Eyes on Orchids - Baton Rouge Orchid Society

Eyes on Orchids
Newsletter of the Baton Rouge Orchid Society
P.O. Box 66242—Baton Rouge, LA 70896-6242
May, 2012 - Volume 54 - Issue 5
www.batonrougeorchidsociety.org - 225.308.1404 –info@batonrougeorchidsociety.org
May Meeting - Wednesday, May 16 - 7 p.m.
Baton Rouge Garden Center - 7950 Independence Blvd.
Program: Dr. Raghuwinder Singh
“Orchid Diseases
Message from Your Editor
Since I need to get this newsletter out, and President Danka’s message is not available this
month, I decided that I would editorialize a little in this space about our upcoming programs.
We’ve got some real “goodies” coming up! You don’t want to miss any of them.
First, I would like to thank our hard working Program Committee, co-chaired by Lata, Tin, &
Tanner for the high caliber of programs they have planned for us this year. We’ve already have
some excellent ones, and for the balance of the year they have scheduled some outstanding and
knowledgeable speakers. This month we’ll hear about Orchid Diseases from a local expert. You
may bring your diseased plants for a diagnosis and suggestions for treatment. In June our program
will be devoted to last minute Show planning. Of course, there will be no meeting in July so we
can all recover from the Show!
In August our meeting will be held on the second Wednesday, August 8, rather than on our
regular night. Be sure to put that date change on your calendar so you won’t miss it. Our speaker
will be Andrea Niessen from Colombia. I understand that she may have plants for sale, and there
may be a chance to pre-order from her. The meeting date change is to accommodate her travel
schedule.
Manny Aybar will be with us in September to talk about Dendrobiums, which are his specialty.
He’s making the rounds of all the Societies in this area.
Former AOS President Carlos Fighetti, comes in October, but I don’t know his topic.
See “Editorial” on Page 3
May Program
Dr. Raghuwinder Singh (Nick) was born in Punjab, India. He received his B.S. in agriculture with
honors in plant protection from Punjab Agricultural University, Punjab, India in 1999. He then
moved to the United Kingdom to attend the University of Reading, from which he received his
M.S. in crop protection in 2001. In 2004, he received a Doctor of Plant Medicine degree from the
University of Florida in Gainesville. He joined the University of Florida’s Department of Entomology and Nematology as a post doctoral associate in 2005 and worked on citrus leaf miner, citrus
aphids, the aphid parasitoid, Lipolexis oregmae, the citrus psyllid and citrus greening. He moved
to Baton Rouge in 2007 to work for the LSU AgCenter. His area of expertise includes use of conventional and molecular diagnostic methods to diagnose and identify causes of plant health problems. He now runs the LSU AgCenter Plant Diagnostic Center and responsible for diagnosing plant
health problems submitted by county extension agents and residents of Louisiana.
Minutes of April Meeting
President Danka called the meeting to order at 7:12 p.m.
Announcements:
♦ The LSU Spring Garden Show was a success and
thanks to all who helped.
♦ We need members to set up and take down the dis
plays for the out-of- town shows. Carolyn will set up
the Terrebonne Show. Volunteers are needed for the
Central La., New Orleans, and Acadian shows.
♦ The potting workshop will be held at Clyde’s home
this weekend. (4/21) Plan to arrive between 1:30
and 2:00. Bring a side dish and pots if you want
plants.
♦ Muriel and Tom Walker joined the Society tonight.
Guests at the meeting include Ana Chris Garcia and
tonight’s speaker, Dr. Mary Mancini.
♦ Kenilworth Subdivision will hold a garage sale on
May 5. Some orchid growing supplies will be include
ed. Danna will send an email with detailed infor
mation.
James Jeansonne reported on the preparation for our July Show. The dates are July 13-15, with set up on Thursday
night, July 12. Vendors have been scheduled. We currently
have 17 judges who have committed. Members are needed
to work on the various committees.
Bob D. noted that we want suggestions regarding how to
distribute the Whole Food orchids. In addition, John H. suggested we consider setting up a table on site and provide a
class / demonstration on how to grow orchids.
James introduced Dr. Mary Mancini, our presenter for the
program. She used a slide presentation to give an overview
of Cymbidiums and then focused on her specific methods of
growing them.
After the break, the silent auction ended and the unusual/exceptional plants were announced. The owners described their culture methods.
Tin and others set up a demonstration display using
orchids from the bloom table. He led a discussion on the
factors he considered when placing the plants.
