Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society

Graham Ramsey: “Repotting with New Zealand’s Finest”
2023-03-13 19:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Our March speaker is Graham Ramsey, who will discuss “Repotting With New Zealand’s Finest.” His comprehensive lecture will cover using different orchid media as well as repotting and mounting techniques at 7:30 p.m. March 13.

Graham is an Asheville, North Carolina native. Like many orchid enthusiasts, his first orchid was a white Phalaenopsis purchased at the local hardware store. It wasn’t until Graham’s mother-in-law sent him home with 18 orchids from her Florida home that he realized there was more to orchids than white Phals.

With his daughter off to college and a mix of orchids to care for, he co-opted her bedroom and attempted to create the perfect growing space. That is, until his wife objected to the humidifying of the bedroom! So it was off to the basement to create a full-blown growroom and, eventually, a 600-square-foot greenhouse.
A friend of Graham’s mother-in-law, the founder of the Western North Carolina Orchid Society, insisted Graham attend a a WNCOS meeting. In no time, Graham joined the society’s board serving for six years as president. Currently the vice president, Graham has served for 10 years as show chair for the society’s annual Asheville Orchid Festival coming up on April 1-2.
During his orchid journey, Graham met his mentor and friend H.P. Norton of Orchidview. Next followed breeding and growing Phragmipediums, with a focus on kovachii influenced Phrags – one of Graham’s favorites.
After 18 years, Graham has a propagation lab, a new indoor growroom and a greenhouse with about a thousand orchids. He has registered eight new hybrids and received 36 American Orchid Society awards. Graham serves as a member of the AOS Membership and Marketing Committee and the Affiliated Societies Committee.
At this meeting, we will have Orchiata and tree fern mounts and media available for purchase at a significant discount.

Luis M. Ortiz Jordan B.S., M.S.E.M. "How to Grow Miniature Orchids in South Florida"
2023-02-13 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Our February featured speaker will be Luis Manuel Ortiz Jordan, an expert on growing miniature orchids.
Luis has been growing orchids for more than 20 years, since he was 12. He discovered his love for orchids after his grandfather gave him his first plant, Cattleya dowiana. When it bloomed, he was infected with the orchid virus.
Luis has a mixed collection of orchids with numerous awards from the American Orchid Society, but his passion lies in cool-growing miniatures. They can be a challenge to grow here in hot, humid, South Florida. Luis will give his best advice to help your minis thrive.
Luis is a research scientist at the UF-Scripps Biomedical Research in Jupiter. In April, he published a paper on Eurystyles luisortizii, an orchid he discovered in Puerto Rico.
To compliment his talk, we will have a rare opportunity to acquire some exceptional miniature orchids that can be grown in warm conditions from the Tarzane Group. If you would like to research them, here is the list of what will be on our raffle table: Bulbophyllum moniliforme. Bulbophyllum sanitii, Dendrobium senile, Haraella retrocalla, Psygmorchis pusilla, Pleurothallis picta, Dendrobium toressae, Leptotes pauloensis, Oberonia seidenfadenii, Barkeria palmerii and Lepanthes telipogoniflora.

I am excited to learn about growing these varieties and maybe winning one myself. Bring that cash!

“The Catasetum Alliance: a description of each genus and how to grow them”
2023-01-09 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Olivier is a hobbyist and orchids have become a passion/obsession for him. He focuses on species and primary hybrids (75% of his orchids) and grows many different genera but he is particularly fond of Catasetums, Trichocentrums and Stanhopeas.
Olivier has been a Board member of the Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society (FLOS) since 2020. He has been a monthly newsletter contributor at FLOS since 2018. He also started a YouTube channel two years ago called “Orchid House, Fort Lauderdale, Florida” which features growing tips for specific species or genera.
Olivier has received two AM/AOS & one FCC/AOS award from the American Orchid Society.
Olivier has a Bachelor degree in Finance and Economics and has been a Fort Lauderdale-based realtor since 2013.

