| The Arizona Orchidist Newsletter may 1999
NEXT OSA BOARD MEETING
The Board Meeting for the May general meeting was held
on April 18 (a week earlier than it would normally be held) since some
of the Board Members are attending the World Orchid Conference in Vancouver.
NEXT OSA SOCIETY MEETING
The next regular society monthly meeting will be Thursday,
May 6, 1999, at the Valley Garden Center, 1809 N. 15th Avenue, Phoenix,
Arizona, (phone 252-2120). The meeting, open to all plant enthusiasts,
will start at 7:00 p.m.
Refreshments will be provided by: Peggy Stejskal
(beverage), Bob MacLeod and Carrie O'Brien
(edible items). Thank you Refreshment Committee.
Grower on Call for May is Ron Norman, 520-299-8521
Relocated Orchids Report
Deacon Bell reports from Santa Fe that his orchids continue
to thrive and are "happy" in their indoor-greenhouse environment Suz Cramer
reports from Telluride: "The 'little guys' that live in my bathroom/shower
are doing well in spite of a couple months of semi-neglect. My phals
seem to have adjusted to the extreme dryness and some are on their second
bloom cycle. The 'window-sill' catt crosses are mostly flourishing
and the other, more picky catts are a little more cranky, but surviving."
Both growers relocated their orchids from Phoenix, and
their reports offer encouraging words about the adaptability of orchids.
Willella Stimmel
Look for an interview of Willella Stimmel in the July
issue of Phoenix Home and Garden Magazine!
May Birthdays
Fred Stimmell 1st
Wilbur Chang 12th
Scott Emerson 31st
FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK
Lou Ann Remeikis
I made it through my first month as President!!!
What a month it has been. I am still trying to get organized; however,
it will have to be put on hold until after the 16th World Orchid Conference.
Hopefully once I return from Vancouver, BC, I will be able to "settle"
in.
We have a 1st Vice President! Bob MacLeod stepped
forward and accepted my request to help for the remainder of the year.
I promise to do what I can to make it painless, Bob! And thank you
from the bottom of my heart! I am sure Keith Mead will be very happy
to finally have a male at the Board meetings to help offset the estrogen
level present! Welcome aboard!
OSA participated in the Garden Party held at the two Gardener's
World locations in the valley. This took place during the weekend of March
20th and 21st. The staff at both locations made us feel so welcome,
and we hope we have the opportunity to participate again next year.
Sometimes it is difficult to recruit enough OSA members to assist in one
event, but we pulled off two events simultaneously with eager assistance
from our members.
I personally thank Nancy Burnett, Shirley Engberg, Sally
and Steve Grass, Jim Johnson, Norma Kafer, Peggy Stejskal, and Willie Stimmell
for handling the activities at the Glendale location; and thanks to Jane
and Pete Heckel, Keith Mead, and Jen Hall for helping me man the east valley
location.
On Friday and Saturday, April 2nd and 3rd, we were well-received
by customers at HomeBase (90th St. and Shea, Scottsdale). Our Orchid
Ambassadors on Friday were Willie Stimmell and Ann Cherny, and on Saturday
Willie again helped when I was able to be there. If you did not have
a chance to stop at any of the HomeBase locations during this weekend you
really missed a beautiful selection of orchids. There were hundreds!
I bought a few, and I now have my office "in bloom." There are so
many misconceptions out there regarding orchid care and it was a
great opportunity to help set the record straight.
Many people were encouraged by the "support" concept our society practices.
Tuesday night, April 6th, OSA presented a community service
program for the Hassayampa 4-H Club. It brought back old memories
to me, as I was a member of two 4-H Clubs in my youth. The kids were
very excited about potting up their seedlings and learning about orchids.
It was a late night for most of us, as the program was held at 7:30 p.m.
in Wickenburg; however, we were well received and the presentation was
enjoyed by all. We got a chance to see Niki and Debbie
Hamilton, OSA members, and members of the Hassayampa
4-H Club. Assisting in the presentation conducted by Willie Stimmell
were Sam Weinschenk, Norma Kafer, Sarah Heberling (Ma) and myself. Thanks
to all who went the extra mile (or 90 miles each way) to help out.
Saturday, April 10th, a few of us gathered at Norma Kafer's
home to attempt the raising of the greenhouse. Once there it was
quickly realized there was some ground work (literally) that needed to
be completed before putting it all together. The location where the
greenhouse was to be placed was on an irrigation berm and the digging began.
We didn't get as much done that day as we had planned, but it is better
to do it right the first time than have to dismantle the greenhouse at
a later date and do it properly. Those who showed up were Willie
and Fred Stimmell, Jane and Pete Heckel, Keith Mead, Kelsey Schroeder (my
niece who was visiting from Detroit, Michigan) and myself. Frank
(I apologize for not knowing his last name) was also there to help direct
and instruct on erecting the greenhouse. Frank is the one who originally
built the greenhouse and knew what went where. I know Keith spent
time the following week preparing the plot, leveling the area and preparing
the base for the final phase of putting it all together, which is scheduled
for Saturday, April 17th. I'll report the progress in the next newsletter.
