This is the time of year to look over your orchids and figure out if there’s some you want to clear away to make room for new ones!  Our semi-annual orchid auction is coming and it’s lots of fun!  Clean up and bring any orchids you’d like to replace, then prepare to bid!  Funds raised help pay for our Spring Orchid Show on March 8-9, 2019.

Also, plan on bringing some food to share – we enjoy a meal together before the auction begins.  So bring some food, bring some orchids, and bring some cash!

Because of the auction, there is no raffle, table judging, or Orchids 101.

Fall is here and winter’s on the way – does that make a difference in how I treat my orchids?  Do I keep fertilizing?  Do I stop watering?  If you’re wondering about any of these questions, Karl Varian has answers for you!  Karl is a long-time society member and a student judge with the Dallas Judging Center.  And, he’s been growing orchids since 1960!  After his program, there will a raffle and table judging of orchids brought by members.  Come join us!

At 2pm, Orchids 101 will meet in the greenhouse.

Are you curious about what SWROGA is and what it does?  Society member Charles Hess will explain what SWROGA (Southwest Regional Orchid Growers Assn.) is, what it does, and who are members, etc.  Charles has been a GNTOS member for 18 years, and has been raising orchids since the 1980’s.  Since retiring from Texas Instruments in 1999, he has produced over 50 watercolors of favorite orchids, and is raising funds for conservation through sales of his limited edition orchid prints.  As usual, there will be table judging for members bringing orchids to show, and a raffle open to all who come.  Join us!

Orchids 101 will be at 2pm and led by Kathi in the greenhouse.

The September program on “Growing Bulbophyllum Orchids in North Texas” will be presented by Dr. Judy Cook of Gunter, TX.  She has been a member of the Society since 2005, an accredited American Orchid Society Judge since 2002, and growing orchids for over 30 years, currently growing in her 2100 square foot greenhouse.  Bulbos are known for their “dirty socks” scent and look very different from other orchids.  Come and learn how to grow them!

Orchids 101 begins at 2pm in the greenhouse – Lorna will be talking about mini orchids and bringing orchids back inside in the Fall.

The Aug. 5 program on “Growing Novelty Phals” (phalaenopsis) will be presented by Peter Lin of Big Leaf Orchids, Southlake, TX. 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 prepare to add to your collection!

Orchids 101 will be led by Kathi in the greenhouse at 2pm before the main metting.

The July 1 program on “How to Grow Orchids in the Heat” will be presented by Dr. Dotty Woodson of D & B Orchids, Fort Worth.  She and her husband have grown and hybridized orchids since 1973, have a 3000 square foot greenhouse, and have registered many hybrids.  Dotty has presented orchid programs, written articles about orchid culture and appears each Sunday on NBC DFW Channel 5 Morning News to discuss water and landscape issues and also orchids.  Expect to learn a lot about growing orchids here in the Dallas area!
There will also be table judging for members and the raffle for all attenders after the presentation.

Orchids 101 will meet at 2pm in the greenhouse.  Lorna will be leading a discussion on fertilizing.

Our next meeting is one of two auctions we hold every year to help support our society.  We depend on our members to provide orchids and orchid-related items to sell.  Look over your orchids and see if there’s any you’d like to donate.  We also make the time even more enjoyable by bringing food to share.  This is a really fun event so plan on coming to donate some orchids and share a meal!  We start at 2:30pm.  Join us!

Reminder:  there is no plant table judging, raffle,  or Orchids 101 for this meeting.

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!