, January 8, at 1:30 PM EST for a tropical escape to Costa Rica.  Sandy will present a slide program on her trip last March to San José, Costa Rica, where she participated in judging the national orchid show.  March is the height of bloom for the national flower of Costa Rica, the beautiful Guarianthe (Cattleya) skinneri.  See the gorgeous displays of the many color forms of this wonderful orchid, as well as many other fabulous plants.  Go with Sandy and the other American Orchid Society judges up to the mountaintop home of one of the largest coffee-growing families of Costa Rica and visit their lovely orchid gardens.  Take a break from our snowy January weather for a trip to the tropics…..at the River Park Branch of the South Bend Public Library this Saturday.

THANKS, RICK AND VICKI! 

 

       The Michiana Orchid Society was treated to a lovely Christmas party at the home of Rick and Vicki Rydzynski in South Bend.  Members brought their special holiday goodies to share and everyone grazed through the delicious smörgåsbord.  We toured the areas where Rick and Vicki grow their orchids, in a light garden in the basement and in numerous sunny windows.  Members also brought plants to share in our traditional orchid exchange.  Everyone enjoyed the good food and conversation, and a new orchid to grow.  Thanks, Rick and Vicki, for the wonderful holiday hospitality!

MANY THANKS, BARBARA!

 

     As always, a big thank-you to Barbara Sylvester for reserving our meeting room at the River Park Branch of the South Bend Public Library!  This must be done each year to ensure that MOS has the use of the area for the coming calendar year.  In 2005 we’ll meet there each month except the summer months of June, July and August, and the Christmas party in December.

 

 

REFRESHMENTS

 

     Sylvia will provide refreshments for the MOS meeting this Saturday.  We do need volunteers to bring refreshments for the remaining meetings this year---a sign-up list will be passed at Saturday’s meeting.  Thanks!

 

Hi orchid growers...We need programs for this year, 2005. Everyone put on
their thinking caps and help the committee come up with some speakers and/or
programs. We want to provide what the members would like to learn about. We
also need to plan the summer meetings either at members’ homes or road trips.
Also we need a volunteer to have the Christmas meeting. It's always fun to
see how different members provide special growing conditions for their
orchids.

On December 11, twenty-one members met for our annual Christmas gathering at Rick and Vicki Rydsynski's home. Their keen interest in pets as well as plants was immediately evidenced by a friendly Doberman greeting at the front door, while two cats looked for attention from visitors. Numerous shelves of plants were by the windows, and a basement growing area held many orchids.

The varied and delectable goodies brought by all were spread out in the dining room and kitchen. Some MOS traditional items that appeared include Deb's rum balls, Rick's striped fudge, and Ann's version of Harvey's fruit cake. Cookies, pies, nuts, veggies, dips, spreads, fruit, and sandwich makings all made for a wonderful feast. While we ate we enjoyed catching up with each other.

At 3:20 the meeting was called to order by President Sandy Ohlund. The Treasurer's report as written in the November Newsletter was approved. Dues for 2005 are now accepted --$10.00 individual, and $15.00 family. These can be mailed to Deb Longworth, MOS Treasurer, or brought to the January meeting.

In reporting on the November show at Holy Cross, Sandy emphasized it was very successful and proceeded very smoothly. All tropheys (except Earl Koldike Memorial Best of Show) were sponsored by members. There was a profit on the show despite some changes in vendors. A new vendor, Purple Pots, sold well. They make interesting pots especially for growing orchids. They promoted the show, and were a nice addition. The president of Holy Cross College wrote a personal note to Sandy thanking her for bringing the Orchid Show to the college.

While this show is fresh in our minds we should think about what we could do better. Sylvia is making a list of items we could improve on at the show. More show publicity is needed, especially in the newspapers. Jean Moscowitz contacted TV and radio stations. As a result Channel 16 came and taped much of the orchid show. Mike Malony, WTRC Saturday mornings, was suggested. Jean volunteered to contact him. Better signs are needed, particularly on the Holy Cross campus. Visitors should be directed to the parking lot in front of the building. Also we need to get in touch with each other much earler, before the show. This would help new members know what is happening and when.

The dates for next years orchid show at Holy Cross are October 28-29, 2005. Remember our schedule needs to respect Notre Dame games as the Holy Cross area is used for game parking.

MOS will not have a Mother's Day show at Fernwood. Though Fernwood would welcome us again, we need to think of something else probably for the summer. A couple of ideas were presented - an orchid educational program or a combined flower show and sale much as Cook's used to have in the summer. More ideas are needed.

The Program Committee needs input of ideas for our monthly programs. Would you like slide shows? Speakers? Vendor's as speakers? Demonstrations? A plant swap? A member plant sale? Or? Please make your suggestions and wishes known to this committee. Remember - their names begin with "S" - Shirley, Sylvia, Sherry, and Sandy. E-mail, call, write, or corner one of them at the next meeting and share your ideas.

This brought a discussion of the BEST program this year - a mounting demonstration by Walt of Green Acres Orchids. Several MOS members tried mounting plants using his method and materials. Some purchased a small butane torch like he used in his demonstration. Many suggested it was a program worth repeating.

The Nominating Committee report by Deb Longworth gave the slate of officers for 2005. It was approved and seconded. It was suggested both a co-president and a co-vice president would be good additions. This would have the advantage of bringing more ideas to the group.

Long time members Paul and Michelle Jackson are moving to Florida in February. Be sure to wish them "Good Luck" at the January meeting.

Plants were brought to show by John Bannow, who told how he adopted Walt's mounting methods, Mark Wasylenko, Howard Heines, and Barbara Wich.

The meeting adjourned at 4:00 for our annual plant exchange.

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara Wich, co-secretary

OFFICERS for 2005

President - Sandy Ohlund

Vice President - Howard Heines

Treasurer - Deb Longworth

Co-secretary - Sylvia Groat & Barbara Wich

OTHER POSITIONS:

Newsletter Editor: Shirley Keim

Webmaster: Greg Filter

Historian: Sylvia Groat

Librarian: Ann Kuntz

AOS Contact: Rick Hendrickson

UPCOMING SHOWS

January 22 - 23 Grand Rapids Contact Shirley or Sherry

February 26-27 Greater Lansing

March 19-20 Ann Arbor

Open House - Chicago - Hausermans only. Same weekend as Lansing show. (EFG moved

to Florida.)

 

 

 

 

         

         

         

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

           

Refreshments