Hats off to Willie for handling all of the Community Service
Program Coordination! I know she was presenting a program on Tuesday,
April 13th, at the John C. Lincoln Adult Day Care. I have not heard
how that went, but I wish to thank Sally Grass for offering her assistance
for the presentation when volunteers were requested at the March meeting.
I know Ken Gettys was also going to assist, and it is my understanding
Ken donated one of his orchids as a door prize.
Thanks go to all, and I apologize if I overlooked someone's
assistance.
Speaking of orchid and orchid-related donations, thanks
go to all those who provided items for the raffle table at the March meeting.
Those providing donations were the family of Bernice Ehrlich, Phillip Liu,
Willie Stimmell, August Lorenzini, the Washington Garden Club, the Orchid
Society of Arizona, and myself. Without donations we have no raffle
table, so don't forget to
bring something for the cause if you can.
I am aware Willie has a Community Service Program scheduled
for Tuesday, May 4th, for the Prince of Peace School. This will be
presented to approximately 20 pre-school children. Since this will
be taking place prior to our next meeting, the time we would ask for volunteers,
I am asking that anyone who can help with this program to please call Willie
and volunteer your time. Experience tells me that you will get so
much joy out of helping these children and you'll go home with a chuckle
or two because of them. Willie can be reached at 947-8479.
Please help if you can.
I hope everyone's health is improving. Phun Krieger
and Debbie Hamilton have recently endured a bit of surgery and are doing
well as I understand.
We also send our condolences to Fred Rathbun on the passing
of his mother, and Dee MacLeod on the passing of her mother. I know
this is a difficult time for you and your families. You are in our
thoughts and prayers. If any of our other members are under the weather,
I wish you a speedy return to good health.
Happy growing, and I hope to see you at the next meeting
- Thursday, May 6th!
MAY PROGRAM
LEARN SECRETS ABOUT PRESERVING YOUR FAVORITE FLOWERS
FROM NANCY MATA OF THE SECRET GARDEN
When you stop in at the Secret Garden at 5202 N. 7th Street,
it is difficult to decide where to start. To the right are rooms
filled with all sorts of garden equipment. If you go to the left
is a huge room filled with thousands of flowers: air dried, freeze
dried, preserved using glycerin, fresh, etc. The co-owners of the
shop, Nancy and Lisa, are there to answer any questions that you might
have.
The freeze-drying machine costs $40,000 and is huge:
6 feet tall and weighs in at 2 thousand pounds. Flowers take just
a little over 2 weeks in the machine to become freeze dried. You
can have a special flower freeze dried or a bouquet. There was a
goldfish experiment, but we won't go into that here.
On the garden side are wonderful table top fountains,
fountains for outside, potting benches, stepping stones, birdhouses, wall
decorations, stones, anything you can imagine to put in your garden. There
are many ideas that you might want to copy, such as their faux painting
on the walls.
Nancy says that about 60% of their business is from special
orders. You can have your favorite saying engraved in a stone that
you pick out. Or you can have a sweet headstone for your departed
pet. Or you can have Nancy help you with ordering LOTS of things to make
your garden an outside room. There are catalog books categorized
to help you find a special gift.
Nancy will demonstrate different ways to preserve flowers-this
includes those prize orchids that you have growing. They have good
results freeze drying dendrobs, oncidiums, catts, and cymbidiums; just
not much luck with phals. If you want a flower freeze dried, it will
cost in the neighborhood of $6. The glycerin idea sounds interesting
and Nancy will explain how that is done. So, if you are interested
in preserving your flowers, any kind, join us for the May meeting.
OSA COMMUNITY SERVICE REPORT
by Wilella Stimmell, CSP Coordinator
On April 6, we traveled to Wickenburg and presented a
program at 7:30 p.m. for approximately 25 members of the Hassayampa
4-H group. Sarah Heberling, Norma Kafer, Lou Remeikis, Sam Weinschenk,
and I shared our blooming display plants with the children (and a few parents)
who had gathered in the library of the Wickenburg High School. Two
familiar faces in the 4-H group were OSA members, Debbie and Niki Hamilton.
Niki proudly wore her OSA name badge! Also a student at Morristown Elementary
School, Niki was the only 4-H member who had already potted an orchid seedling.
At the tender age of 7, she is already an enthusiastic, "experienced" orchid
grower!
Children enrolled in 4-H groups already have a lively
interest in the cultivation of plants, and it was our pleasure to expand
their "plant horizon" by introducing them to orchids.
Special thanks to 4-H leader, Sabrina Peterson, for setting
up the table for our display plants and providing covered work-station
tables, and for making available an ample supply of deodorized milk jugs.
(Our web master, Jim Johnson, might already have posted
a picture of the 4-H members holding their mini-greenhouses and newly potted
seedlings, on our web site.)
A question we are frequently asked by school children
is: are orchids used as food? The only orchid product we mention is vanilla.
(We do know that an OSA member concocted a recipe for orchid soup.
The only report we have on how it tastes is, "it's not bad".) Perhaps a
follow-up program for schools could be devoted to documented medicinal
uses and food products derived from orchids in various countries of the
world.