AOS judging at November 14 meeting
2022-11-14 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Can’t get to the regular monthly American Orchid Society
judging at the West Palm Beach Judging Center at Flamingo
Gardens in Davie? No problem! Judges will come to you at
FLOS’s Nov. 14 meeting.
AOS Judging centers offer outreach as part of its ongoing
commitment to demystify orchid judging. This service, both
practical and educational, is only available to AOS-affiliated
orchid societies. However, the public is invited to attend, and
can bring an orchid in for judging.
Teams of qualified AOS judges will be at the 7:30 p.m. meeting
along with the official AOS photographer. Clean up your best
plant and register it at 7 p.m.
There also will be an educational presentation on how the AOS
judging system works given by your scholarship recipient and
accredited judge Joan Connors.

Fakahatchee Swamp Walk
2022-10-15 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Save the date! Spot wild orchids on a swamp walk with Mike Owen, biologist for the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park in Copeland on Oct. 15.
The adventure begins at 8 a.m. as we hop on a chartered coach to the park. Space will be limited. Look for details and ticket info coming soon.
– ALLEN COGAR
This swamp walk will immerse you in the beauty and diversity of the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve. FLOS members will be guided by either park staff or members of the Friends of the Fakahatchee. We will be wading in cool water for half a day observing the native wildlife and plants in the heart of the Fakahatchee. Possible orchid sightings are encyclia cochleata, the ghost orchid, corkscrew orchids, and many leafless orchids.
Swamp walkers should wear long pants and lace-up boots or sneakers – no sandals, waders or open-top boots. A hat and long-sleeved shirt are also recommended. Bring water, snacks, or lunch. Bring bug repellent if you are sensitive. Put anything you do not want to get wet in zip-lock plastic bags. Bring a set of dry clothes; you can change in the visitors restrooms for the drive home. Bring a walking stick if you have one; they will be provided as well.
Buy Tickets

Roger Hammer: Orchids and other Wildflowers of the Fakahatchee Swamp
2022-09-12 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Roger L. Hammer
Roger Hammer is an award-winning professional naturalist and a survivalist instructor for the Discovery Channel’s reality TV show Naked and Afraid. He was the manager of the 120-acre Castellow Hammock Nature Center for the Miami-Dade County Parks Department for 30 years, retiring in 2010. He received the first Marjory Stoneman Douglas Award presented by the Florida Native Plant Society in 1982, Tropical Audubon Society honored him with the Charles Brookfield Medal in 1996, in 2003 he received the Green Palmetto Award in Education from the Florida Native Plant Society, and in 2019 he received the Florida Native Plant Society Mentor Award. Roger has given keynote speeches at Florida Native Plant Society state conferences as well as the 1984 and 2008 World Orchid Conferences held in Miami. He was also the opening speaker at the American Orchid Society’s 100-year anniversary celebration held at the Biltmore Hotel in Miami in 2021. In 2012 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Florida International University.
Roger’s first passion with the flora of Florida was finding and photographing Florida’s native orchids, and during his travels he discovered two species of native orchids in Florida not previously known to occur in the state. In 1979 he discovered a population of atala butterflies, listed in 1965 as presumed extinct.
He is the author of Everglades Wildflowers, Florida Keys Wildflowers, Central Florida Wildflowers, Complete Guide to Florida Wildflowers, Attracting Hummingbirds and Butterflies in Tropical Florida, Exploring Everglades National Park, Paddling Everglades and Biscayne National Parks, and Florida Icons: 50 Classic Views of the Sunshine State. He lives in Homestead, Florida with his wife, Michelle.
Roger will Have his books for purchase at the meeting.

Segundo Cuesta: Growing Cattleyas in South Florida
2022-08-08 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Cattleyas are Segundo Cuesta’s passion.
The long-time Miami grower, who owns Quest Orchids with his wife Yolanda, will present “Growing Cattleyas in South Florida” at our monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8. His program will cover culture, disease and pest control of the beloved plants.
Segundo started collecting orchids after graduating from Florida International University in 1980, and started hybridizing orchids in 1984. His goal was to make new crosses of compact cattleyas with art-shade tones which feature strikingly vibrant color combinations with contrasting lips.
Segundo and Yolanda founded Quest Orchids in 1994. While they specialize in Cattleyas, the couple also grow many orchid species, including Vandas, in their 50,000-square-foot greenhouse. Visit Quest at 12110 SW 43 Street in Miami off Turnpike exit 23. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays; QuestOrchids.net.

