1

Cape Fear Orchid Society

JUNE 2015

CFOS 2015 Speakers JULY 15 TBA AUG. 12 Tim Culbertson - Paphiopedilums SEPT. 16 Clark Riley OCT. 14 TBA NOV. 11 TBA DEC. 9 Holiday Meeting Note: As program subjects for speakers are announced, they will be reported here. When speakers do not bring plants, members can sell their own. The CFOS/Member split is 20/80 from the proceeds of the sale.

Meeting date:

June 10

Arboretum

7 pm

Program:

Speakers: Robert Fuchs Mike Coronado RF Orchids “What’s in a Name?”

(Vanda plants) (Selling plants!)

ROBERT FUCHS

Anecdotes from Ann: Our orchid society consists of many newcomers to the world of orchids. We grow the orchids in our house on windowsills and some of us set the orchids outside in the summer. Only a few mem-bers have greenhouses. Vandas have appeared to be unapproachable for many of us to grow. We want to hear about their culture … how we can grow them and make them bloom. Although nomenclature is a part of the subject matter for our June speaker, this subject is still foreign to many. While this talk will surely be interesting, we asked the speakers to humor us, who are craving for knowledge of culture. We hope we can get the encouragement we need to move into the Vanda realm of orchid growing. Our speakers will have orchids for sale which they describe as “gorgeous!” Many of the plants are large, but there are plenty of orchids in this group that are manageable without a greenhouse. The speakers Do Not have a list from which you can pre-order. Hope to see you at the meeting next week!

Ann Gallman, President

910-363-4027

ann.gallman@gmail.com

2

June Speaker Bio: Robert Fuchs

Robert Fuchs is a third-generation orchid grower, and president of R.F.

Orchids, Inc., in Homestead, Florida, USA. The nursery was founded in

1970. In 1984, R.F. Orchids’ Vanda Deva ‘Robert’ AM/AOS-SM/11WOC

was named the Grand Champion of the 11th World Orchid Conference in

Miami. A recognized expert on vandaceous orchids, Robert presents lec-

tures to audiences around the world, and his articles have been published

in many prestigious publications. Robert is an accredited American Orchid Society Judge, past president

of the South Florida Orchid Society, life member of the AOS, and was

President of the 19th World Orchid Conference, in 2008. He was inducted

into the Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2013, the first orchid grower

to be so honored. In 2014, the AOS appointed him as a Trustee of the

World Orchid Conference Trust. Bob’s topic is a program titled “What's in a Name?", which is about

the recent nomenclature changes for Vanda relatives, and is essentially

the program he gave as a keynote address at the recent 21st World Or-

chid Conference in South Africa. It covers an overview of vandaceous

intergeneric hybridizing and what the name changes mean for that. Al-

though it's about "nomenclature", it's not a technical program. He will

combine culture with growing. Bob will have plants for sale which he

describes as “gorgeous.” He said that there will be a combination of

plants for greenhouses and plants for windowsill growers, some bloom-

ing. He does not have plants for pre-order on a websie.

This article came from the Sandhills Orchid

Society newsletter this month. It looks good! Upcoming Events:

On July 18th, Thomas Mirenda, the Orchid Col-

lection Specialist at the Smithsonian Institute in

Washington DC, will be the guest speaker at the

Carolina’s Judging Center.

Mr. Mirenda has been at the Smithsonian for the

last ten years. He also writes regular columns for

Orchids, the AOS magazine. He is an outstanding

speaker with expertise in multiple genera. All soci-

ety members are invited to hear this outstanding

speaker and to stay to observe the monthly judg-

ing. Mr. Mirenda’s program will begin at 10:30

AM. Lunch will be potluck at 12:00 and judging

will begin at 1:00 at the Garden Council Building,

4301A Lawndale Dr. in Greensboro. Y’all Come!

[His articles in Orchids are excellent. The June

issue of this magazine is very informational!]

Meeting Hours

Our May meeting ran longer than planned. Sometimes this happens due to setting up the technical equipment and the length of our speaker’s presen-tation. We will try to remedy that in the future. We will try to start promptly at 7 and will call a halt to activities at 9 pm. We have half a dozen or more members who come from a distance. We have people who stay to clean up. Help us to do this. Come a little early if you want to look at plants for sale. Be ready to resume after break. This will make all of us happy!

3

THE SHOW TABLE WINNERS ON MAY 13, 2015

Dendrobium, Laelia Cattleya Standards

Best Standard Size Best

Den. Farmeri

‘April Tobiassen’ owned by Steve & Karen Tobiassen

Best Standard Size Second

Lc. Bryan Wheeler

‘Grandson’ owned by

Fritz Rohde

Tom Sampliner,

speaker, inspecting

an orchid.