One of the 4-H members asked whether orchids are poisonous
to cats. This is not the first time we have been asked the question.
Several growers have reported that their cats chewed on orchid leaves.
Lou answered the 4-H questioner by inquiring whether the cat was still
alive after munching on an orchid. Since the cat is still alive,
it appears that that orchid was not poisonous to the cat. (Might
there be a substance akin to the taste of catnip in orchid leaves? If any
OSA members have similar "cat attack" stories to share, we would like to
hear about them.)
On April 13, OSA presented a program for the John C.
Lincoln Adult Day Care Center, in Phoenix. Ken Gettys, Sally Grass,
Norma Kafer, and I shared our blooming orchids with about 40 participants
who were engaged in exercising when we arrived. The doorprize phal
was donated by Ken Gettys. Thanks for sharing, Ken! The gentleman
who won the phal also received a mini-greenhouse, a phal culture book,
and .our phone numbers. The activities at the Center appear to be
non-stop. After the conclusion of our program, several of the participants
set to
work potting plants (not orchids) in a large flower bed
outside the building.
(A report on the program scheduled for May 4 - Prince
of Peace School - will appear in our June newsletter. A report on
the program scheduled for May 18 - Squaw Peak School - will appear in our
July newsletter.)
It's only April and we're getting near the 100 degree
mark, which always reminds us how hot it gets in Phoenix. So put
August 7on your calendar as a day to spend in cool, rainy Prescott for
a field trip to VAMC.
PARENTAGE OF IWANAGARA HYBRIDS
by
Wilella Stimmell
On the display table at our April meeting, there were
two Iwanagara Appleblossom plants. For those of you who attended
OSA plant sales in 1998, you know that OSA sold 30 Iwan. Appleblossom plants
in glorious bloom during the year. Also, a commercial grower/OSA
member donated two Iwan. Appleblossom plants in bloom last year for our
raffle table. While some growers have seen and/or purchased one of
these plants, others might assume this hybrid is "new." The
"trail" of Iwanagara hybrids appears to begin in 1960
with the registration of Iwan. Frontier. The listing is found in SANDER'S
LIST OF ORCHID HYBRIDS, Vol. II of the 1946-1960 edition.
Iwanagara is a hybrid of: Brassavola x Cattleya x Diacrium
x Laelia. Up to 1995, SANDER'S LIST OF ORCHID HYBRIDS lists only
four Iwanagara hybrids that were registered, but there could be others
in existence which were not registered.
- Iwan. Frontier is
a hybrid of Diacattleya Chastity x Blc. Hodako and was registered by E.T.
Iwanaga of Honolulu in 1960.
- Iwan. Helen Fox
is a hybrid of Diaca. Chastity x Blc. Ermine and was registered by Robert
Peters of Kailua (or Nanakuli ), Hawaii in 1964.
- Iwan. Varut Ruby
is a hybrid of Blc. The Friar x Diaca. Chastity and was registered by Krairit
Vejavarut, K.R. Orchids, Thailand, in 1987.
- Iwan. Appleblossom
is a hybrid of Dial. Snowflake x Blc. Orange Nugget and was registered
by the Rod McLellan Co. in 1992.
All of the Iwan. Appleblossom plants OSA sold last year
were mericlones, yet there were a few very subtle color variations among
the flowers. Such differences are possible among flowers of mericlones,
but they are few in number.
Recent orchid reference works no longer refer to the genus
Diacrium. It has been renamed Caularthron. Since Iwanagara
was first registered as a new hybrid at a time when Diacrium was the accepted
name for the genus, expect to see future registrations of Iwanagara list
Diacrium, not Caularthron, as a parent.
There are a number of other generic names that utilize
Diacrium and have been in usage for the past 94 years. For example,
Dial. is the standard abbreviation for the generic name Dialaelia. Dial.
is a hybrid of Diacrium x Laelia. The earliest Sander's List (commonly
referred to as the Master List) lists the date of the first registered
Dial. hybrid as 1905. Diaca. (the genus of the pod parent used in
Iwan. Frontier) is Cattleya x Diacrium. The first Diacattleya hybrid
was registered in 1908. In order to make generic names be consistent
with the newer name, Caularthron, all generic names based on Diacrium as
one parent of a hybrid would have to
be changed - a highly unlikely occurrence.
16th World Orchid Conference, Vancouver, BC, Canada -
April 22 - May 3
Having not been an OSA member for very long, I am unaware
of the many orchid shows and conferences that seem to occur on a regular
basis. I, therefore, inquired about the Vancouver conference and
received two excited Emails in return. According to my sources several
OSA members are going. Apparently, they'll be attending lots of lectures
and seminars gathering knowlege and information to pass along to the rest
of us. I'm sure they'll all have a wonderful time, and I'm also sure
we'll get in-depth reports on their experiences.
Nancy Burnett
MAY EVENTS
4 - Prince of Peace School, 1
pm
3641 N. 56th
Street
6 - OSA Meeting, 7 pm
18 - Squaw Peak School, 12:30 pm
4601 N. 34th
Street
23 - Fall Show Planning Meeting and
OSA Board
Meeting
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