An AOS affiliated society serving the community since 1958

 

 

Hello and Greetings,

 

On July 12, 2019 starting at 6:00PM, the Napa Valley Orchid Society will host Mr. George Vasquez and his discussion regarding the design and building of large orchid displays at top-level orchid shows such as the Santa Barbara Orchid Show, and sometimes events around the world.  Some photos of his work can be found below..  The July meeting will take place at the Las Flores Community Center located at 4300 Linda Vista Ave in Napa (see map below).

 

July highlights:

Featured Speaker George Vasquez
   
Opportunity Table Mary Nisbet of California Orchids
   
BBQ / Potluck
  

 

  

If you are a member of another orchid society, please invite your friends to hear what Mr. Vasquez has to say regarding the construction and process of building these marvellous displays.

 

Featured Speaker

 

George Vasquez is the recently retired owner of the internationally known Zuma Canyon Orchids, a family business where his career spanned 46 years. Zuma Canyon Orchids has received over 600 American Orchid Society awards and 20 Royal Horticultural Society awards including the prestigious Westonbirt Orchid Medal in 1985. Now a judge emeritus, George Vasquez has been a certified American Orchid Society judge for more than 40 years and has served on various American Orchid Society committees for the past 17 years. He has attended 7 World Orchid Conferences, receiving 20 medels and awards, and has presented papers at five of them. In addition, he has been invited to present programs on Phalaenopsis orchids to commercial Dutch growers, to the Japan Orchid Growers Association at the Japan Grand Prix International Orchid Show, and to the Nagoya Orchid Growers Association. His orchids have received numerous awards nationally, internationally, and at past Santa Barbara International Orchid Shows and he is delighted to return this year as a display judge.

 

 

The August meeting of the Napa Valley Orchid Society will focus on YOU and YOUR GROWING AREA and YOUR ORCHIDS IN BLOOM!  We just need pictures "showing off" how you grow your orchids and please include any pictures of orchids in bloom.  Send those pictures to  Karen Olson at miamiata@hotmail.com

This is open to the public as all NVOS meetings are and will feature a panel discussion covering various topics related to orchids, how members of the society grow orchids and so much more.  Invite your friends and join us for an evening dedicated to orchi culture!

 

The Annual Napa Valley Orchid Society Show and Sale - October 5th and 6th, 2019 at the Las Flores Community Center located at 4300 Linda Vista Ave in Napa (see map below).

 

Show and Tell - June 2019

 

If blooming an orchid is easy, then everybody would be doing it.  The Napa Valley Show and Tell table, allows for all members, no matter the skill level, to bring in and show off their pride and joy - a orchid in bloom, be it fancy like Stuart's "Octopus Orchid", or eye-candy like all the others.

 

A randomly picked anonymous judge has the tough choice to pick the best 3 and an optional honorable mention.  Scores are kept throughout the year and the one who finishes 2019 with the highest accumulated score earns the Mel Ditmer Trophy recognizing their accomplishment.

 

An orchid left at home cannot be bragged about - so be proud, bring it in, and let your friends admire you and your orchid.

 

 

Congratulations to  Judith Johnson  for her first place recognition for her Laelia Pacavia ( Cattleya purpurata (1855) × Cattleya tenebrosa (2006) ).   I am guessing that both parents are now known as Laelia as well.  Those confusing taxonomists!

A primary hybrid mating two popular Laelia (Cattleya) species to produce large, shapely and richly colored art shade fragrant flowers !  This particular mating of the two species will be a more compact grower due to the pollen parent, L. tenebrosa ‘Rainforest’ FCC/AOS, and it flowers from late spring to early summer, producing 4-7 flowers per inflorescence.  Very temperature tolerant, from hot to cold, it can be grown outdoors in frost free areas.  Highly Recommended ! 
 
 
Sources:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Second Place for for June 2019 goes to Don Luvisi for his "moth orchid" ( Phalaenopsis ) of no name.  
 
 
Phans,  I mean fans of the Phalaenopsis will be interested in a future write-up about the Phalaenopsis.  Not that Don needs any help with this second beauty recognized by that anonymous judge for as many months in a row.
 
I will also be doing a discussion on Phalaenopsis and acclimating them to hydroponics, as well as using mini-phals for a fertilizer experiment.
 
For those new to orchids, check the following links out for a complete introduction to the very common and popular bait traps.  Once you go Phal, there is no turning back!
 
 
Sources:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third Place for for June 2019 goes to Stuart Goldie for his Encyclia phoenicea Nueman ( Encyclia phoenicum  ( -->  Encyclia phoenicea ).  
 
 
Common Name Phoenician Encyclia - Chocolate Orchid - In Cuba - Flor de San Pedro - Orquedea Vainilla - Orquedea de chocolate .
 
 
This species comes from the Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Is. and Grand Turks and Caicos as a medium sized, hot growing epiphyte that is found near seacoasts at lower elevations with 1 to 3, apical, lanceolate, coriaceous, basally conduplicate into the petiolate base leaves that blooms in the spring through fall on a terminal, erect to arcuate, 3' [90 cm] long, racemose, several to many [25], successively flowered inflorescence arising on a mature pseudobulb and carrying flowers with a strong scent of chocolate.
 
