SONOMA COUNTY ORCHID SOCIETY

January 2014

A California Non-Profit 501 (c) (3) Corporation

IN THIS ISSUE Our January Speaker

1 is Speaker Bio and Speaker Mary Nisbet, Dinner owner of California

2 Orchids in Bolinas President's Corner, and Thank You Mary has been growing orchids since 1978. She got her start at 3 McLellans’ where she spent Lillian Smith and 3 1/2 years. There she was Mark Hopkins Obituaries exposed to commercial

4 growing, judging, hybridizing, Membership, Refreshments and many other aspects of the & Congratulations to orchid world. Lynne Murrell After McLellans, Mary moved to a shared greenhouse in Daly City, where she began 5 boarding orchids. During that time, she was looking for a location on the coast to open Pictures of Holiday Dinner her own orchid nursery. In 1987, she discovered a decrepit old fuchsia nursery in Bolinas that "no one on earth but me would see as a dream come true." Through years of hard 6 work, Mary performed magic to bring to fruition the lovely nursery that houses her own Your Orchids in January orchid collection and her orchid boarding business.

7 Orchid Adaptations to an At her nursery, Mary has five greenhouses that hold approximately 20,000 orchids. For Epiphytic Lifestyle those who haven't visited Mary's greenhouses, she has several large cork oak logs, where she has mounted a variety of orchids. This allows them to grow as they do in the wild. If 8 you’ve never been there, don’t miss her next open house, which we will advertise in this Upcoming Events newsletter. See photos of the orchid logs at the following Flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/finboy/sets/72157628374066587/ 9 Orchid Shows Mary's talk will be a show-and-tell format. Mary will introduce us to a sampling of her orchids and tell us how she grows them and helps them thrive. 10

JOIN US FOR DINNER WITH MARY AT JOHNNY GARLIC'S, 1460 Farmers SCOS Awards & Trophies Lane, Santa Rosa (only a few minutes from our meeting place) at 5:00 p.m. Please RSVP 11 – 13 to Kathie Hile at 707-585-1912 or [email protected] by Monday, January 13. Schedule of Show Classes and Rules Note: Editor apologizes for lack of page numbers. Inserting Show Rules as last 4 pages played havoc with page numbers ):

President’s Corner

Dear Orchid Friends,

Happy New Year! Let’s ring in the New Year with bells on so we can make our Sonoma County Orchid Society even better! We have Mary Nisbet of California Orchids to start off our January meeting. She is a fabulous grower. Don’t miss her talk!

Now that the busy holiday season is over, our Annual Show is just around the corner. Let’s join in the fun! Our Show Chair, Lynne Murrell, has a lot of planning and organizing underway already. There are a lot of things to do to get this Show ready. Everyone needs to get involved in order to make this Show a success! It is due to YOUR efforts that makes our SCOS a successful and fun organization! We need a lot of volunteers!

Congratulation to Lynne Murrell, the SCOS Marie Waskow Award winner! She really deserves it! She has volunteered countless hours over the years. She has spent many hours working on things that truly help our Society. See you in the New Year, starting with our January 14th meeting!

Susan

SCOS Board of Directors

Board Highlights: Thank you to Billie THERE WAS NO BOARD MEETING IN DECEMBER McCarthy and her great team for their hard work on the Holiday Party. Billie's decorations were beautiful and Lynne Murrell's candy touches were "sweet". We had a terrific turnout and everyone had a great time. Lucky bidders came away with silent auction and other lucky winners won raffle plants. Finally, some fun gifts California Sierra Nevada Judging Center Awards were exchanged. Thank you Lynne Murrell for can be viewed at: http://www.csnjc.org picking up the orchids for the silent auction and table plants which were raffled. Thank you to everyone who participated. What a great way to finish up the year!

Thank you Josie Lee for getting the new plaque and the engraving done for the Marie Wascow Award.

