MOS

Newsletter of the Michiana Orchid Society

October, 2006

Editor Shirley Keim sak12000@aol.com

IT’S SHOWTIME!

The October 14, 2006 meeting of the Michiana Orchid Society will be held at the River Park Branch of the South Bend Public Library on Mishawaka Avenue. The meeting will begin at 1:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time. Refreshments will be served.

Our October meeting will feature a talk on water quality by Katie Payeur. Bring a sample of the water you use for your plants, and Ron will measure the Total Dissolved Solids on his new TDS meter.

There will be discussion of the upcoming Michiana Orchid Society Fall Show, which will be held at Holy Cross College on November 11-12, with set-up starting at 3:00 on Friday, November 10. Sign-up sheets will be available for members to volunteer on any of the show committees: publicity, food, hospitality, registration, set-up, take-down and sales. Members are also needed to clerk for ribbon judging on Saturday morning. We’ll need your blooming orchids and foliage plants, as well as orchid art, photography, collectibles and orchid arrangements. Start planning now to enter several classes!

If you have extra plants to sell, bring them to the meeting in order to “thin the herd” before the show.

SHOW COMMITTEES…

VOLUNTEER FOR SEVERAL!

We need volunteers for all show committees, but above all we need help with publicity. Does your local newspaper or radio station have a place for community events? We need everyone’s help to get the word out about our show! We’ll have flyers about the show for you to distribute or post in areas frequented by plant people. Bring your ideas about publicity to our October meeting.

Help will also be needed in the sales area, as well as set-up and take-down, registration, hospitality and food. This is a good time to sign up to clerk for judging---a great experience, even if it is early in the morning!

ROADTRIP TO THE CHICAGOLAND ORCHID FESTIVAL…

…or how we got stuck in the mud at Oak Hill…

Many Michiana Orchid Society members made the trip to Chicago to join in the fun at four locations: Hausermann’s, Oak Hill, Windsong and Natt’s. Some of us stayed overnight in order to have time to see everything, and some made two trips to cover it all. At each location friends were seen enjoying the lectures and visiting the sales areas of the guest vendors. There was lots of good orchid talk and good food as well. And there was mud after the rain. Deb’s big orchidmobile got stuck in the mud on Saturday afternoon, almost preventing that group from checking in at Hausermann’s, but Greg from Oak Hill, a kind orchid lady with a four-wheel drive SUV, and Andy of Andy’s Orchids came to the rescue, pushing and pulling and steering Deb’s van up the slippery slope. Whew.

MOS MEMBER FLORIE FISCHGRUND DIES

Long-time Michiana Orchid Society member Florie Fischgrund passed away recently. Florie was an orchid fancier who always loved to come to our shows and she enjoyed having phalaenopsis orchids in her home. When Florie went south for the winter, she often donated her phalaenopsis to the Michiana Orchid Society. Florie’s late husband Bob was also very active in the Michiana Orchid Society. Many of us have wonderful memories of both of these orchid friends.

MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER MEETING

Thirteen members and one guest enjoyed the September meeting at Sandy’s Rolling Prairie home. There were no minutes since there was no meeting in August. The treasurer’s report was approved as published in the newsletter.

MOS librarian Ann K. brought several new books which may be checked out by members. Ann also gave a short talk on her favorite orchid, a Brassavola nodosa, or the Lady of the Night orchid, which is very fragrant in the evening.

Old business included reports on the MOS exhibit at the State Fair in Indianapolis, the road trips to Green Acres and Porter’s Orchids, and the Fall Mid-America show and conference in Lexington.

New business concerned carpools to the Chicagoland Orchid Festival, the MOS Fall Show in November and the First Fall Plant Swap at Sylvia’s on September 30. The $30 AOS gift certificate was given to John Bannow.

Bring and Brag plants were brought by Rick and Vicky, Ron, Katie and Brittany, Ann, Bruce and Skye, John, and Sandy. Refreshments were provided by Lisa, Sandy, Elton and Bessie. Members enjoyed touring Sandy’s greenhouse and under-lights areas, as well as watching water run off the tall umbrella-like leaves of the lotus in the pond.

Respectfully submitted,

Sandy, substitute secretary.

Treasures Report

There are no changes since the last report.

My Favorite Orchid

Oct..Rick Rydzynski

Nov..Show

Dec..Party

Refreshments

October Sylvia

November Show

December