STANDARDS

Best Standard: Continuing in his winning ways, Steve exhibited another

specimen size species, Dendrobium farmeri ‘April Tobias-

sen’, named after his daughter. This is a popular species

which has pendant canes with numerous flowers on pendant

spikes, blooming on non-deciduous canes. (That should

also indicate that there is no need to have a drying out period

for this plant.) The crystalline white flowers have intense

gold (sulfur yellow) throats in the lips, the distinguishing

characteristic of this species. This plant is large enough that

that it could tip the container over. This plant is in a differ-

ent section of the Dendrobs than we have been seeing at

most meetings.

Dendrobiums are a huge species, occurring in many parts

of the world (but not the Americas) and this species is in the

Section Callista (also called Densiflora) according to the

Dendrobium experts. Howard Wood, M.D., who is also a

botanist and author of the definitive book, “The Dendrobi-

ums,” publ. 2006, discusses the distribution, phylogeny, and

12 different sections; but he has also studied the DNA rela-

tions, rather than using just physical characteristics, a new

approach since about the late 70s to revise some of the clas-

sifications and sections. The Callista Section includes other

popular species, such as D. thyrsiflorum, amabile, chryo-

toxum, and jenkensii. D. chrysotoxum is the only species

mentioned which is solid gold color; all the others are basi-

cally white with a gold lip. So you can look for one of these

if you cannot find a D. farmeri to purchase. I think it would

be really hard to repot a big plant like this, but (hint) let’s

hope when Steve ever does that he will bring some divisions

to share with ( i.e. sell to ) club members.

By Carol Shores

Second to Best Standard: Fritz’s Lc. Bryan Wheeler ‘Grandson’ is

named after a grandson. The flowers of this

plant are gorgeous and represent the very

best to be found (so far as I am concerned) in

lavender splash petal hybrid with dark lip,

corsage-type Cattleya. The size is large, but

not oppressive, the texture is great and the

arrangement/spacing on the spike is excel-

lent. What more could you ask for in a Catt-

leya? Here a picture is worth a thousand

words.

Please note:

The presence of a clonal name indicates a

specific plant or a cross, so that if that partic-

ular plant is divided, the clonal name also

goes on the label. Assignment of clonal

names is a requirement in the even that if/

when a plant receives an American Orchid

Society Award, then the plant of that cross

will always be distinguished from all other

plants of that same cross. Once a clonal

name has been established, the next owner of

a piece of that plant is not at the liberty to

change the name.

4

THE SHOW TABLE WINNERS ON MAY 13, 2015

Sediria, Ascofinetia Minis

Best Miniature Size Best Sediria japonica owned by Jim Lanier

Best Miniature Size Second

Ascf. Cherry

Blossom ‘Carmela’ owned by

Gail Taylor

By Carol Shores

Best Miniature: Jim’s plant, Sediria japonica, is another one of his plants

grown on a ‘stick” or on a section of a branch of some sort.

This plant with demure purple and white flowers is native to

sub-tropical Japan and parts of Asia and is very popular

there. It is reported to be fragrant. Jim’s plant looks almost

like a miniature Phallie, and the plant itself is growing pen-

dant, which is the way these plants will grow in nature.

The pendant habitat permits water to drain out of the

crown quickly, thus avoiding the plague of crown rot. Jim

seems to like branches better than tree fern slabs which

would make them more difficult to repot if needed. Perhaps

the easier way is to attach another “branch” just next to the

original and let the plant grow over to it, and then when es-

tablished, separate the two like Siamese twins.

A popular source of plants established on a “stick” is

Andy’s Orchids in California. Sediria japonica is in the

Vanda related alliance, and has been hybridized with sever-

al Phal. Species, Doritis, Neofinetia, and Ascocenda to

name a few. So far I haven’t seen many of these as listed

for sale. It seems they would be interesting to investigate.

(The close up of Sediria japonica is from my program,

AOS Orchids Plus, with permission. My own pictures were

not good enough to publish.)

Second to Best Mini:

Gail’s plant, Ascf. Cherry

Blossom ‘Carmela’ is one

which she purchased years

ago, before she was even a

club member. During our

seedling sale, I managed to

sell several sets of seed-

lings to non-club members

in the hopes of getting

them to join the club…. It

eventually worked for

Gail.

Included is a picture of

her with the plant, in my

yard, as she was not able

to attend the meeting, so I

brought it instead.

