San
Diego County Orchid Society Newsletter Distribution - 712
Members NOVICE CLASS Bob Hodges will give a presentation on paphipedilums. Dont miss it! THIS MONTHS GENERAL MEETING First of all, we have to say something about last months meeting and our guest speaker, Ned Nash. The mystery of the meaning behind the name of his presentation, "Unusual Orchids Visible with the Naked Eye", came to light. Ned went through a wide variety of just beautiful, interesting orchids that are truly eye-catchers. Of course he provided a wealth of information about their natural habitat and cultural requirements. Concepcion and Jerry Boyd of "The Orchid Connection" did us more than fair with their plants for the Plant Opportunity Table. They have one the finest selection of Mexican Species Orchids in the San Diego area. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We have to thank members of the Species Group and Conservation Committee for the lead on this months guest speaker, Ron Parsons. Ron is from the San Francisco area where he has cultivated an interest in species orchids and conservation of orchids in the wild. Everyone who has seen his orchid photographs has been very impressed with the quality of the photos, and I hear that he is very knowledgeable and a master in presentation interest. Ron has been fascinated with orchids for 24 years and has been growing almost nothing but species for 20 years. He belongs to the San Francisco Orchid Society and The Orchid Society of California. He has been photographing orchids for 17 years and also photographs many other plant families, with an affinity for California wildflowers. Many of his photos have been published in magazines and books. He grows his orchids mostly under lights and in an unheated greenhouse. He has traveled to Mexico and several Central American countries to collect and photograph orchids. In keeping with the spirit of the species presentation, Andy Phillips of Andys Orchids will provide the plants for our Plant Opportunity Table. This should be another great treat because of the range and diversity Andy has in his stock. He provides well-grown, unusual plants and each one has a tag telling you what conditions it likes. One visit to Andys Orchids and you can easily believe that Andy is the biggest species grower in the U.S.and probably North America. All this right here in our own back yard! Any member is welcome to join us for the Speakers Dinner just before the Meeting. The location will be somewhere nice, in the mid-priced range. Call Ben Machado, 660-9870, if you would like to participate. Dear Orchid Friends, Can you believe September is already here?? Time for an orchid show! Check out the big Del Mar International Orchid Fair later this month at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Orchid displays and LOTS of vendors! Enter your fall-blooming beauties and win awards in ribbon, AOS, and CSA judging. After all the excitement at the last few meetings with Harry Tolens huge reed stem Epidendrums, Anna Majevskis came up with the idea of a get-together and swap for members who grow Epis. Wouldnt you like to have one in all sizes and colors? Anna would, too, and has a very large collection, so give her a call at (619) 462-9866. Our orchid community has lost two great friends recently. This past week, Pat Worthington of Laguna Beach passed away. The cause was pancreatic cancer. He and his wife, Ginny, have generously given such enormous service for numerous Societies -- as AOS judges, exceptional species growers, authors, show committee leaders and educators. Pat will be deeply missed. Earlier this year, Don Herman of Las Crescenta, CA passed away. He served as President of the AOS, managing editor of Orchid Digest, was guest speaker at our meetings on several occasions, and he judged at many of our big shows. Please let me hear what subjects you would like to see in the newsletter. Do you like the newsletter as it is? Got some ideas? Catch me at the meeting, call me or send me an e-mailyour suggestions are most welcome! Sincerely,
Conservation Corner by Ron Kaufmann The foremost mission of many conservation efforts worldwide is to stop, or at least to slow down, the loss of biodiversity. This word is often simply defined as the number of species plants and animals living within a particular area. In reality, the real meaning of biodiversity is more deep and complex. Biodiversity is made up of (1) habitat diversity (2) species diversity and (3) genetic diversity. Habitat diversity is reflected in variations in elevation, water sources, types of soils and vegetation, temperature, etc. San Diego county, for example, has a much higher habitat diversity than central Nevada. Areas with high habitat variations can provide homes for more types of living things. Converting half of San Diego county to agriculture would cause the loss of many more plants and animals than doing the same thing to an area of the same size in central Nevada. Species diversity can be thought of in terms of richness, the number of species present within an area, and eveness, the way the organisms are distributed. A more even distribution means higher diversity. Two identical areas may each contain 50 species, but the one where each species is 2% of the total is more diverse than the area where one species makes up 50% of the total and the other 49 species are 1% each. Genetic diversity means how much variability there is in the gene pool. Two populations of the same species and size may be very different in their DNA. The people in your family should be less diverse genetically than a group the same size randomly picked from the orchid