The raffle was held and the meeting was adjourned at
9:06.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Ellen Graham, Secretary
BROS Officers, 2012
President
Bob Danka
225.769.7762 (h)
rdanka@cox.net
Vice-President
Bob Lank
225.927.2514
pops1548@cox.net
Secretary
Sue Ellen Graham
225.766.4327
jmg44@cox.net
Treasurer
Blair Many
225.921.9938
blair@blairmany.com
Show Chairman, 2012
James Jeansonne
Newsletter Editor
Danna Spayde
225.317.0933
orchidnut_2000@yahoo.com
Board Members
Clyde Howland, thru 2012
Lata Johnson, thru 2013
Beth Blackstock, thru 2014
SWROGA Representative:
James Jeansonne
AOS and Orchid Digest
Representative: John Huner
Chairs of Standing Committees:
Program Co-Chairs ♦ Lata Johnson, Tin-Wein Yu, Tanner Singleton
Membership Bob Lank
Finance ♦ Blair Many
Librarian♦ Bob Danka
Condolences
We were saddened
to learn of the death
of John Bourgeois’
daughter, Rachel, on
May 10.
We extend our
sympathy and condolences to John and
his family at this sad
time in their lives.
Orchids for Seniors
Happy May Birthday to:
Patty Granier - May 18
Donavon Cashio - May 19
Valerie Creehan - May 20
Potting Workshop
The Annual Potting Workshop that was held
at Clyde’s home on May 1 was a super success.
There was a great turnout of members who participated in dividing the numerous plants that
were brought for sharing. Orchid plants of many
kinds were available, including cattleyas and
cattleya alliance hybrids, cymbidiums, oncidium
intergenerics, and dendrobiums. Everyone had
the opportunity to go home with an abundance
of new plants.
President Bob Danka did a short presentation
on proper potting techniques which enthralled
our newer members.
And what can I say about the wonderful food!
Clyde’s son, Doug, catered the event with delicious barbecued brisket, baked beans, rolls, and
fried catfish. With the various side dishes - and
desserts, of course - brought by members,
Clyde has a large tent that protects in the
case of inclement weather, which fortunately we
didn’t have on May 1. But he was ready for any
eventuality.
Thanks a million to Clyde for hosting the Potting Workshop this year and for the past few
years. Unfortunately, my camera malfunctioned
so I have no pictures to include here - only fond
memories of a wonderful time of good food and
fellowship with fellow orchidnuts.
On May 21 OFS will visit Pierre Part to a
business that sells driftwood of all sizes and
shapes. We’ll meet at Independence Park at
8:45 to board the van so we can reach our destination by 10.
After we load the van with driftwood on
which to mount our orchids, we’ll have lunch
somewhere before returning to Baton Rouge.
This is our last field trip until fall because summer is too hot for us. So come and join us for a
fun outing.
Our June meeting will be a potting workshop, and we don’t meet in July.
Green Growers
Meets on the following
dates during 2012.
June 13
July & August - No meeting
September 12
October 10
November 14
December - No meeting
Mark your calendars now
and plan to attend these
educational meetings.
Editorial - Continued from Page 1
Because our November regular meeting date
is the night before Thanksgiving - not a good
time to have a meeting - another date change
is scheduled. We will meet on Saturday November 3. At that time we will hear from Alan
Koch, owner of Gold Country Orchids in California. Be sure to mark this one on your calendars
too.
We are very fortunate to attract these
This week I saw this clever statement on the
speakers so that we can continue to learn
marquee of Heroman’s Florist on Government St. about our favorite plants. We get them by
sharing expenses with other Societies in our
area.
“It’s Spring! We’re so excited
Thanks again to our Program Committee for
we wet our plants!”
an outstanding job.
the United States but certainly not for the world.
There are many nations that have nights that
never drop below 72. And many regions have
By Frank Zachariah
more rainfall than we do. And.... without exception, every nation with warm wet nights has
beautiful native orchids.
A Question: Which orchids do you find the easiOur smarter, more experienced members are
est to grow and re-bloom?
growing these orchids. You already know their
For me, those would be the Cattleyas and
names. Many are Cattleyas and Dendrobiums
Dendrobiums. They are not difficult
and Vandas.
to keep alive and - Very Important! - I have seen
Our task in the Baton Rouge Orchid Society
plants that older members have grown for years is twofold:
– even decades!
First: Identify which orchids are best for our
Now... Go to a nursery or garden center. What special climate and share with our members and
orchids do you see for sale? Phals
the interested locals.
and Oncidiums mostly. Has anyone here seen a
And second: Figure how to grow them best
4-5 year old Phal that looks 4-5 years old and still here. Not how they grow best in New York or St
looks good?
Louis. How they grow them in Guatemala and
The reason I am bringing this up, I went to the Rio.
