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!

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.