This species likes a dryer environment especially when not in growth.  
 
 
Sources:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Honorable Mention for June 2019 goes to Stuart Goldie for his taming and culture of "The Octopus Orchid"  Encyclia cochleata  ( -->   Prosthechea cochleata (L.) W. E. Higgins 1997 ).  
 

Common Name Clamshell or Cockle Shell Anacheilium - Octopus Orchid - In Cuba Orquidea negra !   

 

The 'cockleshell orchid' has upside down flowers with smooth, ovoid to oblong-elliptic, compressed pseudobulbs partially enveloped basally by several, imbricate, scarious sheaths with 2 to 3, apical, elliptic, acute, gradually narrowing below, basally clasping leaves and can bloom for 6 months starting in the spring with an apical, erect, short to 15" [to 37.5 cm], few to many flowered, racemose inflorescence with a basal sheath that has successive opening, non-fragrant flowers. They originate from Florida, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Leewards, Puerto Rica, Windwards, French Guiana, Surinam, Guyana, Venezuela and Colombia as a medium sized epiphyte found in dense tropical evergreen, deciduous and oak forests at altitudes up to 1900 meters that grow warm to cool and require even water and fertilizer throughout the year. People have been known to eat the cooked psuedobulbs.  Looking at Stuarts reaction below, I am guessing he pass on this delicacy.

 

Loves Cattleya-like conditions.

Light: Diffused high to mid level light, bright east or west exposure indoors

Water: Likes to be almost dry between waterings.

Blooms: Mature plants bloom several times throughout the year

Blooms Last: 4-8 weeks

 

Sources:

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/horticulturaldatabase/orchidregister/orchiddetails.asp?ID=1083

http://bluenanta.com/orchid/165818/species_detail/?tab=gal

https://www.orchidalleykauai.com/Species-Encyclia-cochleata.html

http://www.orchidspecies.com/anacochleata.htm

http://www.aos.org/orchids/orchids-a-to-z/letter-p/prosthechea.aspx

 

 

The Napa Valley Orchid Society Opportunity Table

 

Each month the NVOS provides for an "opportunity table" featuring orchids available if your number is pulled an opportunity knocks.  All proceeds go to the general operating fund of the society to bring to you speakers such as George Vasquez, John Robbins and so many others throughout the year.  You can acquire your opportunity tickets at each meeting. 

 

 

Upcoming Events:

 

 

 

Speakers Day! July 27, 2019

Odd Fellows Hall, 1831 Howe Ave, Sacramento CA
Admission: $10 Affiliated Society or AOS member
$35 General Admission
Tickets in advance Susan Wedegaertner sgwede@gmail.com

 

Kristen Ulthus, PhD - New World Orchids
Honey I Shrunk the Orchids!

 

Yin-Tung Wang, PhD
Taisuco Orchids, Texas A&M
('Orchids' Jan, Feb, March, April 2007, 'Orchids' Q&A column, or Google him)
How to Grow Without a Greenhouse

 

Roy Tokunaga - H&R Nurseries, Inc.
Boosting Flower Production

 

The Q&A Session moderated by Alan Koch should not be missed!

 

Annual Auction!!

Benefitting the Orchid Conservation Alliance and
the American Orchid Society

 

VENDORS!!!
Ask them about 10% off presales!

 

New World Orchids - specializing in miniature and (Neofinetias)
H&R Nurseries Inc. - you name it, they got it
Gold Country Orchids - you name it, they got even more of it
D&D Flowers - got what the others don't!
Paph Paradise - really got it, the other only think they do.

 

Reduce price, pre-sale, extra special bonus tickets should be available for purchase $10 each at the July meeting.  This will be your only chance otherwise your stuck with the full price at the door. 

 

Don't forget to carpool!

 

 

 

 

2019 Membership Dues

Remember those membership renewals for 2019 at $20.00 cash or check payable to The Napa Valley Orchid Society.  If you are unable to pay in person, they can be mailed to:

 

Napa Valley Orchid Society

P.O. Box 2152

Napa, California 94558

 

 

Las Flores Community Center

 

 

 

 

 SELECT, GENERAL FLOWERING CALENDAR

 

GENUS

 

 JAN

FEB

 

MAR

 

APR

 

MAY

 

JUN

 

JUL

 

AUG

 

SEP

 

OCT

 

NOV

 

DEC

 
                       
                       
Miltonia                        
Miltassia                        
Odontoglossum                        
Oncidium                        
Paphiopedilum                        
Phalaenopsis                        
Vuylstekeara                        
Zygopetalum                        

 

  BASIC FLOWERING PERIOD
  SPORADIC FLOWERING
  NO FLOWERING
   
   
   
   

It is important to note that the data in the above table has not been absolutely proven.  Keep in mind that orchids themself, determine when they bloom, and this is dependent upon environmental factors.  The biggest factor is indoor versus greenhouse growing.  To best determine the flowering season, one must research the orchid of interest.

 

 

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