Florida’s Rare and Endangered Orchids, Prem Subrahmanyam
2022-07-11 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Native-orchid expert and award-winning photographer Prem Subrahmanyam will discuss
“Florida’s Rare and Endangered Orchids” at 7:30 p.m. on July 11.
Born and raised in Tallahassee, Prem is a software engineer, video game developer and 3-D
animator whose work has been featured in the PBS series “Florida, the Outdoor Adventure,” and
“Florida Takes to the Trails.” He has BS in computer science from Florida State University with
minors in physics, math and botany.
He lives in Orlando with his wife Joy. The couple have 15 children who share their father’s love
of slogging through swamps hunting orchids and geocaching wildlife and wildflowers around the
state.
Prem is an avid orchid collector whose photographs have appeared in national magazines,
textbooks, educational displays and orchid society newsletters and brochures. His works were
published in “Illustrated Dictionary of Orchid Genera,” “Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants,” on
OrchidSpecies.com and featured on PBS’ “Nova” science series. One of his stunning
photographs of an encyclia tampensis will grace the cover of our upcoming member directory.
He publishes photographs works, a trove of information on Florida natives and documents his
family’s adventures at flnativeorchids.premdesign.com. Prem will bring a variety of native
orchid merchandise to the meeting, including signed photographs, canvas art, T-shirts and
greeting cards.
– Doreen Christensen, Newsletter Editor

John Romano, Dendrobiums
2022-06-13 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
John Romano will be speaking on Dendrobiums at 7:30 p.m. on June 13.
John started growing orchids in 1977 at age 11. He has worked at Waterloo Gardens in Exton, PA. and JEM Orchids in Delray Beach as its grower from 2002-2005. John specializes in Sobralias, Dendrobiums and Catasetinae, among other unusual species. In 2014, a new species of Sobralia was discovered in Guatemala and named after him, Sobralia romanoi.

A third year American Orchid Society student judge, John is an active member of Facebook’s “Florida Orchid Growing” and “Newbie Florida Orchid Growing” groups. He also administrates the groups “Sobralia & Brasolia,” “Dendrobium” species and “Let’s Talk Orchids.” He also runs dendrobiumspecies.com, a site dedicated to dendrobium culture and education.
John is co-owner of J&J Unique Orchids (https://j-juniqueorchids.com) with his business partner, John Melecio. He has been a licensed healthcare provider since 1986 specializing in pain management and sports therapy. In January 2020, John won Fort Lauderdale’s Best of 2020 for Healthcare providers.

May 9: Jose Esposito from Soroa Orchids will be our May speaker, discussing 'Orchid Survival Guide'
2022-05-09 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Jose Esposito of Soroa Orchids in Homestead will present his “Orchid Survival Guide” at 7:30 p.m. May 9. Members will learn basic growing information with emphasis on water, light, air, and fertilizing with tips on repotting and pest control. There will be a short Q&A session at the end.
Jose, who founded Soroa in 1985, was born in Cuba and emigrated to America during the 1980 Mariel Boat Lift.
He is a well known grower who has won numerous awards for his Phalaenopsis breeding program. He is a senior judge of the American Orchid Society, as well as a world lecturer who has given presentations at the World Orchid Conference in Brazil and Malaysia.
He is a past board member of the South Florida Orchid Society, past president of the East Everglades Orchid Society and the Coalition for Orchid species. He also is the Orchid Curator at the Bonnet House in Ft. Lauderdale.
Soroa Orchids, at 25750 SW 177th Ave. in Homestead, is a wonderful grower to visit. The front entryway is full of American Orchid Society Award plaques, so you’re in for a treat if you are signed up for our Redland Ramble in June as you’ll get to wander among Soroa’s 5 acres of gardens and greenhouses.

