Do you have some orchids that need to be repotted but have no idea how to do that?  Join us Sunday, May 5 – some of our society members will be showing us how to repot our orchids.  They will also be talking about problems you may see as you get down and dirty with your orchids – little unwanted pests and diseases that they may have.  Take a good look through your orchids and bring questions! (Please do not bring diseased plants – like with people, pests and diseases can spread to other orchids.)  As usual, there will be the plant raffle after the program.

Orchids 101 will be in the greenhouse starting at 2pm, before the society meeting.

Just a reminder that our June meeting will be the first of our two annual auctions (the other one will be in December).  Funds from the auctions go towards supporting our shows each year in the Spring.  So be looking through your collections for orchids you might be willing to donate.  Also after this month’s program, you may decide to repot and divide one or more of your orchids – keep one and donate the other!  Our auctions depend on the generous donations from our members.  Thank you!

To prepare for our orchid show coming up Friday and Saturday, March 9 & 10 at the Richardson Civic Center, Linda Horton will be talking about “Preparing Your Orchids for a Show”.  She’ll be showing us how to prepare our plants for an show. Linda is a native Texan, born in Plano when it was a little farming community. She was an RN for over 40 years, mostly in Emergency Nursing. She is an American Orchid Society accredited judge and enjoys attending out of town shows. She has been growing orchids for over 25 years.

Orchids 101 will be at 2:00pm, led by Kathi McKenzie.

The program will be “Growing Paphiopedilum with Phalaenopsis”, presented by orchid enthusiast Peter Lin of Big Leaf Orchids, in Southlake, TX.  We will look at the similarities and challenges of growing both Paphiopedilum and Phalaenopsis in the same environment and also look at which Paphiopedilum do better in North Texas. Peter has been growing orchids for over 30 years, beginning in Taiwan at the age of 10. After working in the IT industry for 12 years, he expanded his collection, began hybridizing, and established a family owned mail-order operation. Big Leaf Orchids specializes in Phalaenopsis with emphasis on novelties, including flowers that are fragrant, waxy and multi-colored.  Peter will be bringing orchids to sell, so bring some mad money!

Orchids 101 will have Lorna leading at 2pm – the topic will be on recording and organizing your orchid collection.

The January program on “World Orchid Congress 2017 Ecuador” will be presented by Emily Quinn, a 20-year society member.  Emily was introduced to orchids when she went to the now closed Orchids and Ferns in Houston.  She purchased ferns and orchids – the ferns died, the orchids didn’t!  She serves as training coordinator for the American Orchid Society Dallas Judging Center where she has been an accredited judge for over seven years.

Orchids 101 begins at 2pm with Kathi presenting the program.

This month, we will have our Semi-Annual Auction.  Bring one or more plants or divisions you don’t want to keep, then get a paddle and bid!  You can also bring collectibles or any orchid related item.  We also  invite people to bring some food to share in a potluck meal before the auction – finger foods, veggies, desserts, etc.  This is one of our two fund raising events for the society, so bring your bucks, along w/ some food and orchids, and get ready raise some money for the society! Auction and Potluck start at 2:30pm. 

There will be no 101 class or table judging due to the auction.

CYMBIDIUMS FOR TEXAS

Jim lives in Sherman with his wife, Barbara. He has been growing orchids for 50 years (+/-) in California , Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, Virginia, and of course, Texas.

He is a 45-year member of the American Orchid Society, and an accredited judge. He grows in greenhouses, and outside in the summer.

His collection contains a wide variety of genera, but heavy on the cattleya and dendrobium side. He grows many cymbidiums, some of which actually bloom.

He is three-times retired, and now works at Lowe’s garden center, to keep him off the streets and out of
honky-tonks. It also helps fund his orchid addiction.

Click here for more information that can be found in our October Newsletter!