Our presentation this month will be a prerecorded Webinar from the AOS. Fred Clarke will be speaking on Catasetums. We will have an opportunity table full of beautiful Catasetums.

Dinner with the Speaker

Since we have no speaker this month, there will not be a dinner with the speaker.

Greetings fellow orchid lovers!

When thinking about orchids, most people envision the tropical rain forests of Asia, South and Central America, and Africa; however, there is a whole world of orchids native to more temperate climates, including our own varied climate zones in California. Our native orchids occur from far northern CA to Baja and from the high Sierra to the coast; they grow in habitats ranging from marshy bogs to coastal forests to alpine meadows. As far as I know, all our natives are terrestrial (as opposed to epiphytic) and although often attractive, they are typically not nearly as “showy” as the tropical species most of us cultivate.

I am motivated to write this brief “ode to our orchids” by a recent observation of a blooming Stream Orchid aka the Giant Helleborine (Epipactis gigantea) while on vacation in Sonoma County. This specimen was hiding in the grasses growing in gravel at the edge of the Gualala River (actually in the “dry” gravel riverbed). See pictures below. It’s a rather large orchid; this plant was over two feet tall, and it can reach as much as three feet. It’s a widespread perennial orchid native to western North America from western Canada to central Mexico. It’s one of the most abundant orchids on the Pacific Coast. The ~1-inch flowers have three brownish-green sepals decorated with darker veins. The two top petals are reddish-brown with purple veins and the bottom, cup-shaped petal is a brighter red-brown with some yellow areas. The plant typically grows in wet areas such as the riverbed where I found this specimen.

Keep your eyes open when walking in nature. Orchids are all around us and you never know what you might find!

Henry

Come to Sacramento August 3 for a day of wonderful speakers, vendors, AOS judging, and auction. Nancy McClellan will have advanced sale tickets available for $10 at the DVOS July 11 meeting. Don't miss out!

Some of the plants from 2023 auction

We have found the catalog to be a very useful tool to attract folks to our auction. So send information for the catalog! Your plant doesn’t have to be fancy dancy to be in the catalog. See list of information that would be helpful below. It is OK if you don’t have ALL of this information. Just send what you have. You can provide this information (along with images) in an email to Diane (bonddiane9@gmail.com)

• Photo and description of size (inches wide and inches tall) of the plant
• Name (please include the entire name as you know it)
• Any cultural background that you have or can find
• How have you have been growing it?
• Last time it bloomed, was divided, was repotted
• Has it been tested for Virus? If so- what is it’s status? (you do NOT have to virus test)
• Reserve price (if applicable)
• Donor’s name

Orchid expert extraordinaire Kathy Barrett moderated the July Show and Tell

Vanda nana

Grower Judith Johnston

Judith brought in this beautiful miniature Vanda that is native to Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. It is a warm to cool growing plant.

First Place

Louiscapperaera Richard Ace Otaki

Grower Ricardo Pastor

This is a complex hybrid of species originating in Central and South America. Ricardo grows this outdoors in Richmond. It is recommended that this plant be grown in warm to hot conditions in dappled ligh tconditions

Second Place

Miltoniopsis Rene Komoda

Grower Ricardo Pastor

This is a hybrid of species that originate in Colombia, Panama and Ecuador. Some grow in warm, humid habitats. Others grow in cooler (but still humid) areas. It is suggested that this plant be grown in shaded to dappled light in warm conditions. It could tolerate cool temperature. Ricardo grows this plant outside in Richmond.

First Place

Cattleya No ID

Grower Linda Castleton

Linda brings in a beautiful bright mini-cat. She grows in a greenhouse in Walnut Creek.

Second Place

Brassolaeliocattleya Brunswick Gem 'Surprise' x Cattleya Lou Gilmore 'Sunflower'

Grower Renate Johnson

Renate brings in another of her beautiful standard Cattleya hybrids. The species parents are dominated by Cattleya dowiana (45%) then Cattleya trianae (12%). This hybrid should grow in bright indirect light, cool to hot temperatures.

Third Place

Miltoniopsis Gladys Fumiko Yokoyama x Miltoniopsis Tome Yokoyama

Grower Chen-Hao Hsu

Chen-Hao brings in a beautiful hybrid Miltoniopsis. The majority species parents cam be found in Colombia, Panama and Ecuador. Miltoniopsis roezlii grows in warm, humid areas while Miltoniopsis vexillaria is found on the margins of wet, cool mountainous areas. This allows the hybrid to grow in warm to cool temperatures. Grow in dappled light conditions.

First Place

Cattleya Pacavia 'Suara Orchids'

Grower George Su

George brings in a beautiful primary hybrid of Cattleya purpurata and Cattleya tenebrosa. This hybrid shows us a great mix of both parents. Both parents can be found in Brazil. It can grow in cool to warm temperatures in dappled to bright indirect light conditions.

Second Place

Dendrobium NoID

Grower Marcia Hart

Marcia brought in a beautiful white Dendrobium that appears to be a member of the Latouria section of Dendrobium.

Third Place

Cattleya Tropical Pointer 'Cheetah' HCC/AOS

Grower Pat Bacchetti

Pat brings in a beautiful hybrid. It's majority species parents are Cattleya intermedia (50%) and Cattleya milleri (25%). Cattleya intermedia gives it that beautiful lip. Cattleya milleri brings a reduced size of plant and flower as well as a starrier shape. Cattleya aclandiae (6%) is also in there giving us those beautiful spots. Pat grows this plant in an intermediate greenhouse. It should like bright indirect to dappled light and warm to cool temperatures.

The AOS is implementing a new program in September (details in September edition of Orchids magazine). They are looking for youths ages 15 - 25 that love orchids but may not have the financial means to join the AOS. If you or anyone you know meet this criteria, please contact Diane (bonddiane9@gmail.com). We will get your information to the AOS.

In the past couple of years we have tried to order bulk amounts of Orchiata. We now have a local source of this bark. You can see their information below. This is very high quality bark. If you need some, now would be a good time to get it.