April 11 speaker: 20 plants you should grow
2022-04-11 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Please join us at 7:30 p.m. April 11 to hear our very own FLOS member, Omar Gonzalez, speak about “Orchids I Would Grow.” His talk will feature 20 orchid on our raffle table! He will be bringing us these orchids to tell us why these plants are special and trendy, why he is partial to them and he will share cultural tips on how to grow them well.
Omar, who is a long-time orchid society member, hails from Miami, but spent time in the Midwest, attending Northland College in Wisconsin. He has a degree in chemistry and by trade, is a quality control chemist. Growing up, Omar always loved all kinds of plants and had a particular interest in growing fruits and vegetables. He found that growing the plants that he had cultivated in the Midwest was somewhat difficult in Miami, so his interest switched to sub-tropical. He became friendly with David McLean, the late native plant horticulturist from Broward, who introduced him to orchids – vanilla, stanhopea and other species.
As Omar’s interest in orchids grew, he amassed a wealth of knowledge going to shows, attending meetings and learning as much as he could from local growers. He took a trip to visit his sister in California and extended his travels to Hawaii to meet with Sheldon Takasaki from Carmela Orchids. Omar also volunteered at Bonnet House and has developed an interest in flasking. Currently, Omar is focusing on Brazilian Cattleyas and orchids of Central America. He is a valued member of the Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society and is eager to share his orchid expertise with all of us.

April 2-30: FLOS members teach orchid classes
2022-04-02 08:00 - 2022-04-30 17:00 | Flamingo Gardens, 3750 S Flamingo Rd, Davie, FL, 33330, United States
Society members are teaching orchid classes as part of Flamingo Gardens “Beauty of Orchids,” running through through May 8. Cost is $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Get more info at FlamingoGardens.org.
While you’re there, stop by and admire our society tree we spruced up with six specimen-sized C. skinneri donated by R F Orchids. Also, visit the 11th annual photo contest in the gallery. The exhibit features our very own award-winning photographer Tom Kuligowski, who is the official photographer for the West Palm Beach Judging Center for the American Orchid Society.
April 2 at 10 a.m.: “Ten Orchids You Need to Own 2022.” Carol Holdren shares her list of orchids that grow easily in South Florida with culture tips.
2 p.m. April 3: “Making the Most of Your Orchid Collection.” Judy Bailey explores how to achieve more in less time and have happier, more beautiful plants/
10 a.m. April 9: “What’s in a Label: Orchid Nomenclature.” Rich Ackerman explains how orchids are named and how to figure out what a tag is telling you.
2 p.m. April 10: “Mounting Orchids: Why and How?” Olivier Turina on the pros and cons of mounting orchids and best practices.
2 p.m. April 24: “Organic Orchid Growing Tips and Tricks.” Judy Bailey discusses how to grow vigorous and beautiful orchids organically.
10 a.m. April 30th: “Orchid Growing and Care From Basic Tips to Advanced Growing Techniques.” Mac Rivenbark teaches beginner and advanced techniques.

Mexican orchids are their specialty, Jim and Melana Davidson
2022-03-14 19:30 - 21:30 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Jim and Melana Davison, American Orchid Society
Accredited Judges who have an extensive and diverse
orchid collection, will speak at our next meeting at 7:30
p.m. on March 14 about orchids of Mexico. Many of
these species are familiar to us and grow very well here.
The couple are not only involved in caring for their
orchids, but also are active in several South Florida orchid
societies and are past presidents of three. Jim’s appreciation for orchids stems from his scientific background as a Nuclear Chemistry Manager at the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant in Homestead. Melana is more interested in the aesthetic qualities of orchids, especially the ones that look
strange and other-worldly. She owns her own orchid
maintenance business and is known as “The Orchidiva.”
After Jim retired, they opened their own retail
nursery, Jim-N-I Orchids. They travel the show circuit,
selling their Florida-grown orchids. Recently, their
daughter joined the crew. You may have met her at our
January show.
Jim and Melana will have many Mexican species on hand for sale and also will
provide orchids for our raffle table.
– VICKI HALLOCK
Membership Chair

Christine Morales, Dendrobium Section Formosae
2022-01-10 19:30 - 21:00 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Join us for Christine Morales’ talk on Dendrobium Section Formosae.
This meeting will be live at the church. Church rules currently require masks for all meeting participants. Please don’t bring any snacks as we cannot serve food.
We will have a raffle table and show ‘n tell.

Slippery Tales - Mary Gerritsen
2021-11-08 19:30 - 21:00 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
Join us for our general meeting and Mary Gerritsen’s ZOOM talk – adventures and tribulations searching for slipper orchids including the cursed Phragmipedium kovachii
This meeting will be “blended”… the speaker is on Zoom, and you can come to the church to participate or watch from home.
Church rules currently require masks for all meeting participants. Please don’t bring any snacks as we cannot serve food.
We will have a raffle table and show ‘n tell.

