September, 2007

Editor Shirley Keim sak12000@aol.com

MOS MEETING SEPTEMBER 8 AT THE LIBRARY

The September meeting of the Michiana Orchid Society will be held on Saturday, September 8. September started on a Saturday, so our meeting is a bit early in the month. After a summer of meetings at members’ homes and the State Fair and one of the largest roadtrips in MOS history, we’ll be back at our normal meeting place, the River Park Branch of the South Bend Public Library, across the street from the Potawattomi Greenhouses on Mishawaka Avenue.

This month we’ll work on demystifying those class numbers on the show schedule! Bring your blooming plants and we’ll all practice putting them into the proper classes. There will also be a questionnaire regarding program choices for next year.

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

ANNUAL ROADTRIP TO GREEN ACRES AND LITTLEFROG FARM

A record number of Michiana orchid fans made the roadtrip up to Michigan on Saturday, August 25. Trekking north were Lynda, Lisa, Sue, Barb W., Rebecca, Fuchi, Anita & Andrew, Rick & Vicky, Ron, Katie & Brittany, Sylvia, Deb and Sandy; we picked up Rick H. along the way, and Greg F. and Marilyn Lee and her granddaughter met us at Green Acres.

Rob has made great strides in his new greenhouse area at Littlefrog Farm in Stockbridge, and we quickly found lots of plants that we couldn’t pass up. Bunches of catasetums, cycnoches, bulbos, jewel orchids, paphs and bromeliads were packed into Priority Mail boxes in Rob’s driveway. Rob went back to eating lunch and the roadtrippers were on their way to Charlotte, Michigan.

Green Acres hosted its annual open house with discounted prices and a hog roast---and this year there was an unwanted extra surprise: no electricity and an area ravaged by tornadoes the night before! Walt and Cindy started up the generators and welcomed us anyway. Some areas were lit by candles or lanterns, but the water was on and the food was great! Boxes of plants left with happy orchidists, with visions of lots of blooms in the future.

MICHIANA EXHIBITS AT THE STATE FAIR!

The Michiana Orchid Society again participated in the Central Indiana Orchid Society’s orchid show at the Indiana State Fair August 9-12 in Indianapolis. MOS mobilized to send down a great exhibit of orchids and a wonderful array of orchid photographs, artwork, collectibles and crafts by many members.

Deb and Sandy drove down to Indy on Wednesday evening so that exhibit plants could stay in Deb’s Orchidmobile overnight without danger of overheating. Early Thursday morning, Deb and Sandy drove the plants to the fairgrounds, and were met by Sue Voelker to set up our exhibit. Orchids were contributed by Deb, Sylvia and Sandy, and our display garnered many ribbons.

Meanwhile, Ron, Katie and Brittany brought the non-plant exhibits early Thursday morning. Our MOS members contributed nearly all of the exhibits in the photography, art, craft and collectible classes. Showing their orchid-related talents were Katie, Brittany, Andrew, Sue and Barb W., and the display was expertly staged by Katie. These efforts were also rewarded by many ribbons for our members.

Since this is an educational exhibit, volunteers passed on orchid information to fairgoers; Deb provided membership information about our society.

The weather was scorching and our members were grateful that the Horticulture Building was well air-conditioned. Between exhibit set-up and judging, members ventured out into the hot weather to take in the sights and sounds---and elephant ears---at the fair. Judging went well, with Deb, Sandy, Ron, Katie and Brittany taking part in the judging process. After a great Port-a-Pit chicken dinner, AOS judging was accomplished. Tired but happy for the experience, our members left for home.

Of course, there was more. On Sunday, the exhibits had to be taken down and brought home. Bruce and his trusty truck served us well in bringing back plants and props from our display, and Ron and Katie brought back the photo and art exhibits. Thanks, everyone, for a job well done!

15^TH ANNUAL

CHICAGOLAND ORCHID FEST!

SEPTEMBER 21-23

Don’t miss out on this annual pilgrimage to the Chicago area! There will be four sites this year: Hausermann’s, Natt’s, Windsong and Oak Hill.

Hausermann’s is in Villa Park; they will be hosting Tom Kalina’s Fox Valley Orchids, Ltd., and Sam Tsui’s Orchid Inn.

Natt’s Orchids is in Naperville; they will host Miranda Orchids from Brazil, Best of Thai Orchids from Thailand, and Galaxy Orchids from Michigan.

Windsong Orchids in Sycamore will host Hoosier Orchid Co. from Indiana, Carson Whitlow’s Cyp Haven from Iowa, Ecuagénera from Ecuador, and The Orchid Trading Company from Illinois.

Last, but certainly not least, Oak Hill Gardens in Dundee will welcome Andy’s Orchids from California, EFG Orchids/Powerplant from Florida, J & L Orchids from Connecticut, Plantio la Orquídea from Florida/Venezuela, and Purple Clay Imports from Illinois. Whew.

There will be refreshments at each stop so that we can concentrate on the orchid feeding frenzy! Please note that the hours are 8:00 to 5:00 on Friday and Saturday, and 10:00 to 3:00 on Sunday. All times are Central Daylight Time. Plan now to spend a day or two enjoying the Chicagoland Orchid Fest!

SPONSOR A TROPHY FOR OUR SHOW!

Our fall show is coming up in late October, and Larry Galdes will again be providing the lovely etched-glass trophies. Sign up soon to sponsor the trophy of your choice---only $15! See Sandy for details and availability.

COMING UP!

September 21-23 Chicagoland Orchid Festival! Road trip!

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

January 23-27, 2008 19^th World Orchid Conference, Miami, FL

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 1984 when the 11^th World Orchid Conference was held in Miami. (Sandy was there!) The rooms in the conference hotel are already sold out, but there are quite a few other hotels in the area, and they’re a bit cheaper, too! Quite a few MOS members are planning to go---we’ll all have to get together when we’re 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!

Refreshments

September Bruce & Skye

October Sylvia

November Ann

December Christmas Party

My Favorite Orchid

September Shirley

November

December