Bridget Uzar, from Carter and Holmes Orchids, will tell us about the Journey of a Seedpod. This presentation takes the listener from the why and how one creates an orchid seedpod, all the way through growing seedlings in the greenhouse and readying them for sale. Few people understand the time and patience it takes to produce orchids from seed. Bridget originally created this presentation as part of an interactive educational exhibit for her local orchid society’s show. It has since received an Educational Award from the AOS.

Bridget is a fourth-generation green thumb, and a second-generation orchid grower. Following in her father’s footsteps, she has been at Carter and Holmes Orchids in Newberry South Carolina for over twenty years but has been around orchids her whole life, essentially growing up under the benches. (Her father worked at the Rod McClellan’s Bay-area orchid company, Acres of Orchids, for a decade before it was sold to Taisuco Sugar Co.)

Bridget began working at Carter and Holmes in 2002 in an everyday potting and watering capacity, eventually being given charge of the collection and breeding houses. She made her first Cattleya cross in 2008 and hasn’t stopped since. In 2009, she began working on digital photography, catalog publications, and other marketing work for Carter and Holmes Orchids. Selling Quality Orchids since 1947, Carter and Holmes Orchids is a family-run business with one of the world’s longest-running orchid hybridizing programs. Today, Bridget has been the chief grower and hybridizer at Carter and Holmes for over a decade, overseeing greenhouse management and production. She also handles the company’s marketing emails as well as promotional material and social media.

Carter and Holmes will be providing plants for the opportunity table and is offering a 15% discount to DVOS members on all additional individual purchases. You should have received a separate e-mail with the code. If you order before April 6, 2025 will be shipped with the DVOS plants and you’ll save on shipping costs.

Note that Bridget will be joining us “virtually” via Zoom. Although we hope you’ll attend the meeting in person, the presentation will also be available to watch remotely. To obtain the Zoom meeting link, send an e-mail request to dvosshowandtell@gmail.com; the link will be sent to you in an e-mail reply.

Because our April speaker will be joining us "virtually", we will not be gathering for dinner prior to the meeting.

It’s that time again. Please send in your dues for next year so we can continue to keep DVOS going. Everyone who gets their dues in by December 10, 2024, will receive a plant generously provided by Dennis Olivas. The plants will be presented at the holiday party.

There are two easy ways to pay- electronic or good old snail mail. See the instructions below.

Get those dues in so that DVOS can continue to be the society we all depend on.

Electronic submission of DVOS dues:

https://forms.gle/3FzHywMkM7o1hrSJ9

Electronic payments can be made at:

http://bit.ly/40tnpje

Mail in the submission of DVOS dues:

1. We ask for the following LEGIBLE information:

• First Name
• Last Name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Address

2. Write a check for $30, payable to Diablo View Orchid Society.

3. Mail the check along with the information indicated above to:

Maggie Woo

PO Box 492

Danville, CA 94526

You will be notified by email of receipt of funds and membership form.

Dear Orchid Friends,

I hope this message finds you all in great spirits!

I wanted to take a moment to reflect on Bruce Roger's recent presentation, which highlighted some fascinating points about the medicinal uses of orchids. Additionally, his later discussion about Sobralias was quite enjoyable and informative. As a Vice President, one of the perks you have is the opportunity to select the types of presentations we feature.

Your Input Matters!

To enhance our future meetings, I would love to hear your thoughts. Are there specific topics you would be interested in exploring further? Also, do you have contacts with growers who might be willing to speak to our members? Please reach out and share your ideas with us!

Upcoming Presentation

I am excited to announce our upcoming presentation featuring Bridget Uzar from Carter and Holmes. This session will be particularly beneficial for those interested in orchid hybridizing. Please keep in mind that hybridizing is a long-term endeavor that requires considerable patience. Often, you won't see the results of your efforts until 5 to 7 years after making a cross.

As a hobbyist hybridizer myself, I can personally attest to the journey of orchid hybridizing. My own adventure began over 30 years ago. While I've been hybridizing for quite some time, I have faced challenges with growing seedlings, which limited my results. However, I experienced a renewed sense of accomplishment when I created my intergeneric hybrid in 2019. Named after myself and my spouse, this hybrid is called Suara Rick Beverly and consists of five genera: Cattleya, Caularthron, Encyclia, Guarianthe, and Laelia.

Join Us!

If you are interested in learning more about the art and science of hybridizing, this is a presentation you won't want to miss!

Thank you for your continued passion for orchids. I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at our upcoming events!

Warm regards,

George Su
President
Diablo View Orchid Society

Schoenorchis juncifolia

Grown by David Trebotich

David brings in this beautiful miniature species that is native to East Indies. It will grow with suitable conditions, including bright, indirect light, well-draining growing media, and appropriate humidity levels.

Cymbidium NoID

Grower Michael Jesse

Michael brought in a beautiful Cymbidium NoID. Provide bright, indirect light, maintain a temperature range of 50-75°F (10-24°C), ensure good air circulation, water thoroughly when the potting mix is dry, and fertilize regularly during the growing season.

Restrepia antennifera 'Judy'

Grower Mara Kauffman

Mara brings in a beautiful Restrepia species. The antennae-carrying Restrepia is a small epiphytic orchid species that thrives at elevated altitudes within the cool, humid montane forests of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Notably, these diminutive orchids do not possess pseudobulbs.

Dendrobium NoID

Grower Sonya Provaznik

Sonya brings in a cute Dendrobidum NoID. Dendrobiums are generally dispersed across a variety of habitats in a significant portion of South, East, and Southeast Asia, this includes regions such as China, Japan, India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, New Guinea, Vietnam, and numerous Pacific islands. The orchids belonging to this genus possess roots that extend along the surfaces of trees or rocks, seldom embedding themselves in the soil.

Cattlianthe Rojo

Grower Henry Shaw

Henry brings in a beautiful Cattlianthe Rojo, which is a hybrid in the Cattlianthe genus, registered with the Royal Horticultural Society by Rod McLellan Co. in 1965. Cattlianthe is a cross between Cattleya and Guarianthe.

Cattleya Drum Beat 'Heritage' HCC/AOS

Grower Linda Castleton

Linda brings in a beautiful hybrid, one of Stewart’s most widely circulated lavender purples, from 1967.

Rhyncholaelia Memoria Coach Blackmore

Grown by David Trebotich

David brings in a beautiful, starry Rhyncholaelia hybrid. It's a cross between Rhyncholaelia digbyana × Rhyncholaelia Aristocrat. They exhibit a moderate growth rate, reaching maturity in 2-3 years and typically growing to a height of 12-24 inches, with a spread of 12-18 inches.

Cattleya Virginia's Eyes

Grower Miki Ichiyanagi

Miki brings in the ever-popular Fred Clark hybrid of the Cattleya alliance. Virginia's Eyes is a hybrid between Slc. Angel Eyes 'SVO' HCC/AOS × Slc. Virginia Dickey 'Diamond Orchids' AM/AOS.