Ron Parsons - The Genus Dendrobium
2021-09-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Christ Lutheran Church Social Hall, 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL, 33306, United States
The Australasian genus Dendrobium is one of the largest genera in the most species rich flowering plant family of the world. More than 1800 species have been described (with likely many more to be discovered), and they are found anywhere from the lowland tropics to cool to cold high elevations. They occur from Japan and China to Australia in the south, and from India in the west to some of the islands of the south Pacific in the east. They occur in a vast variety of habitats too but they tend to generally grow as epiphytes and lithophytes with comparatively few growing terrestrially. My talk is a brief synopsis of this amazing genus that nearly every orchid enthusiast grows.
We will be meeting in person at the Church for those who wish to join us. Come early to socialize with your orchid friends again! We will have a snack table, a raffle table, and a show and tell plant display, so bring some goodies to share and an orchid to brag about!
You must register in advance to attend the live meeting. A limited number of seats are available.
Zoom opens at 7pm, meeting starts at 7:30.

"Members only" Native Orchid Sale
2021-08-20 10:00 - 12:00 | FL
“Members Only” Native Plant Sale
Saturday, Aug 21st 10:00 am – Noon
1730 SW 30th Place, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 (Vicki Hallock’s House) Even though this is an outdoor event, we prefer that you wear a mask. Please bring check or cash if possible as preferred form of payment. Thank you!
Orchids that are available:

Oncidium ensatum 3″ medium

$6.00

10

Encyclia tampensis H&R alba

$10.00

5

Encyclia tampensis FTBG 3″

$10.00

1

Encyclia tampensis Odom 3″

$12.50

25

Trichocentrum undulatum 2.5″ round

$8.00

25

Epidendrum anceps small

$4.00

25

Vanilla

$15.00

5

Bletia purpurea (5 plants per pot)

$50.00

2

https://www.flos.org/society-activities/million-orchid-project/

Marni Turkel “Show Me the Plant” - ZOOM only
2021-08-09 19:00 - 21:00 | ZOOM
Our speaker will be Marni Turkel presenting “Show Me the Plant”.
How many of us have been disappointed when we finally bloom that plant we bought because the picture of the flower was so beautiful? It turned out to be a very small flower on a very long spike on an ungainly plant.
“Show Me the Plant” is a presentation that uses images of blooming specimen plants as well as close-ups to consider the whole plant for a sense of proportion and relationship and not the flower in isolation. Marni will be talking about many of her favorite plants and will cover some basic information as well as specific needs for individual plants and strategies for growing specimen plants. This is a chance to see some of the best of her collection and learn how she grows it.
We have changed this meeting to ZOOM ONLY in the interest of everyone’s health and safety. Hope to see you all soon.
Zoom opens at 7pm, meeting starts at 7:30.

Native orchid installation - Stunson Nature Trail
2021-07-16 08:00 - 11:30 | Stunson Nature Trail, 1701 NW 38th Street, Oakland Park, FL, 33309, United States
The City of Oakland Park is installing native orchids in Stunson Nature Trail. They would welcome some volunteers who would like to assist. Please register in advance so we know who is coming.

Dr. Mary Mancini - Stanhopeas and Related Genera
2021-07-12 19:00 - 21:00 | ZOOM
Our July 12th speaker will be Mary Mancini, MD, a surgeon and AOS judge in the Shreveport Judging Center and AOS National Training Coordinator, and has won numerous AOS awards. Dr. Mancini will speak about Stanhopeas and related genera.
Zoom opens at 7pm, meeting starts at 7:30.

Native orchid installation - Snyder Park
2021-07-12 08:00 - 11:00 | Snyder Park, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 3299 SW 4th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL
The City of Fort Lauderdale is installing native orchids in Snyder Park. They would welcome some volunteers who would like to assist. Please register in advance so we know who is coming.

Native orchid installation - Orchid Park, Coral Springs
2021-07-02 08:00 - 11:00 | Orchid Park, 1300 Coral Springs Dr, Coral Springs, FL, United States
The Garden Club of Coral Springs is installing native orchids in Orchid Park. They would welcome some volunteers who would like to assist. Please register in advance so we know who is coming.

