MOS

Official Newsletter of the Michiana Orchid Society

October, 2004

MOS OCTOBER 9, 2004 MEETING

AT MAIN SOUTH BEND PUBLIC LIBRARY

The October 9 meeting of the Michiana Orchid Society will be held at 1:30 EST at the main South Bend Public Library. There will be a short business meeting where we will discuss plans for our upcoming Orchid Show at Holy Cross College on November 6-7. Sign up to help with Set-Up, Hospitality, Food, Sales, Publicity, Workshops or Take-Down. We also need volunteers to clerk at Saturday morning judging.

The public is invited to our Orchids for Everyone presentation at 2:00. There will be a narrated slide show and a potting demonstration, as well as blooming orchid plants brought by MOS members. Questions from the public are welcome, and refreshments will be served. Come out to support our program and enjoy the slide show, and bring your blooming orchids to show off. Let’s try to inflict our orchid addiction on the general public!

SAD NEWS

Long-time Michiana Orchid Society member Earl Koldyke passed away on Sunday, September 26, 2004, one day before his 72^nd birthday. Earl had been a member since the very early days of the society, and had been an active participant in our orchid shows and the set-up of our displays at other shows. A man of many talents, Earl was a superb orchid grower and gardener, bonsai grower and pond enthusiast, and had spent many years establishing a large game preserve.

Earl always sponsored the trophy for Best of Show, and it has been suggested that we establish an Earl Koldyke Best of Show award in his honor.

GET READY, GET SET….SHOW!

Start planning now to participate in our Fall Orchid Show at Holy Cross College on November 6-7, 2004. Set-up will start on Friday, November 5, at 3:00 EST; other societies and vendors should arrive at 4:00. On Saturday, activities will start with a continental breakfast at 8:00 AM, followed by ribbon judging at 8:30. We’ll need clerks! The show will be open to the public from 10:00 to 5:00 both Saturday and Sunday. Take-down will be at 5:00 PM on Sunday. Plan to help out on several committees, and bring those plants for our display. Displays by small groups of members are also welcome and encouraged.

FALL SHOW COMMITTEES

If your name isn’t on the list, you just weren’t there to sign up! So pick a committee or three, and let us know where you would like to help!

SET-UP---3:00 Friday TAKE-DOWN---5:00 Sunday

Dennis N. Sylvia G.

Sylvia G. John B.

Harry & Jean M. Sally G.

John B. Deb L.

Jim Y. + tags Sherry B.

Deb L. Shirley K.

Sherry B.

Shirley K.

HOSPITALITY FOOD

Sylvia G. Barbara W.

Harry M. Ann K.

Jean M. Sylvia G.

Sally G.

Deb L.

PUBLICITY Katie & Ron P.

Sherry B.

Shirley K.

CLERK---8:00 Saturday

Barbara W.

Deb L. SALES

Sherry B. Dennis N.

Shirley K. Sherry B.

The blurb for our upcoming program, as printed in the Library's newsletter and sent to the media:

Orchids for Everyone

Saturday, October 9, 2:00 p.m.

Main Library - Dickinson Room

Anyone who grows houseplants can grow orchids. Often, the

trick is to choose the right species for your conditions.

Experienced members of the Michiana Orchid Society will

introduce you to these fascinating flowers with a slide show,

a display of blooming orchids and a potting demonstration.

The St. Joseph County Public Library's main building is at 304 South Main Street, South Bend (between Wayne and Western Streets, about 2 miles south of Holy Cross College.) Plenty of free parking is available on the south side of the building. There is a handy little map at http://sjcpl.lib.in.us/contactus/mastermap.html. The Dickinson Room is in the basement. You'll see the elevator just to the left of the orchid book display.

The slides should be arriving early next week. Who wants to narrate?

This should be a good time to promote our fall orchid show. Perhaps we could have some flyers ready to hand out.

See you soon,

Ann

The trip to Garfield Park in Indianapolis was long and lonely. Just a few
cassette tapes and about 20 orchids to keep me company. Boy do I love cruise
control...After three and a half hours in the car I was setting up our MOS
display in a very hot, humid greenhouse. I'm looking for sympathy here. The
conservatory is beautifully kept up and full of many unusual tropicals and
ton's of orchids. A lot of the orchids were growing on the trees while
others were in their pots. It was great to see many of them growing as they
would in the wild. It made me eager to put into use the information Walt
gave us at the last meeting. Watch out cork, I'm coming. Now what size was
that wire??
We had a great spot to set up. I was able to use just the rock wall and
pockets to display the plants. All the staging material went back into my
car except the two baskets I left behind. Just think no cardboard boxes or
black cloth.
Rick Henderson arrived around 7:00 and we placed his plants to finish the
display. I left him to finish placing the registration tags and enter his
plants. I was very eager to get back on the road.
Rick will tear down the display and bring Sandy's and my plants back home
for the next meeting. Hopefully there will still be flowers on the plants
for the Library Show. Sylvia

Here is a wrap-up of the Indiana Orchid Society show the MOS participated in which took place on the 25^th and 26^th of September. Friday afternoon Sylvia brought plants from Sandy’s and her own collection along with display material to the Garfield Park Conservatory in Indianapolis for show set up. By the time I got down there at 6:00 pm with my plants the display was complete with Sandy’s tall vandas towering over everything. Sylvia added my three plants to the display and we hit the feedbag provided by the host society. There were a total of 19 plants in our display and following judging 14 of the plants received ribbons. The payload description as follows:

Sandy: Sylvia:

Ascosenda Crownfox Golden Spots 1^st place Oerstedella wallisii 1^st place

Ascosenda Pattaya Blue 1^st place

Maxillaria fractiflexa 1^st place (Milt. Natal x Milt. May Moir) X Milt. Cast Moon 1^st place

Ascosenda Kultana Blue 3d place Kahleii kramerianum X papillio 2^nd place

Ascosenda Sansai “Blue Moon” 2^nd place Vascostylus Fire Friendship 2^nd place

Vanda Rev. Masao Yamada 1^st place

Vanda kimballiana 2^nd place Rick:

Aranda Boonchoo 3d place Cycnoches cooperi 1^st place

Paph. Gardeneri 1^st place.