Phrag unnamed hybrid 'Jenaka' (Phrag. besseae var. d'alessandroi x Phrag Eumelia Arias) AM 81 (prov)

For those of you who may not know, we lost our sweet and fun-loving member, Lillian Smith.

I am also so sorry to say that long-time members, Mariann and Richard Hopkins, lost their beloved son, Mark. Our hearts go out to you.

The obituaries follow:

Lillian A. SMITH Funeral Notice Guest Book  "Dr. Theodor Korithoski [email protected] Brooks,..." View Sign

This is a picture of Lillian taken on her 90th BD

Passed on December 2, 2013 at Portneuf Medical Center at the age of 91 with her family at her side. Lillian was born in Buffalo, NY on March 22, 1922. She was raised in Buffalo with four brothers and one sister. She moved to Northern California when she was 28 years old and married the love of her life until 2008 when her husband died. They were avid Morgan horse breeders for over thirty years. Later, they became lovers of orchids and started cultivating them. Lillian moved to Pocatello in August, 2013 to be with her daughter and grandson and their families. We are so blessed that we had this time with her. Lillian is survived by her son, Dan Smith, her daughter Catherine Johnson, and her daughter Margaret Sherwood, her grandchildren: Jeff Sherwood, Jason Smith, Peter Smith, Luke Johnson, and Lise Johnson, and six great-grandchildren. We would like to thank the staff in the ER and ICU at Portneuf Medical Center for their kindness and professionalism at a time when it was most needed.

Mark Alexander HOPKINS Funeral Notice Guest Book View Sign

Mark passed away suddenly at his home in Santa Rosa on December 11, 2013 at the age of 50. Mark is survived by his loving wife of 14 years, Gina; sons Nicholas Hopkins and Ian Hopkins; step-daughter Stephanie Vannetti; parents Richard and Mariann Hopkins, grandmother Minnie Dyer; brother Tim Hopkins and his wife Myrna Hopkins; niece Gabriela Hopkins, nephew Andrew Hopkins, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Mark was born in San Francisco on December 5, 1963. He received Firefighting and Paramedic training at the SRJC and worked as a Paramedic for 15 years. He was a coach for the Windsor High Freshmen, Windsor Knights, and Little League. He enjoyed boating and camping and will be missed by all who knew him. Visitation hours will commence Monday, December 16 from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at PARENT- SORENSEN MORTUARY, 301 S. Main St., Sebastopol, 829-5433. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 17 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Sebastian's Catholic Church, 7983 Covert Lane, Sebastopol. Interment to follow at Pleasant Hills Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mark's name to Memorial Hospital, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , or the Windsor Knights Football Team. Mark we love you very much and we will miss you.

MEMBERSHIP COLUMN Refreshments THE BOARD THANKS ALL OF YOU FOR We are asking members to bring snacks to the monthly meetings. BEING MEMBERS IN 2013. WE HOPE Please check the following list to find out what month you are asked YOU ALL ENJOYED THE SPEAKERS, to participate. FRIENDSHIP AND ACTIVITIES OF 2013. Members with last names beginning with the letters:

T – Z January, 2014 The Board wants new members to know that we are all A – B February here to help. Don't hesitate to ask a question of any C – De March society member. We have many expert growers! Or you Di – Fo April can call or email board members. To email, go to our Fr – H May Society webpage www.sonomaorchids.com, click on the J – Le June Ice Cream Social July "contacts" link and email any director or committee Li – M August chair. Through the website, you can also read back Bar-B-Q & Auction September issues of our newsletter. No Meeting in September N - R October Wear Your Name Badge S November Wear your name badge and sign the list at the Holiday Dinner December No Meeting in December Membership Table. At each meeting, one name will be drawn and that person will receive a free raffle ticket. Thank you Those who would like to order a name badge should do so as soon as possible. Email Jeanne at [email protected].

Change of address?

To send an address or email change, go to our Society website at www.sonomaorchids.com and use the "contacts" link to send an email to the membership chair.