June 2021 FLOS meeting
2021-06-14 19:00 - 21:00 | ZOOM
Our speaker will be Thomas Mirenda, speaking on Phalaenopsis. He is a regular columnist in AOS’s Orchids magazine.
Zoom opens at 7pm, meeting starts at 7:30.

Field Trip to Stunson Nature Trail
2021-06-05 08:30 - 10:00 | Stunson Nature Trail, 1701 NW 38th Street, Oakland Park, FL, 33309, United States
Join us for a visit to the Stunson Nature Trail, also known as the “Parade of Orchids”. The City of Oakland Park, the Urban Farm Institute, Florida Master Gardener Volunteers, the Equality Garden Club, and the Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society all collaborated to install around 1,500 native orchids along a beautify 1/4 mile trail planted with all native plants.
If you would like to help at future native orchid installations, this is a great chance to see what works and what problems may be avoided by proper installation site selection and mounting technique.
There will be a quick talk and then a guided tour. Afterwards you may choose to stay and participate in a census of native orchids installed last year.

Keiki Club meeting
2021-05-22 | Contact FLOS for location
The Keiki Club is for new members of FLOS. We meet to socialize and to learn about the basics of growing orchids.

Speaker: Glen Decker:"The Hike from Hell"
2021-04-12 19:30 - 21:30 | ZOOM
Our April Speaker, Glen Decker, has been growing fabulous Paphiopedilums
and Phragmipediums for more than 40 years, earning numerous AOS awards,
including the Butterworth Prize, Nax Trophy, W.W. Wilson Award, and the
Carlyle A. Luer Award. He spoke at a FLOS meeting several years ago about
his fabulous orchids, but his presentation this time will be “The Hike from
Hell,” about his trip to Peru in search of Phragmipedium kovachii, as reported
in a chapter in Craig Pittman’s book, The Scent of Scandal, “greed, betrayal,
and the world’s most beautiful orchid.” It’s a fascinating book and a fun read.
Craig Pittman will be our May speaker.
Mr. Decker holds the degree of Associate in Applied Science in Ornamental Horticulture, was the former
owner of Piping Rock Orchids in New York, previously served as Chair of the American Orchid Society’s
Publications Committee and a was past Director of the Orchid Digest. Glen appeared in Martha Stewart’s
Better Living Magazine and on a PBS TV special “Orchid Delirium.” He rewrote the Slipper section of the
Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s The Best Orchids for Indoors and was the technical editor for the Orchids for
Dummies book. His many articles on Paphiopedilums and Phragmipediums have been published worldwide

Patricia Harding, Testing Orchid DNA and Developing a Family Tree
2021-03-08 19:30 - 21:30 | ZOOM
Our March speaker will be Patricia Harding, a world traveler, observer, photographer, and writer who also grows orchids at her Oregon home, where she has been “stuck” for more than a year. She will talk about testing orchid DNA and developing a family tree, how it is done and why it works. Sounds downright scary, right? Not so! Ms. Harding promises a science-for-the-layman presentation so we can understand how to make an orchid family tree without knowing the DNA in all the individual plants—all with a bit of humor and “some pretty orchid pictures.” She will also explain the reasoning behind some of the often-confusing name changes that have occurred in recent years.

Dr. Linden Burzell speaking on cattleyas
2021-02-08 19:30 - 21:30 | ZOOM
Linden Burzell has been growing orchids for nearly sixty years. He began collecting as a young man in Vista, California, buying his first plants from some of the famous Southern California growers of the late 50’s and 60’s.
After graduating from UCLA, he went on to receive his Ph.D. in Marine Microbiology from the University of Hawaii. Lin travelled for over twenty years throughout much of South East Asia and South America on business, where he was involved in the start-up and operation of a number of large-scale shrimp and fish farms, especially in coastal Ecuador, India, Malaysia and China.
During his thirty years in Hawaii, Lin was active in orchids, and was a member of the Windward Orchid Society, the Hawaii Orchid Society and served on the board of La Hui Okika Species Club and was president of the Lyon Arboretum Association.
After re-locating to southern California in 1996, he returned to orchid growing with a vengeance. He now maintains a growing collection of Cattleya species cultivars, which he enjoys breeding, growing, exhibiting and photographing (he took all the flower photos he will show us during his presentation). Lin currently lives in Rancho Bernardo in San Diego with his wife Kimberly and two dogs. Lin is currently an Associate American Orchid Society judge in the Pacific South region.