society! Now that we know more its meaning, why is it essential that we guard and conserve all this diversity? We have enormous, uncountable future wealth in all these unique plants and animals. From a practical point of view, extinction of a species (and its genes) can mean that useful pharmaceuticals and industrial materials are lost to us forever. Almost every day we read about new drugs, reagents or cancer treatments that were first identified in living creatures, and many more are possible. Also, highly diverse areas are more productive and more resistant to drought, disease, invasion by weeds and pests, etc. They recover more quickly after fires. Finally, there is an intangible value which we, as orchid growers, appreciate--the fascinating beauty and endless variety of Natures creations. The world would be a much poorer place without Laelia purpurata or Paphiopedilum armeniacum. Meet a Member: Duncan Werth We all probably remember our first meaningful encounter with orchids. For Duncan, it was during a trip to San Francisco when he saw a blooming Phalenopsis, and fell in love. His first orchid was a $5.00 hybrid Dendrobium in a mesh bag. Then came Cymbidiums, which he still grows outside in his yard and a covered GH on Point Loma, along with 60 to 70 Laelias and Cattleyas. He is the orchid grower at home, although his wife, Su, enjoys the blooms, and is "in charge" of one plant in the house. Duncan says he has always been interested in computers, and likes to look up information about hobbies on the Internet. He realized that a web page for the SDCOS might be a good way for local orchidophiles to communicate with each other. He started learning HTML computerese, and has since spent well over 100 hours completing the site. The best part of being WebMaster, he says, is getting feedback from members. At our last meeting he was pleasantly surprised to meet a new member who said she had just found out about our meeting by reading the SDCOS web page! While Duncan, 30, is our intrepid WebMaster by night, by day he is a mild-mannered tour bus driver and guide at the San Diego Zoo, where he has worked for 10 years. He is also interested in photography, and now brings a digital camera to shows and meetings. He can store 10-20 pictures on a floppy disk, and download them directly onto the web page the same day. Duncan has been a member of the SDCOS for 3 years, and began serving a term as Director for the Society this summer. Get "Caught
Up" in our Web Page! Imagine being able to read the latest issue of this Newsletter find out about all our Society activities for the whole year learn how to grow all kinds of orchids outside in San Diego browse for and buy orchid books at a nice discount...discover links to other orchid societies and discussion lists page through a colorful orchid photo gallery and locate local nurseries and suppliers. All at the touch of onewell, OK, of severalbuttons. Now you can! Fellow member Duncan Werth has created our Societys Home Page on the Internet. Here are the departments youll find when you log on to the SDCOS Home Page address: MAIN PAGE NEWSLETTER: the latest issue BOOKSTORE: Save 30% on orchid books & 15% more goes to SDCOS. VENDORS: Local nurseries and suppliers GALLERY: Photos of shows, special events and members blooming orchids, plus a tour of the orchid display at the San Diego Zoo. CULTURE: AOS and SDCOS culture sheets & tips from members ARTICLES: authored by our members and guest speakers LINKS: to other Orchid sites, discussion groups MEETINGS: Schedule for the year, plus a map to Room 101. SHOWS: Calendar for upcoming shows / sales in Southern California OUTDOOR ORCHIDS: what grows well in San Diego CONSERVATION: SDCOS current projects E-MAIL: send Duncan your comments, ideas, orchid photos So, next time you are at your computer, check out our Societys web site. Whether you are new to the area, at home or travelling afar, the SDCOS Home Page helps us all to keep in touch. ORCHID TALK ..By ESTHER SIVILA Are you ready for the pronunciation of the orchid names? Before we start, I would like to tell you that these are not my own work. These are topics that fascinated me when I became interested in orchids. The topic that I am going to share with you is a compilation of topics that came from different books that I have read. This is intended for amateurs like me who lack a scientific background. It is presented with the hope that it will give you the courage to use the botanical names every time you talk about your orchids, rather than their common names (ie. dancing lady, moth orchid, etc.). When you do, the person talking to you could think that you know a lot about orchids he! he! he! The words used in describing orchids or naming orchids mostly came from the Greek and Latin languages. The way the authors wrote their books (Glossary), they claimed their way of pronouncing the words are not accurate as in the dictionary, for there are national, regional and individual differences. When I asked the experts, I was told that because of the many languages and so many changes, - there is no "one right way" of pronouncing the words. There will be several variations; each of which is equally correct, although one may be more common in one place than another. To guide us in the pronunciation, I will share with you the KEY TO PRONUNCIATION from the AOS: An Orchidists Glossary. KEY TO PRONUNCIATION For the most part, variation in pronunciation is based on the many shades of sound to be found in vowels. Vowels are listed first, followed by a few consonants. I think there should be little difficulty in sounding the syllables if we follow this guide.