M

I

N

I

S

5

CFOS Show Table Winners May 2015

Best in Show Table - Standard Size Plants (over 6 inches tall or wide)

Plant Owner

Standard Size Best – Den. Farmeri ‘April Tobiassen’ Steve & Karen Tobiassen

Standard Size Second -. Lc Bryan Wheeler ‘Grandson’ Fritz Rohde

Class Winners - Standard Size Cattleya

First Lc Bryan Wheeler ‘Grandson’ Fritz Rohde Second Rhyn. Digbyana x Rhyn. Kuwale Steve & Karen Tobiassen

‘Gem Orchids’ Dendrobium

First Den. Farmeri ‘April Tobiassen’ Steve & Karen Tobiassen Second Den. Yellow Song Canary Steve & Karen Tobiassen

Encyclia/Epidendrum

First Ground Orchid (FLA) Sam Lipscomb

Paphiopedilum/Phrags

First Paph. Kolopakingii x Stoneii Steve & Karen Tobiassen

Second Paph. Pinnochio Jan Denney

Phalaenopsis

First Phal. “N.O.I.D.” Jim Lanier

Second Phal. N.O.I.D. Cream w spots Carol Shores

Best in Show Table - Miniature Size Plants ( under 6 inches wide or tall)

Plant Owner

Miniature Size Best Sediria japonica Jim Lanier

Miniature Size Second Ascofinetia Cherry Blossom ‘Carmela’ Gail Taylor

Class Winners - Miniature Size

Mini Dendrobium

First Den. Micro Chip Sam Lipscomb

Mini Phal

First Phal. . parishii Ann Gallman

Neofinetia

First Sediria japonica Jim Lanier

Second Ascf. Cherry Blossom ‘Carmela’ Gail Taylor

Tolumnia

First Tolumnia N.O.I.D. Pam Layne

Second Tolumnia N.O.I.D. Sam Lipscomb

Other Mini

First Leptotes bicolor Sam Lipscomb

Show Table results tabulated and reported each month by Jane Ranney

Only categories with entries listed in results

6

Speaker Notes: Tom Sampliner—Orchids of Borneo

Tom is a specialist in his knowledge of the country of Borneo. His presentation was an interesting trave-logue of this country which he likes very much. He does not have a botanical degree and calls himself a Freelance Naturalist. Borneo is a long country, south of the Philipines, north of Indonesia, east of Malaysia. It is the third largest island in the world and the largest in Asia. It is divided among three countries: Malaysia, Indonesia. and the Sultanate of Brunei. It is known for it creatures, mainly Orangutans and gibbons. The Orangutans are peaceful, tree dwellers and live only in natural surroundings in Borneo and Sumatra. They are fruit eaters, about 5 feet tall, 220 pounds. Females have a baby every 7-8 years. Elephants, leopards, rhinos, dayak fruit bats, and many insects roam. Bearded pigs run in the man-groves. Frogs are plentiful. The white lip frog and a toad called a “sticky frog.” Several types of lizards, including the angle headed lizard. And the Bornean pit viper! And spiders! The David Bowie spider and the jumping spider which captures and eats other spiders! A birdwing butterfly lives there but is very hard to photograph. They move and fly like swallows. Other areas are home to pigmy elephants, hornbills, crested serpent eagles, kingfishers, Trogons, lovely brightly colored birds. Anhinga like birds. Brown wood owls. Black squirrels. The highest peak in this mountainous country is Mt. Kinabalu. Weathered rocks create a modern design in the formations which look like Mother Nature had taught an art class. Rain is common in the country. Monsoons occur from October to March. The rainforests are over 130 million years old. With all that mois-ture and tropical temperatures, the island is full of flowering plants. Borneo has two main capital cities which have an oriental flavor, winding side streets, and ancient tem-ples. It’s rivers host cruises in small boats, poled through the waters. Forests are locations of pitcher plants and highly diverse collections of orchids. At least 1700 species are found there and some are found only in Borneo. In the Bako National Forest, Tom found Calanthe orchids. These terrestrial orchids are found in most tropical areas, but mostly in Southeast Asia. In river areas, Tom found tropical pitcher plants of the genus Nepenthes. These plants have an elongated structure designed to trap insects. He said some of them are big enough to trap small rodents. Some types have a thick white collar that is edible to termites. He visited the Borneo highlands, where a tropical upland forest exists containing many flowering plants and shrubs. In the evening, a mist rolls into the hills and this provides moisture for the many plants that live there. Among them are the Calanthe triplicatas and the sympodial epiphyte Coelogyne orchid whose main center is in Borneo. Tom took his life in his hands to photograph a Helmet Orchid, Corybas orchid. He found it up on a very steep and difficult ridge. He was using a tripod and hanging over the ridge with his legs dangling in the air. The Helmet orchid has a dorsal sepal which arches over the labellum. On the way to find this orchid, he saw a lot of different Jewel orchids. Bamboo orchids grow there. He says they can be aggressive and grow in soil. The flower is a sweet, pinky purple orchid and is apparently prolific when it grows in the proper climate. Some plant places in Wil-mington carry that orchid. Tom visited the Mulu National Forest which is famous for its caves. The caves are home to twenty-seven species of bats! They come out at dusk and whirl and swirl around in the sky as they eat the bugs that fly n the air. In the morning, they return to their homes and their excrement helps to create the mineral for-mations in the caves. Tom’s visit to Mt. Kinabalu revealed beautiful vistas and sloped terraces for agriculture. He found beauti-ful moths and a flying lizard. One type of Nepenthes (pitcher plant) is the largest and can easily have a ro-dent drown in it. He found peach colored Coelogynes. They can measure up to three feet across and can smell like rotting meat. You can tell the pollinator by the color f the plant and then determine the odor. A maroon color smells like rotting meat. Tom found some other orchids. Among them, Paph. loweii and Paph. rothschildianum known as the Gold of Kinabalu. This Paph is unique in that it holds its petals almost horizontally. He found several Bulbophyllums, one is Bulbo lobbii. He also found Phalaenopsis gigantea, a native of Borneo. Tom’s tour must have been fantastic! But, you certainly would have to be seriously in love with nature and roughing it to do this trip!