January Speaker Harry A. Gallis
2021-01-11 19:30 - 21:30 | ZOOM
Our January speaker will be Harry A. Gallis, MD, from North Carolina.
As always, the Zoom link will be on our homepage
@ FLOS.org.
Dr. Harry Gallis is an American Orchid Society judge in North Carolina and a long-time grower of Antelope style Dendrobiums. His talk should give you a good overview of the various species and common hybrids you might come across as well as tips and tricks for growing and flowering your own.
Biography ( https://www.tidewaterorchidsociety.org/documents/TOS_Mar_2019_Newsletter.pdf ) – Dr. Harry Gallis Harry is a native of Athens, Georgia, and his profession is medicine. “I did most of `my training at Duke and specialized in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. Other hobbies (“fortunately not as expensive or consuming as orchids”) include gardening of all sorts. He also enjoys cooking, Duke Basketball, and Golf. Dr. Harry Gallis has been growing orchids since 1980. The largest groups are Cattleyas, Phalaenopsis and Dendrobiums. His plants have received 41 AOS awards, and, says Harry, “I very much enjoy growing plants for shows and awards”. He entered the AOS judging program in 1991, and is an Accredited Judge and Past Chair of the Carolinas Judging Center in Greensboro, NC. He is a life member of the Triangle Orchid Society, and belongs or has belonged to most of the societies in his region. Harry has chaired local shows, an EOC/AOS Trustees Meeting, and the Spring Show for NCPOS, in which he continues to exhibit, “Always gunning for the Show Trophy.” He originally joined the AOS committee structure in 1996, on the Education Committee. Shortly after Harry became Chair of the Carolinas Judging Center in 1999, he was asked to take on the position of national training coordinator, and was involved in the daunting task of trying to produce a revised training manual for the AOS judging system. He has served as Chair of the Judging Committee and is also a member of Governance and Publications. Harry and his wife, Susie, have two children and two granddaughters Taylor (“see namesake Rlc. Lisa Taylor Gallis ‘Taylor’ HCC/AOS) and Savannah (Dendrobium Linc’s Jewel ‘Savannah Hope’ HCC/AOS). His other favorite plants are Rlc. Susie’s Valentine ‘Harry’s Favorite’ AM/AOS, named for his wife and Den. Alex Gallis for his son (his first personal hybrid to win an AOS award)

Mary Gerritsen PhD, Miniature Orchids and How to Grow Them
2020-11-09 19:30 - 21:30 | ZOOM
Mary Gerritsen currently works an independent biotechnology consultant, her “retirement” after a long career in the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry. However, much of her free time now involves orchids in some fashion or another.
Mary has a large collection of miniature orchids, as well as numerous pleurothallids, paphiopedilum, bulbophyllum, and dendrobium species which she grows outside in one of three lath houses, or in one of her two greenhouses . In addition to growing orchids, Mary likes to see and photograph them in their native habitats, doing so in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Southeast Asia, China, various Mediterranean islands, Europe, Madagascar, South Africa, Mexico and other parts of Central America, many countries in South America, as well as various parts of the USA and Canada. In addition to her interest in orchids and their habitats, Mary has written, with co-author and photographer, Ron Parsons, a number of books on orchids including Masdevallias: Gems of the Orchid World; A Compendium of Miniature Orchid Species; A Bay Area Guide to Orchids and Their Culture; and The American Orchid Society Guide to Orchids and their Culture. Currently Mary and Ron are working on a new four volume edition of the Compendium to be published in 2021 . Mary is the chief financial officer of the Orchid Conservation Alliance, serves on the board of directors of the Orchid Digest, and is a past president of the San Francisco and the Peninsula Orchid Societies.
Talk synopsis:
Miniature Orchids and How to Grow Them
Mary ‘s talk will cover one of her favorite topics, miniature orchids. After a brief introduction to the topic and cultural recommendations, she will present a selection of some of the most desirable species. Hopefully this will entice members of the audience to add some of these cuties to their orchid collections.