We practice sounding these key words and hopefully when we start the Glossary of Orchid Names, we will all be learning together and find that talking about orchids can be as much fun as growing them. Till the next issue. Dates to Remember September 4, 9:00 am September 7, 7:30 pm September 10, 7:30 pm September 14, 7:00 pm September 15 September 21, 7:00 pm September 25 and 26 Upcoming Shows October 29, 30 and 31 Fragrant Orchids Orchids appeal to us in so many different ways. They challenge the growers art and provide visual inspiration. The varied perfumes of orchids can stir emotions, inducing a vivid recall of a past scene related to a particular fragrance. We first relate orchid fragrances to substances with which we are already familiar such as rose, hyacinth, jasmine or cinnamon. With more sampling experience and with a good nose, we begin to relate scents to particular orchids or groups of orchids. Our sense of smell is more strongly linked to emotion than any other of our senses. A scent memory can be linked to a visual image such as a pleasant social event, a visit to a friends greenhouse or to an image of a particular flower. Once we smell a particular fragrance, the signal it invokes may be remembered for a very long time. I grow many colorful orchids but the ones that appeal to me most are those with fragrance. The spicy fragrance of Encyclia radiata conjures up visions of summers warmth even in the midst of winter. A delicate rose-scented Cattleya makes me smile with happy memories of the same plant blooming for the first time and capturing a 1st prize ribbon at a show. Everyone will have their favorite fragrances and memories that emerge in response to the scents. Not all orchids are strongly scented and not all appeal equally. Some orchids have a musty or mushroomy smell that may appeal to pollinators but not to the human nose. To some persons, heavy fragrance or a particular scent can be overwhelming while to others the scent is not at all bothersome or even not detectable. The ability to detect fragrance has been shown to diminish as we age. Fragrance intensity can vary with temperature, the time of day and with humidity. All these factors affect production and volatility of the fragrance components. Some orchids such as Epidendrum difforme are moderately fragrant throughout the day with a peak at night while others such as Epi. falcatum change fragrance quality and intensity as the day progresses from the delicate, haunting scent of jasmine in morning to a stronger note of Easter lilies or narcissus in the afternoon. Orchid scent is associated with the reproductive process. Scented flowers attract specific pollinators. In cultivation, and with humans performing the pollinator role, we might easily skew the evolutionary process and produce less scented, differently scented or even unscented offspring after several generations of inbreeding. Here is yet another aspect to be considered when maintaining species which might eventually be used to re-populate a natural habitat. When building a collection of scented orchids, select plants suited to your growing conditions and with blooms that are fragrant when you are there to enjoy them. A most pleasant task awaits you. You can sniff, savor and enjoy many different orchid scents until you find the ones which appeal especially to you. The specific epithet sometimes promises what an orchid can deliver. The epithets ambrosia, aromatica, fragrans, and odorata imply fragrance in abundance. When you choose an orchid you really like, you will be more than willing to accept the challenge to grow it well. After all, the reward will be flowers and the marvelous fragrance. Some fragrant orchids for a brightly lit windowsill or greenhouse are: Sweet jasmine-scented Neofinetia