7

CFOS Meeting Notes from May 13, 2015 *Pesident Ann Gallman opened the meeting

at 7:14 and read a card from April speaker Jeff McCartney letting us know how much he en-joyed speaking at our club and touring Wilming-ton with his Cape Fear Orchid Society guides. *On June 10 Robert Fuchs, who specializes in Vandas will be speaking. The speakers’ cooper-ative hasn’t scheduled a speaker for July, and so we will be coordinating with the Sandhills Or-chid Society to bring in a speaker. The August speaker will talk about Paphopedilums. *All members are invited to join Ann and the speaker at dinner before the meeting (usually at the Bridgetender). If you would like to join them, please call Ann. Respectfully submitted,

Linda Swanson Secretary

Food/Drinks/ Raffle

BRING LIST—JUNE! BRING LIST—JULY!

Refreshments: Refreshments:

Martha Conner Joyce Pennock

Laura Overstreet (Need another person)

Drinks: Jan Denney Drinks: Linda Swanson

Raffle Table: Raffle Table:

Do you have something to donate We have a name, but can

for this? Plant? Pots? Books? not read the info. Was it

bring them. you?

SPECIAL EVENT

Steve Arthur’s Orchid Greenhouse

Friday - Saturday

August 28th and 29th

Steve Arthur is hosting the Breezy Hill Orchid Festival at his place in South Caroli-na. The event will last from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm each day and there is a $4.00 cover charge. Orchid vendors, plant vendors, orchid talks, demonstrations, AOS Supple-

mental Judging, and BBQ lunches for sale.

Address: 23 Glasshouse Road Graniteville, SC (just off I-20) For details, sign up at Steve’s email:

stevearthurorchids@yahoo.com

Further details will come as time gets nearer.

Meeting Refreshments—PLEASE READ!

Dear Members,

We enjoy refreshments each meeting. These are pro-

vided by our members. We send out a sign up sheet

twice a year. People, often, do not remember to put

these dates on their calendar and do not let us know

that they will not be bringing. So, here is how we will

do this.

1. - Pass the sign up sheet for a 6 month list of bring-

ers.

2. - Every month the newsletter will have the current

month bringers and the following month bringers.

3. - An email will be sent a week prior to the meeting

as a reminder.

4. - Please, if you can not bring on the month on

which you have signed up, let us know in advance. All

you have to do is send a message via this email.

Many thanks!

The hungry meeting people.

PS - Would anyone like to be the chair person of the

refreshment committee? That would be super!!!

Show Table Points for 2015

Members Previous May Total

Pat Ahern 43 0 43

Charlie Barrett 18 0 18

Jan Denney 23 8 31

Marilyn Freeman 10 0 10

Ann Gallman 25 10 35

Jim Lanier 13 23 36

Pamela Layne 41 10 51

Sam Lipscomb 0 23 23

Laura Overstreet 8 0 8

Hannelore Palmer 5 0 5

Joyce Pennock 57 0 57

Anita Potts 0 5 5

Byron Price 35 0 35

Jane Ranney 25 0 25

Fritz Rohde 0 15 15

Carol Shores 87 8 95

Gail Taylor 41 15 56

Steve & Karen 170 31 201

Tobiassen

8

www.capefearorchid.org

Cape Fear Orchid Society Cape Fear Orchid Society

4288 Loblolly Cir., SE

Southport, NC 28461

Address Correction Requested

Meeting date…

JUNE 10

The Arboretum, 7 PM

6206 Oleander Dr. Wilmington Speakers: Robert Fuchs & Mike Coronado RF Orchids “What’s in a Name?”

(Vanda plants) (Selling plants!) cfosorchidsnc@gmail.com

Like us on facebook!