Lynne Murrell recipient of the 2013 Marie Wascow Award

Lynne Murrell receiving Marie Wascow Award Guests arriving

After Dinner

Earl & Kathy Rathbun and Kris Foster

Socializing

Your Orchids in January (based on Robert Scully, Ned Nash & James Rose checklists, courtesy of the AOS) General Growing Tips. Plants will continue to manufacture food during the winter, albeit at a reduced rate. Everything Paphiopedilums. Do not allow the roots of paphs. to dry will occur at a slower pace until spring arrives so the need out. If growing on a windowsill, use a pebble tray, with water for water and fertilizer is reduced. Indoor growers: pull your in the pebbles, to increase humidity. Accumulated moisture orchid away from the window if its leaves are touching the in the pouch shortens exterior glass. Outdoor growers: keep an eye on the flower life. Watch for minimum projected temperatures and take care to protect insects, particularly your plants. mealy bug around the base of the under Cattleyas and their old browned leaves. hybrids. Tie up Cattleya pseudobulbs. Watch for signs of insect infestation on the undersides of leaves or in the sheathing on Phalaenopsis. The phalaenopsis flowering cycle is about pseudobulbs. Remove to start. Constant air circulation is essential to avoid. the sheathing Botrytis-spotted (cataphylls) carefully so as not to nick the soft tissue of the blooms. Water newest bulbs, which could result in rot or the introduction of carefully to keep disease. flowers dry and to minimize risks of Cymbidiums. Since you are watering less this time of year, soft rot in the fleshy you should keep the ground around cymbidiums damp in leaves. Continue to order to keep the humidity high. This will prevent the use a dilute water shriveling of the pseudo- soluble fertilizer. bulbs and prolong Monitor for scale flowering. Later blooming and mealy bugs on varieties are beginning to the inflorescences and undersides of the leaves. push up their infloresences. Continued cool temperatures are beneficial for your cymbidiums.

Dendrobiums. Continue to water sparingly, or not at all, those dendrobium species that require a dormant period before flowering this spring (Den. lindleyi (syn. Den. aggregatum), Den. chrysotoxum, Den. farmeri, Den. Vandas. Many of the popular Thai hybrids and African angraecoids begin their winter flowering now. Watch for densiflorum and Den. nobile or signs of inflorescences; help them away from the main stem of the plant to ensure proper display. Water the roots every its hybrids). As the buds other day and fertilize once or twice a week if light levels are sufficient. emerge, gradually in-crease the watering frequency and amount. Do not expose evergreen-type hybrids to temperatures below 60 F or plants in flower may drop leaves and buds.

Orchid Adaptations to an Epiphytic Lifestyle Reprinted Courtesy of Wesley E. Higgins, Ph.D. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

The originated as terrestrial forest under- story herbs approximately 100 million years ago. The transition to an epiphytic canopy habitat required adaptations in plant morphology. Orchids have specialized adaptations in the roots, stems, leaves, and seed. Epiphytic orchids have no vascular connection to the host tree. The host only supplies support in a habitat that has more sunlight than the forest floor. Orchids absorb required nutriments from the surface of the host and rainwater.

Orchid roots function as anchorage for the plant, photosynthesis, and water and nutrient uptake and storage. These adventitious roots typically arise from the rhizome. Orchid roots have a spongy layer of cells outside the exodermis known as the velamen that functions for temporary water storage. These cells rapidly absorb rainwater (and nutrients) and hold it until it can be translocated across the exodermis into the vascular system. Roots of epiphytic orchids are exposed to the light and the cells in the roots contain functioning chloroplasts. This is why wet orchid roots appear green in color. Velamen can also be found in Aroids that are adapted to an epiphytic habit. Epiphytic orchids often have enlarged portions of the stem called pseudobulbs, which are used for water and carbohydrate storage. The pseudobulbs form in one internode or it can consist of several internodes. The pseudobulbs swell or shrink as moisture is stored or withdrawn. This adaptation allows orchids to flourish in areas with seasonal rainfall where the plants experience months without rainfall. The pseudobulbs and leaves have a thick cuticle to reduce moisture loss. The leaves of a plant are the primary photosynthetic organs that are sometimes modified for water storage. Some orchids have thick succulent leaves and no pseudobulbs. Orchids have a modified photosynthetic pathway as an adaptation to the dry canopy habitat. The opening of the stomata to take up carbon dioxide is always connected with large losses of water. To inhibit this loss, Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) has a mechanism that allows the uptake of carbon dioxide during the night when relative humidity is higher. The prefixed carbon dioxide is stored in the vacuoles and is used during the daytime for photosynthesis.

