Author: luanne betz

Meeting – July 11, 2016 – Bill Thoms

Renowned orchid grower, world traveler and internationally recognized speaker Bill Thoms will be presenting a talk on Bulbophyllums (the largest genus in the orchid world!) Be prepared to learn more about this fascinating group of plants than you ever dreamed!

Bill Thoms and his wife, Doris Dukes, have been growing orchids around Central Florida for almost 40 years and have received almost every award granted by the AOS as well as more Awards for Culture than anyone else in the world, (83 in over 26 genera, including 36 in the bulbophyllum alliance (capped off with a 96 pt. Certificate of Cultural Excellence for Bulb. Frank Smith ‘The King’).

Bill is the only person to receive an Award of Quality for a Bulbophyllum hybrid (named for Doris) as well as receiving the hybridizer’s dream; an Award of Distinction for a new avenue of breeding (a Trias hybrid). Many of his crosses are winning awards around the country. The AOS has just added a yearly award named for him for the best Bulbophyllum exhibited.

His talks are spiced with funny stories and funny associations. Whether you grow thousands of orchids, only a few, or none at all, you will have a wonderfully entertaining time and be able to grow anything better. Many of the most important requirements for growing world class plants are made easy to understand and remember.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn how to grow these fascinating plants and to hear one of the most knowledgeable, interesting and funny speakers in the orchid world.

His new book, Bulbophyllums; the Incomplete Guide, From A to WHY? will be available for purchase ($44.95) and he will sign them for free.

Click here for meeting location and driving directions.

Meeting – May 8, 2017 – George Hatfield

George Hatfield is current President of American Orchid Society. He will give a presentation on cymbidiums. 

He graduated from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona with a Bachelor in Science in Plant and Soil Science. He soon thereafter received a Pest Control Advisors License from the state of California in 1985. His last 3 professional careers were Vice President of operations Calavo (CVGW) 1998 – 2003, International Business Consultant (DMFP) 2003 – 2005 and Hatfield Orchids, Owner operator 2005 – current.

Some major accomplishments in the field of orchids include:

  • Board Member Cymbidium Society of America 1994 – 2010
  • President of the Cymbidium Society of America 1998/99
  • Chairman of the CSA Cymbidium Congress from 1998-2001
  • Author of Articles in Awards Quarterly, Orchid Digest and Cymbidium Society Journal
  • Board member of the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show 1998 – current

    • President of the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show 2002/2003 and 2015/2016

  • Certified Accredited Judge – American Orchid Society and Cymbidium Society of America
  • American Orchid Society Judging Chair, Pacific South Judging Center 2011 – current
  • Cymbidium Society of America Judging Chair, 1998 – current
  • Key note speaker at the 2009 Australian National Orchid Conference in Melbourne
  • American Orchid Society, Judging Committee National Training Coordinator 2012 – current
  • Chairman of the AOS Nominating Committee 2012/2013
  • Hybridizer of numerous award winning Cymbidiums
  • Orchid Judge Tokyo Dome Show 2003 – 2009
  • Exhibitor Tokyo Dome Show 2008
  • Exhibitor Santa Barbara International Orchid Show 1992 – current

 

Click here for meeting location and driving directions.

Meeting – January 8, 2018 – Alan Koch

Alan Koch owns and operates Gold Country Orchids where he specializes in miniature and compact Cattleya’s. Alan started growing orchids in 1969 with 3 Cymbidiums given to him by an aunt. While in college he became interested in other orchids and discovered many would grow outdoors in Southern California. He has moved five times as his orchid obsession has led to the need for more growing space. With the last move, he purchased 10 acres of land in Lincoln, California for his 250,000 orchids. He is recognized as an expert in the Brazilian Cattleya alliance and a trend setter in miniature compact and Cattleya breeding.

Alan has been published in the Orchid Digest, the American Orchid Society magazine, as well as many International Publications. He has also been published in several proceedings of the World Orchid Conference. He is an internationally known speaker. He is a past member of the AOS Judging Committee, and the Research Committee, as well as an Accredited Judge and is Training Coordinator for the California Sierra Nevada Judging Center. Alan also served two terms on the Orchid Digest Executive Committee and 3 terms on the Board of Directors, as well as two terms as a Trustee for the AOS.

