MOS

Newsletter of the Michiana Orchid Society

March, 2007

Editor Shirley Keim sak12000@aol.com

SPRING IS COMING… WHAT ARE YOU GROWING?

The March 10, 2007 meeting of the Michiana Orchid society will be all about YOU! What orchids do you grow? How do you grow them? Where do you grow them? Inquiring minds want to know. Do you grow high-light vandas in a greenhouse or low-light phalaenopsis under lights or on a windowsill? Do you grow in bark or sphagnum or using a semi-hydroponic method? Or do you mount everything so that you can’t possibly overwater? Do you grow only blooming-size plants or do you like to grow orchid babies from flask or compot? Bring your orchid-growing stories---and we encourage you to bring a plant or two. And bring your questions!

The MOS meeting will be held at the River Park Branch of the South Bend Public Library at 1:30 PM Eastern Standard Time. Guests are always welcome and refreshments will be served. See you there!

SHOW AND ICE STORIES FROM LANSING

Vicki, Linda and Katie drove up to Lansing on Friday, February 23 to set up our display at Michigan State University for the Greater Lansing Orchid Society (GLOS) show. Ron, Brittany and Sandy arrived later Friday afternoon in time for a great dinner. Vick and Linda left for home after putting the finishing touches on our display, while the rest of the crew stayed overnight for judging early Saturday morning.

Other Michiana members showed up for the Lansing show---Rick H., on his way to shovel the snow off the deck at his family’s Michigan cottage; Bruce came for the show and vendors; Andrew and his whole family showed up to see his artwork receive two ribbons in the show---and to add a few plants to their collection.

The Greater Lansing show has a reputation for ice storms, and this year was no exception. Bruce and Ron drove up to Lansing on very icy roads to bring our display plants back to their owners. Thanks, everyone! We want spring!

MOS participated in the Lansing Orchid Show, Feb 23-25, 2007. The 25 sqft exhibit was set up by the team of Linda Pelkey, Vicki Rydzynski, and Katie Payeur. The exhibit earned a third place from more than 20 exhibits. One note of interest here is the fact that our team did not have any entry registration errors noted by the Lansing registration committee, no small feat. The ribbon judging was tough as each MOS orchid entry competed in the very large class groups. There were more than 140 paphiopedilums, 110 phalaenopsis, and 90 cattleya entries. For those who said cymbidiums are a dead entry class, there were about 30-35 cymbidiums in exhibits for judging, quite a climb from the 5-10 entries at shows just a year ago.

MOS exhibit at Lansing Orchid Show 23-25 February, 2007

Linda Pelkey gathered a first place for her species paphiopedilum, no small feat. Rick and Vicky Rydzynski’s orchid cattleya Cogniac x cattleya Fort Motte ran up against 15 others in its class and came away with a third. Rick and Vicky need to be recognized for their fine initial set-up at the Grand Rapids Show.

paphiopedilum gardineri cattleya Cogniac x cattleya Fort Motte

Andrew Hsu received a second place in the tough Art and Craft judging. The Lansing Show Arts and Crafts section, which includes all entries except orchid plants but does include orchids in use categories, is judged by actual artists/photographers. This is rare in show judging, but it does demonstrate both the quality and number of entries in this category.

Andrew Hsu

Sandy Ohlund received a first place for her phragmipedium Grande (caudatum x longifolium).

Lansing earns its reputation as the ice show and it did not fail to keep that reputation. Sunday take-down was in an ice and sleet storm. Still it was a very successful week-end and for those who managed to see the show, there were some very high quality orchids to be seen among all the exhibits.

Ron & Katie

MID-AMERICA IN GLENCOE, ILLINOIS, APRIL 27-29

The MAOC (Mid-America Orchid Congress) will meet at the Illinois Orchid Society Spring Show at the Chicago Botanical Gardens in Glencoe, Illinois, on April 27-29. This will be a spectacular event with many exhibits and vendors, as well as an exciting slate of guest speakers. The Illinois Orchid Society sends this description:

Our list includes Patricia Harding, co-author with Carl Withner of one of his Cattleya series, The Debatable Epidendrums.  Patricia will speak about Huntleya, and related genera. Hadley Cash, from Marriott Orchids, who recently published an overview of his Paph breeding program in Orchid Digest, will speak on that topic.  And Dr. Eric Christenson, noted author and taxonomist, will have two lectures, one on Maxillaria, and the other on his work in Peru with David Bennett, on a modern inventory of orchids in Peru.

Joining them now will be Alfredo Manrique, of Centro de Jardinería Manrique, one of two nurseries in Peru authorized to grow and sell Phrag kovachii.  This is quite a timely addition to our list of speakers.  Seedlings of Phrag kovachii are now becoming available for sale in the United States, and we will have an opportunity to hear the saga of this new, wonderful flower from one who is deeply involved in its distribution and conservation. 