falcata Marilyn H.S. Light My Favorite Orchids Encyclia radiata I was looking at the list of plants I have written about and noticed there was only one Encyclia! Being a confirmed Encyclia nut I figured it was time to rectify the situation. For this month I have chosen a very lovely plant to share with you, Encyclia radiata. This plant grows in Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. It occurs from near sea level to 6000 feet. This wide range makes it very adaptable to greenhouse and garden growing conditions. It is one of the orchids I can grow outside. Pine forests, pine-oak forests, and tropical evergreen forests are typical habitats. One thing I really like about this plant is its clear, light green pseudobulbs and leaves. It is very pleasing even when not in bloom.The pseudobulbs average 6 inches in height and the 2 to 4 terminal leaves are about 8 inches long. They arch out in a very pleasing manner. The 10 inch infloresence carries 4 to 12 cream colored flowers. The 1 inch flowers are held with their lip facing upward. The flat lip usually carries 3 purplish-red lines down the center with other lines on the side lobes of the lip. The flowers are strongly fragrant. I usually grow Encyclia radiata in a pot in my regular mix of equal parts fine fir bark, charcoal, and perlite. Im sure it would also do well mounted. It normally sends out two leads from each growth. In a very short time one has a pot full of flowering growths! It is really spectacular when flowered like this. Try a few of these and youll never go back to Phalaenopsis again! Orchid Checklist
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ADVERTISERS -
ORGANIZATIONS, ANY SOCIETY OFFICERS - ETC. If you have monthly meetings or announcements related to orchids make sure the information gets to me by the SECOND TUESDAY of each month for publishing in the next newsletter. Rebecca Lawrence, Editor |
San Diego County
Orchid Society
~~ Established in 1947 ~~
OUR MISSION:
To promote interest in orchids and their cultivation, to
educate by exchanging information and experiences related
to successful orchid culture, and to support the
conservation of orchids in the wild.
President: Fred Weber 619-982-9128
First Vice President: Ben Machado
619-660-9870
Second Vice President: Gary Pierwola
619-426-9108
Secretary Siv Garrod: 619-483-8787
Treasurer: Edith Galvan
619-441-7503
Directors:
1997 to 2000 Ann Tuskes 619-274-5829
1998 to 2001 Cindy Hill 619-481-5782
1999 to 2002 Duncan Werth 619-222-2072
Director at Large: (Past President) Bud
Close 619-444-8839
Parliamentarian: Alma Marosz
619-583-0334
Refreshments: Joan Close, Alma Marosz,
Peggy Swanson, Pat Tolen
Librarian: Ron Velarde 619-562-7246
Historian: Ben Hardy 619-448-0659
Plant Opportunity Table: Jim Reid
619-223-3961
William Roley, Rudy Pfeiffer
Hospitality: Esther Sivila, Naty Ritua
Floral Association Representative: Lynn
Beyerle 619-454-4953
Botanical Fnd. and Mini-Show Representative:
Bob Hodges 619-461-4915
Conservation Committee: Peter Tobias
760-753-3173
Membership Committee and Name Badges:
Vivian Follmer 619-538-6187
Newsletter Editor: Rebecca Lawrence
760-943-8860
Newsletter Distribution: Genie Hammond
619-426-6831
Newsletter Advertising: Cindy Hill
619-481-5782
Webmaster: Duncan Werth 619-222-2072
These are many of the
hard-working volunteers that keep our Society running.
There are many others with no titles that help these
folks make it happen. You are invited to help. Ask any of
these people how.
Monthly meetings are held the First Tuesday of
each month at Casa del Prado in Balboa Park.
You do not need to be a member to attend these meetings.
Admission is free. Anyone is welcome!
Novice Class: 6:30 p.m. Room 104
General Meeting: 7:30 p.m. Room 101
You are invited to share your interest in growing orchids
through: monthly meetings with slide shows, guest
speakers and refreshments, our Newsletter, mini-shows,
Annual Spring Show, a Christmas party, plant raffles, and
camaraderie with other hobbyists as well as commercial
growers, just by becoming a Society member.
To join our Society, fill out this form, mail it with
your check (payable to SDCOS), and come to the next
meeting. Single $10.00 / Dual $12.50. Membership runs
from July 1 to June 30 (1/2 price after January
1).
Name____________________________________________
Street Address ________________________________________
City,
State________________________________________________
Zip______________________
Phone/Fax
____________________________________________________
E-mail_________________________________
Mail to: Vivian Follmer, 13127 Roundup, San Diego, CA
92129. Phone: 619-538-6187, E-mail: LFollmer@aol.com
Correspondence to the Society goes to: SDCOS, P.O. Box
161020, San Diego, CA 92176