Click here for meeting location and driving directions.

Meeting – June 12, 2017 – Raphael Romero

Raphael Romero will give a presentation on genus Myrmecophila.

This genus has a strong association with ants, from its very name which was derived from the Greek myrmex, an ant and philos, friend, in reference to its conical, tapering hollow pseudobulbs which provide an inviting home to these garden and household pests. It is in fact, these hollow pseudobulbs, which harbor ant colonies that are said to protect delicate parts of the plants such as root tips that distinguish Mymecophila from Schomburgkia. The genus now consists of the following former Schomburgkia species: M. albopurpurea, M. brysiana, M. christinae, M. exaltata, M. galeottiana, M. grandiflora, M. humboldtii, M. x laguna-guerrerae, M. thomsoniana, M. tibicinis, and M. wendlandii. The most well known species are probably M. tibicinis and M. brysiana. 

Click here for meeting location and driving directions.

December 10, 2017 – Holiday Party

Our annual Holiday Party will be held on December 10th at Hugh’s Catering in Oakland Park.  Enjoy a relaxing evening together with your FLOS friends. Hugh’s Catering is an elegant location and it should be a great time for all.

Hugh’s Catering
4351 NE12th Terrace
Oakland Park, FL. 33334

We hold this Holiday Party instead of a regular meeting in December. Everyone gets an orchid!

Pricing $40 for FLOS members and $65 for guest.

December 10, 2017

  • Open bar 6:30 – 7:30
  • Dinner and dancing 7:30 – 10:30
  • From 7:30 to 10:30 wine and coffee will be provided during dinner and other drinks may be purchased at the bar. 
  • Music and entertainment by Salvatore Fazio.

Paula Kramer is our party organizer.

 

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PARKING AND DRIVING DIRECTIONS (See on Google maps)
 
From Interstate 95 – Take the Exit 32 east (Commercial Blvd.) Turn right, onto North Dixie Hwy. Turn left onto Florinada heading east over the railroad tracks.  Turn right onto NE 12th Terrace.  Hugh’s Catering will be on the right with a gated entrance. 
 
From Federal Highway – Take Florinada west to NE 12th Terrace, just before the railroad tracks, and turn left.  Hugh’s Catering will be on the right with a gated entrance. 
 

Meeting – July 10, 2017 – Melana Davison

Melana Davison is AOS Accredited Judge that lives in Homestead with her husband Jim, also an accredited judge. They have an extensive and diverse orchid collection of over 5000 orchids.  Melana is very active in the South Florida orchid community holding seats on two different orchid societies. She is the current president of the Orchid Society of Coral Gables and of the South Dade Amateur Orchid Club and is involved with the South Florida Orchid Society, Pan Am Orchid Society, Eastern Airlines Orchid Society, and the Coalition for Orchid Species.
Melana has the last 10 years run The Orchidiva.  A company  responsible for the care of thousands of orchids. She grows, blooms, cures, diagnoses and pots and repots all species of orchids,  she understands the special needs of muliple orchids and hybrids, and can cares for the most finicky collections.

For our meeting she will be doing a talk on ‘The Four Horsemen: mount your nobilor, schilleriana, Walkeriana, and aclandiae.

You will have better success with these four sometimes-challenging Cattleya species after this talk!

Click here for meeting location and driving directions.

Meeting August 14, 2017 – Movie Night

A Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society summer tradition, movie night has it all: orchids, popcorn, candy, and a movie about our favorite plant! This year’s film is from the Plants Behaving Badly series oo PBS 

Darwin’s book “On the Origin of Species” shook the scientific world and far beyond. Yet it was his next book, devoted entirely to orchids, which filled in gaps and firmed up his revolutionary ideas. Orchids have an ethereal beauty, whether growing hundreds of feet up in a misty rainforest or along the verges of busy suburban roads. But their exotic flowers are shaped for just one purpose: to draw in pollinators.

No need to bring treats as it will all be provided.

The program starts at 7:30 p.m.

Click here for meeting location and driving directions.

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