While at the show I was able to pick up my Mormodes tuxtlensis from Leon of the Hoosier Orchid Company (last one they had Rob!!!! ). I can’t wait for Guido and Sandy to start tearing up the Mormodes group after they finish the Phrags! While on the way back to West Lafayette I was attacked by Sandy’s Vanda Rev. Masao Yamada which was sitting next to me in the car. I guess the seatbelt did not provide enough restraint. This reminded me of a science fiction book I read years ago “ The Day of the Triffids “. That Vanda has roots big enough to be legs and flowers that just might be mistaken for eyes the only thing missing is some sort of bowl for digesting human flesh! Oh well I guess I had better take my allergy medication. See you all at the Main Library next week.

Rick

MID-AMERICA ORCHID CONGRESS AND MICHIANA O.S.

Established in 1959 and affiliated with the American Orchid Society in 1961, the Mid-America Orchid Congress is an association of some 50 central North American orchid societies ranging from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. The Congress's original function was and continues to be to provide a forum for its member societies to exchange information and ideas through its spring and fall meetings. Educational endeavors include sponsoring two meetings per year with nationally known speakers and publishing The Mid-American (www.midamericanorchids.org) a quarterly newsletter, available to all MOS members. It also sponsors educational seminars and workshops. M-AOC maintains the show schedule that we use for our shows, also available through the website, and it provides the entry tags for our shows for a nominal cost. Besides work in education and judging, M-AOC funds a variety of conservation and research projects. We do pay $.50 per member per year to join forces with Mid-America so visit their website and take advantage of all that M-AOC has to offer us.

Deb

September Minutes

The September 11 meeting of the Michiana Orchid Society was called to order at 1:35 by Sandy Ohlund, president. Twenty-three were present to learn about mounting orchids from Walt Flisnik of Green Acres Orchids. Walt and his wife Cindy grow orchids mounted and in baskets as this more closely replicate how orchids naturally grow in the wild. Walt demonstrated how to groom and mount an orchid using galvanized wire which he deftly straightened, and inserted into a piece of cork bark. With side line cut pliers he cut then twisted the wire to make a place at the back of the plaque on which to place the plant's label. Smaller wires were bent like staples, covered with sphagnum moss and pushed in to hold the plant securely. When roots become established in the mount, these smaller wires can be removed. Mounted plants are watered 2-3 times a week, fertilized with 1/4 strength twice a month.

Walt explained the advantages of mounting orchids: you can nearly double the number of orchids you now have on benches as these are hung vertically. Further pest control is easy, bugs can't hide and air circulation is excellent, plus repotting is not needed for several years. A mounted orchid in bloom can be hung in your home on the wall as you would a picture. He cautions the need for cleanliness is a must, use a single sheet of newspaper for each orchid you mount. A hand held Butane torch can be used to sterilize cutting blades after each plant. Cinnamon should be applied to all cut areas of the plant, and use good water such as RO, rain, well or pond water. They also spray with RD 20 or Physan in a solution of 1 teaspoon per gallon. If you receive a bare root plant, this is a good formula for "jump starting" its growth: 2 teaspoons sugar, one 300 gram Aspirin, 1 teaspoon vitamin B or B Complex, mixed in one gallon water. Place the plant in this solution for 24 hours, then mount or pot as usual.

Walt and Cindy brought a large assortment of orchids and mounting supplies which were eagerly purchased by many members. If you haven't visited their lovely and interesting greenhouse at Charlotte, Michigan call (517)543-5670 for directions and an appointment. Their website is www.greenacresorchids.com Walt's demonstration and suggestions were so complete several members expressed the wish that his presentation had been video taped.

We had refreshments, a sign up sheet for the upcoming November show was circulated, and a brief meeting. Sandy announced the Oregon Orchid Society publishes several good booklets on orchid culture. It was motioned and seconded that we order 20 copies each of two titles. In the September issue of " Orchids", the AOS publication, our MOS Show November 6-7 at Holy Cross is listed. The next meeting, October 9 will be at the South Bend downtown library at 304 S. Main. Free parking is available on the south side of the building. Our regular meeting will start at 1:30 IN time, then at 2:00 it will be open to the public. Ann announced the library is doing publicity of this meeting. A slide program from Orchid Digest Magazine titled "Forty Species Everyone Should Have in Their Greenhouse" will be shown.

Bring and Brag included lovely orchids shown by John Bannow, Katie Payeur, Sherry Burchett, Jim Yeager, Sylvia Groat, Mark Wasylenko, and Ann Kuntz.

The meeting adjourned at 3:40.

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara Wich, co-secretary

For your calendar:

October 9 MOS meeting 1:30 South Bend downtown library, 304 S. Main'

November 5 3:00 begin set up for Orchid Show at Holy Cross

November 6 8:00 am judging at the show. Show opens to the public 10:00-5:00

November 7 Show open 10:00-5:00 At 5:00 show take down.

Treasurer's Report

September 11, 2004

Income

Dues $10.00

Expenses

AOS, Awards Quarterly, 2 years $76.00

AOS, Show Kit & Trophy 150.00

Total Expenses 226.00

Ending Balance $1,614.53

Amount in Savings Acc't = $2,932.63

Respectfully submitted,

Deb Longworth, treasurer

.

Refreshments

October Jean and others for the program at the library

November Show at Holy Cross

December Christmas Party