I hope all of you will want to attend this event, and spread the word to all of your orchid-growing friends.  Information on registering for the conference is on the IOS web page, www.iosoc.com

Your invitation

http://www.iosoc.com/ShowPrep/apr2007.shtml

COMING UP IN 2007

March 17-18 Ann Arbor Orchid Society Show, Ann Arbor, MI

March 31-April 1 Michigan Orchid Society Show, Dearborn, MI

April 14-15 Central Indiana Orchid Society Show, Indianapolis, IN

April 27-29 MAOC / Illinois Orchid Society Show, Glencoe, IL

May 5-6 Three Rivers Orchid Society Show, Ft. Wayne, IN

August…Central Indiana Orchid Society Show at the Indiana State Fair

October 27-28 Michiana Orchid Society Show, Notre Dame, IN

PLANNING AHEAD……

Coming up faster than you think, the 19^th World Orchid Conference will be held January 23-27, 2008, in Miami, Florida. It’s not too early to start thinking about heading south to this lavish orchid show. The WOC is held in a different country every three years; it hasn’t been in the US since 1987 when the 11^th World Orchid Conference was held in Miami. (Sandy was there!) For more information on this orchid extravaganza, go to the World Orchid Conference website: www.19woc.com . There will be internationally famous speakers as well as exhibitors and vendors from all over the world. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to attend a WOC in the USA!

The orchids at the conservatory have been inventoried and categorized as:

17 Cattleya

10 Paphiopedilum

6 Phalenopsis

64 Oncidium 'like' (could be Zygopetalum) we will have to watch these bloom to identify

1 Brassavola

4 Encyclia

242 Cymbidium

16 Dendrobium

1 Sobralia

1 mystery plant

John B. picked up the bark for repotting.  A big thanks to John for getting that, especially on such a snowy weekend.  It is now at the conservatory.  I need some volunteers to help repot the collection.  Lots of plants are currently in 'new growth' and this would be perfect timing to repot them.  Most are in old media, some of which was actually garden bed chips.  We have the media, we have the pots, we just need the labor........ let me know if you can spare a Friday in the near future.

I am drawing up a culture sheet for the staff to continue with when we get everything up and running.  The water at the conservatory is unbelievably alkaline plus they are used to using their standard watering schedule and fertilizer.  The watering schedule is 3 TIMES PER WEEK in the winter.  The fertilizer is a 0-0-41.  Not sure what that is but it is not what we want.  I am also purchasing some PH down, a pH test kit and some fertilizer, thanks to the society for funding this!

If you have volunteered to help at the Conservatory and have not yet heard from me, you will.  I am waiting on a new work schedule from their staff.  They have released one full time staff and hired two part time for weekends.  Their only full time staff now is a head grower and the man that holds everything together.  They definitely need and appreciate our help.

Don Keim DKicthus@aol.com

Minutes for February Meeting

The meeting was called to order at 1:35. Members totaled 26. Sandy explained that we would make a road trip to the conservatory across the street, to assist in the discussion that was to follow. Group returned and meeting was continued. Thanks to Ron and Katie for show report complete with pictures. Minutes and Treasurer’s Report were approved. Deb reminded us that dues are due. Dennis had a death in the family and was unable to do his program on sem-ihydrophonics. Maybe next month. It was moved and seconded that the April meeting will be moved to the first Saturday in April due to a show in Indianapolis on the second weekend of April. Don gave a report on the greenhouse across the street. Don will chair a committee of volunteers. Plans will be made to buy supplies for repotting the orchids. Motion was made to donate funds from the treasury for supplies. Discussion followed. It was moved and seconded to donate $250.00 for supplies. It was further suggested that individuals could make donations of items necessary for orchid care such as alcohol gloves, etc. MOS will participate in the show in Lansing. Setup will be Linda, Vickie and Rick. Pick up Sherry and Shirley. The American Orchid Society has an online survey to find out what members want from the society. If you buy books from the AOS website a portion of the sales will be donated to AOS, no matter what book is purchased. Katie presented a slide show, questions followed. John and Sylvia presented a demonstration on potting and repotting. Sylvia did my favorite orchid. Members did bring and brag. Refreshments were served.

TREASURER'S REPORT

March 2, 2007

Beginning Balance        $1,634.61

Income

    Dues                $105.00

Expenses

    Fall Show            $98.50

    Travel, shows        !00.00

    Newsletter            88.80

    Membership information    15.26

    Show supplies        179.32

    Mid-America Orchid Congress dues    25.00

Total Expenses        $506.88

Ending Balance        $1,232.73

Amount in Savings        $2,949.65

Respectfully submitted,

Deb Longworth, treasurer

DUES REMINDER

Once again, another reminder. The amount is $10/individuals and  $15/families, payable to Michiana Orchid Society. Members have been timely in their response, more than half have paid dues. Deb would like to have a membership list out in May so make sure that you're included on the list. Since Deb will be unable to attend the meeting in April, either pay at the meeting this month or send dues to Deb Longworth, treasurer, 7451 E 900 N, New Carlisle, IN 46552. Questions about your status? E-mail Deb at Timmboys@aol.com or call (574)654-3449.

Refreshments

March Rydzynski’s

April Deb

May Lisa

June Ron & Katie’s house

July Member’s house or road trip

August Member’s house or road trip

September Bruce & Skye

October Sylvia

November

December Christmas Party

My Favorite Orchid

April Deb

May

June

July

August

September Shirley

November

December