Houston Show in April. Four of the vendors were
Terrebonne Show
selling Miltonias. Beautiful Miltonias!
Someone who does not know anything about
And Others to Come
orchids buys one of these... What are the chancAt the Terrebonne Show on May 5 - 6 plants
es it will still be alive in a year? And so, the newbelonging to BROS members made a very good
bie says, ‘Orchids are difficult and they die! I’m
showing. Congratulations to Carolyn “Boots”
not going to try to grow them again!’
This is not unique to orchids. This is unique to Clay on the HCC she received on her Wilmotthe Gulf South! People ask what annuals grows teecca Keith Phillips, which she named “Emma”
for her granddaughter.
well here. I list the recommended ones. Then
Two other plants were pulled for judging but
they go and buy a beautiful blooming petunia indidn’t
make the cut. They were Danna’s Phal.
stead. And it is guaranteed to be compost by mid
Sogo Kitty and Bob Danka’s Bulbophyllum maxi-June.
mura.
This is not the fault of the purchaser nor the
We also garnered 6 blue ribbons, 4 red ones,
fault of the plant. It is not even the fault of the naand
1yellow one.
tional chain – these plants do well in the rest of
Thanks to Boots and Marie Williams for setthe U.S.
ting up our exhibit on Friday and to John & Sue
The problem stems from our nights when the
temperature stays above 72º F. This makes a
Ellen Graham for taking it down on Sunday.
huge difference in plant respiration. An analogy
At the Alexandria Show on May 12 - 13 Bob
is the panting dog. If your dog’s tongue is hang- Danka will set up and take down our exhibit.
ing, he probably had a little run and is a happy
After Alexandria, the next show will be in
critter. If it is hanging 24 hours later, he’s in trou- New Orleans on the first weekend of June, folble. When the nights stay warm, some orchids
lowed by the Lafayette Show on June 23 - 24.
can’t process all the energy they absorbed that
Then, of course, comes our Show on July 14
day. This is compounded if the orchid is outside. - 15. Be sure to get involved by volunteering on
We get a lot more rainfall here than Houston or
one of the committees that get the Show toMiami. The orchids that don’t grow themselves to gether. Be especially aware of opportunities to
death, succumb to pathogens they never devel- publicize our Show to your friends, neighbors,
oped defenses against.
and families so that we’ll have a large turnout
BUT, my fellow Southern orchid lovers, this is
of visitors.
not bad news! We may have a unique climate for
Let’s be Frank
About Orchids
MEET OUR NEW
MEMBERS!
BROS Meeting &
Program
Calendar, 2012
We are delighted to welcome three new
members who joined in April. Their contact information:
Thomas R. & Muriel C. Walker
11483 Millburn Dr
Baton Rouge, LA 70815
muriel49@cox.net (e-mail Muriel)
TRWCPA@cox.net (e-mail Thomas)
225.275.8881 (home)
225.955.0471(cell - Thomas)
225.955.0472 (cell - Muriel)
June 20 - Discuss Show Preparation
July - It’s Showtime! No Meeting
August 8 - Andrea Niessen (note
change of date to 2nd Wednesday)
September 19 - Manny Aybar
October 17 - Carlos Fighetti, former
AOS President
November 3 - Alan Koch, owner, Gold
Country Orchids - note that this meeting will be on the 1st Saturday.
December - date TBA - Christmas Party
Ana "Cris" Garcia
220 Gleason Street
Brusly, LA 70719
225.749.5442 (Home)
225.772.1993 (Cell)
agarci3@gmail.com
Let Lata, Tin, or Tanner know if you
have any program suggestions.
Collage by Lata of pictures of April Meeting. Top left: Gene Berg, Eliska Fauntleroy, speaker Dr. Mary Mancini,
Thelma Berg; Bottom left: Thelma Berg, Blair Many, Dr. Mancini, Gene Berg; Next: Durward Templet, Gene
Berg; Middle: Danna Spayde with Phal. Sogo Kitty; Next: Tin-Wein Yu arranging display; below Tin is his unusual leafless orchid; Top right is Lata’s Iwanagara Apple blossom; Below right is close up of Danna’s Phal Sogo
Kitty.
Dendrobium speciosum
Here’s some information you might find interesting if you’re growing Dendrobium
speciosum. I found this on Orchids Digest online (not the magazine) on 5/5/12.
“One of the accepted ways of repotting Dendrobium speciosum is to cut off every
vestige of roots back to the base of the cane. It's scary to do it but it works, new
roots appear not long after. Mind you this is one tough species, I have seen people
divide big clumps with an axe:)”
Regards,
Guy
Sydney Australia