March 2006

The Orchid Grower

Upcoming Events

• March 18-19
  Illowa Orchid Society 31st Spring Show
  

Meeting Dates

• Mar 19 - Olbrich Gardens - Wayne King will be our speaker.
  
• Apr 9 - Olbrich Gardens
  
• May 21 - Olbrich Gardens
  
• June Picnic
  

Hoosier Orchids' Exhibit

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).

ORCHID QUEST 2006 - A THANK YOU NOTE

Hats off to everybody who volunteered to help make Orchid Quest a successful show. Some 2040 people made their way to our orchid show and were in awe of the beauty they experienced on February 4th and 5th. We worked hard to please the exhibitors, vendors, judges, and attendees. We figured out what went well, what we could improve on, and more importantly, we had fun!

Our exhibit received a second place ribbon thanks to those of you who entered your flowers in the show, and to Sue Reed, Sandy Delamater, Joan Smally, Lorraine Snyder, and Amy Ripp who set up and took down the exhibit. Scott Weber took beautiful photographs and our sponsor K&W Greenery provided additional exposure with Phyllis's spirited radio program and her enthusiasm for all things green. The show was promoted even further by Wayne King's spot on WHA public radio, Karen Johannsen's radio spot on WIBA, Nancy Acker Skolaski on TV Channel 27, and Linda Barcz from the Bruce Company on WISC TV.
--Elaine Malter

OGG Display, 2nd place winner

Debriefing

Despite the snowy weather, attendance at Orchid Quest was up. There were 1244 attendees on Saturday and 796 on Sunday. According to Alliant, attendance for the past six years is as follows:

2000 – 2,548
2001 – 2,372
2002 – 2,477
2003 – 1,900
2004 – 1,687
2005 – 1,979
2006 – 2040

Many people complimented the Guild members on the phenomenal amount of help they received unloading and loading for the show. Unfortunately there were some vendors who were unhappy with their location and/or the vendor adjacent to them. There were suggestions to change the configuration of the display tables for improved traffic flow. Another issue identified was guest speakers who went beyond their time allotment and how to manage this next year. Suggestions were to provide a moderator, a clock, or a visual signal. Another concern was that speakers who were scheduled for a late afternoon Sunday talk had poor attendance and it was suggested that the last talk occur no later than 2 p.m. The Guild also needs to address inexperienced clerks assigned to the judging, perhaps with a "dry-run" or written instructions.

Results of 2006 Orchid Growers' Guild Show

Display: Second Place Award

New Members

A warm welcome to the new Orchid Guild Members Amy Ripp, Andy Moore, Mary Simes and Pat and Richard Narf.

Make A Note

The March meeting will be held on the 3rd Sunday (3/19) but the April meeting will not. It will be on April 9th due to Easter.

The Guild Spring Sale will be Saturday April 15, the day before Easter Sunday.

Due to the fact that there was no one available to set-up, the Guild will not have an exhibit at NEWOS show.
The original speaker scheduled for the March meeting, Carson Whitlow, has cancelled. Instead, Wayne King will talk on "Survival of Captive Orchids: An Orchid Grower's Experience."

Free pottery: Brook Johnson is done with his spring shows and would like to clean out his inventory. He has about 15 orchid pots that are cracked, poorly sized, or otherwise not appropriate to sell. He is giving them away for free at the March meeting, first come first served. His current line of pots can be viewed at www.tinamoupottery.com.

Nominations are Open

A Nominating Committee has been selected. The positions that will be open are President, Treasurer, and a Board position. The elections are in May.

The names of those nominated will be published in the May Newsletter. Nominations from the floor will also be accepted per Guild by-laws.

The members agreed that committees be established for away-shows, programs (to find people/programs for/at monthly meetings); judging (for finding "judges" and keeping record of winners) and a Membership committee to recruit new members.

In Memorium

Kathryn M. Moore, 82, died February 21, 2006 in Janesville. Kay was a founding member of the Orchid Growers Guild of Madison. The Guild sent flowers.

In Memory of Kay Moore
By Wayne King

I first met Kay in 1986 at one of the first meetings of the Orchid Growers Guild. While I didn't know it then, this was shortly after the death of her husband. I remember her as upbeat and low key and, with great humility, willing to pitch in to help make the Guild the success it has been. In turn she made some close friends in the Guild, among who were Gweneth Lynnch and Anne Orcutt— both of whom also were instrumental in serving the Guild. Kay served as Guild Vice President during 1991-92, despite the long round trip to and from her home in Janesville to attend Board meetings—often on dark winter nights by herself. In 1996 she volunteered to chair the Guild's Sunshine Committee which provided cards and gifts to cheer up members hospitalized or otherwise recovering. She held this position for five years despite the difficulties in identifying these Guild members and letting her know who needed to be contacted.

Kay operated a small orchid business out of her greenhouse and hosted an open house for Guild members at her greenhouse in the spring of 1999. She grew a wide range of orchids including Cymbidiums, Dendrobiums, Paphs, Phals, and Cattleyas. She would bring many of these plants to membership meetings for members to enjoy. She was also interested in antiques and worked a small antique business on the former college grounds at Milton. Even there I found myself visiting her on orchid business. I still have portions of a 1987 orchid calendar from Oak Hill Gardens (in German) I obtained from her.

During the past couple of years, Kay was dependent upon others to attend Guild events. As with other Guild members who have found themselves in this situation, this limited her participation. Not to be denied her orchids, Kay's niece drove her to Orchid Quest 2006 where she purchased several orchid plants. Little did she, or we, know that that would be her last orchid purchase. Kay is one of the many unsung heroes (heroines) of the Guild who will be sorely missed. Her legacy to us all is that to belong is to serve and to belong is to serve.

OGG Exhibit at Batavia Orchid Society Show

Feb. Judging Results

Results of February 18 Membership Meeting

First Place: Joanne Bernardi Dendrobium farmerii

OUTSTANDING SPECIMENS AT ORCHID QUEST 2006

This Phrag might have the highest AOS score of any orchid in the whole country this year. Phrag Jason Fischer clone: 'Grouville' parents: P. besseae x P. mem. Dick Clements award: FCC 95 Owned by Orchids Limited	This Pap. Mem Larry Heuer 'Rebecca's First' was given a Certificate of Cultural Merit for the fine number and size of flowers. Paph. Mem. Larry Heuer Clone: Rebecca's First parents: P. malipoense x P. mersonii award: CCM 83 This is owned by Rebecca Dendakar an AOS judge from the Wisconsin Orchid Society.	Orchid Quest Best of Show Dendrochilum Wendzelii 'Timberlane'

Show Schedule