October 2005

The Orchid Grower

Upcoming Events

• October 29-30
  Blackhawk Orchid Society Fall Show, Klehm Arboretum, 2701 Clifton Ave., Rockford, IL.
  
• February 4-5
  Orchid Quest
  
• February 18-19
  Batavia Orchid Society Show
  
• March 4-5
  NEWOS Show
  
• March 18-19
  Illowa Orchid Society 31st Spring Show
  
• April 29-30
  Illinois Orchid Society Spring Show
  

Meeting Dates

• Oct 16 - Video - "Aldo Leopold And the Wild Prairie Orchids" by Charles Johannsen. Scott Weber will lead a discussion.
  
• Nov 20 - Orchids by the Ackers - Chuck Acker will talk about his trip to Peru to acquire Phrag. Kovachii
  
• Dec 18 - Holiday Party
  
• Jan 15 - Olbrich Gardens
  
• Feb 19 - Olbrich Gardens
  
• Mar 19 - Olbrich Gardens
  
• Apr 9 - Olbrich Gardens
  
• May 21 - Olbrich Gardens
  
• June Picnic
  

Aerangis distincta, grown by Elaine Malter

Paphinia herrerae, grown by Sandy Delamater

Officers and Committees

Subit your photos to be included in the newsletter. Every month we want to include a gallery of photos to enjoy. Email your photos to Brook (orchids@tinamoupottery.com).

October Meeting

There will be judging at 1:00 with the meeting starting at 1:30.  There will be a presentation of the video - "Aldo Leopold and the Wild Prairie Orchids" by Charles Johannsen.  Scott Weber will lead a discussion on native orchids.

September Meeting

Our first meeting of the fall season was at Olbrich Gardens on September 18. Members were treated to a double feature of orchid videos. First up was a presentation of "The Many Worlds of Orchids" followed by "Pests and Diseases of Orchids ". The door prize was a Miltonia won by Don Lamb.

Wisconsin Orchid Society Show

We had a great show this year. Steven Thimling won best of class for his Paphinia Majestic, and our display took first place! Thank you Judith Rapacz, Wayne King and Sandy Delamater for your great set up. Thank you to Len Huebner, Jan and Judith Rapacz, and Meg McLaughlin for the take down.

Awards:

Blackhawk Orchid Show

Wayne King and Sandy Delamater will set up for this show on Friday October 28. They would appreciate an email or a phone call with your plant names by Monday 24. We are looking for volunteers to do the take down. Be a doer!

Expand Your Collection Beyond Orchids

When your orchids fail to meet your expectations despite the TLC you have provided, consider other alternatives. Clivia miniata and variants is a long-lived plant that is a reliable bloomer, multiplies slowly, doesn't need to be repotted frequently, and is resistant to many diseases and insects. Each summer, mature plants produce a scape averaging 16 individual salmon orange florets that last about 2 weeks. Clivias can be kept outdoors from about mid-May to late October in a semi-shaded location.

Direct mid-day sun from about 10: AM to 2:30 PM  should be avoided as well as late spring or early fall frosts. You can winter them in a cool room or basement with normal or artificial light restricitng water to about once every 10 days.
Clivia miniata and 3 other species in the genus are native to South Africa growing in the understory of trees and shrubs. While the plant is relatively rare in the Madison Garden centers, they are available from a number of large mail order nurseries and are also grown extensively in California.

A recent book on Clivias authored by Harold Koopowitz was published in 2002, is an excellent reference. Harold Koopowitz is also a well know orchid grower specializing in slipper orchids. He is the editor-in-chief of the Orchid Digest and also authured the book, "Orchids and Their Conservation". He is also a professor of ecology at the University of California, Irving.

-Eugene Woehler

Volunteer Positions

We think that it would be efficient if there was a team dedicated to Away Show duties. The tasks would include responding to invitations and solicit volunteers from club members to participate in part of the Away Show process. This would alleviate a few people from doing all of the work that goes into preparing for these shows. The team could use an “organizer” for lining up people to do show set-ups and take-downs. Sandy Delamater and Wayne King have been doing a number set ups for the shows and it would be good to split up the work a bit. Share your ideas about how you think we can make this work.
   
The upcoming programs for Orchid Quest are being spearheaded by Sandy Delamater and Judith Rapacz. The Board is working together in contacting prospective speakers for our Sunday meetings at Olbrich Gardens. We welcome your suggestions too. Many times members have gone to other shows or lectures where they have heard fascinating speakers. Let us know who you liked, we would love to invite guest speakers to our regular member meetings or Orchid Quest.
 
We need a Ribbon Judging Team. This team would keep track of points and ribbons earned at away shows as well as the monthly meetings. Wayne King has been doing this for the past year.
 
And last but not least, we want to hear from you for the monthly Newsletters. All members are encouraged to submit (or continue submitting!) interesting articles and pictures, and/or perhaps book reviews or trivia regarding orchids. Brook Johnson has taken the lead on the newsletter and a few members have contributed photos and articles. Keep them coming – it sure makes the newsletter more interesting!
 
If there’s anyone out there interested in being Orchid Quest Show Chair, please contact Elaine Malter. She would be delighted to work with you at Orchid Quest 2006 and show you how it’s done. We set up some guidelines this past year that is an organized list of tasks and suggested timelines. The document is based on information put together by Cleo Kiergaard a “few Orchid Quests past”. The Guild needs one person to spearhead the effort that goes into making Orchid Quest one of the biggest winter orchid shows.

Member Voice

Would you like to give a talk at one of our meetings? Share your knowledge, photos from an orchid trip, or anything else orchid related. All you need to do is tell Elaine <egadzicki@charter.net> your idea and we’ll work it into one of our meetings. 

Do you have any good ideas about growing orchids? Have you read a good orchid book or article that you would like to share? Please email Sarah Lundey <sarahlundey@charter.net>. She will work with Brook <orchids@tinamoupottery.com> to help make our monthly newsletter a success.

Show Schedule

Member Photos

Phragmipedium Hanne Popow, grown by Jan Rapacz	Laeliocattleya C Acker's Angel x Lc Acker's Madison, grown by Jan Rapacz	Aerides lawrenceae, grown by Sandy Delamater
Vanda Pakchong Blue, grown by Sandy Delamater	Pot. Burana Beauty, grown by Sandy Delamater