Orchid seed are adapted for wind disbursal. The dust-like seed consist of a tiny embryo and a net-like testa. The seed lack endosperm, the 3N tissues that typically feed a developing embryo. In orchids when germination occurs a mycorrhizal fungi penetrates the testa and feeds the embryo. This symbiotic relationship also occurs in the seed germination of terrestrial orchid species.

UPCOMING EVENTS

January 2014

1/17 The Gold Coast Cymbidium Growers Cymbidium Collectors Auction. Previews at 6:30 p.m.;,Auction starts at 7:00 p.m. Sharp. San Mateo Garden Center, 605 Parkside Way, San Mateo, CA.Click here For details, and to print out the Auction Catalogue, Rules and Guidelines. To see photos of plant entries, click on our Photo Page! Bring your cash, checks, boxes and bags! FREE Admission and Parking, but get there early as parking is limited.

1/25 – 1/26 Peninsula Orchid Society Show & Sale: The Orchid Games. 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Community Activities Building, 1400 Roosevelt Avenue, Redwood City. Info at http://penorchidsoc.org

1/31 SCOS SHOW AND SALE SET-UP. We need everyone's help to make our big Show a success. Please volunteer. Contact Gerry Smith [email protected] or 707-795-0235.

February

2/1 – 2/2 SCOS SHOW AND SALE Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Sunday 10:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m.

2/20 – 2/23 Pacific Orchid Exposition: Orchids…and all that Jazz. Thursday Evening Gala Benefit Party & Wine Tasting $45, Hors d' Ouevres, Live Music, 6:30 - 10pm; Fri 10am - 6pm; Sat 9am - 6pm; Sun 10am - 5pm. Admission. Shuttle Service for parking. Fort Mason Festival Pavilion, San Francisco. Call the San Francisco Orchid Society Hotline 415-665- 2468, e-mail at [email protected]. or website at www.orchidsanfrancisco.org

March

3/8 Sacramento Valley Cymbidium Society Annual Show 9 am- 4 pm. Shepard Garden and Art Center, McKinley Park, 3330 McKinley Blvd., Sacramento, CA. Plant Entries are welcome on Friday, March 1 from 1:00pm - 6:00pm and March 2 from 8:00am - 9:00am. You do not have to be a member of the Cymbidium Society to enter your cymbidiums - all are welcome. The entries will qualify for audience judging. There will be education classes throughout the day and repotting for a fee will be available. Free parking. Free admission. Free advice. Rich Heisler, (916) 989- 1650, [email protected], orwww.sacramentocymbidiums.org, or http://www.sacramentocymbidiums.org/EventDetail.aspx?recID=29.

3/14 – 3/16 Annual Spring Santa Barbara Orchid Estate Open House Sat 8 AM - 5 PM, Sun 9 AM - 4 PM. 1250 Orchid Drive, Santa Barbara, CA. For more information, call 800-553-3387, or check their website at http://www.sborchid.com/events.php

3/29 – 3/30 Sacramento Orchid Society Show: Orchid Bonanza. Scottish Rite Temple, 6151 H Street, Sacramento

April

4/5 – 4/6 Napa Valley Orchid Society Show & Sale: Orchid Fiesta. Both days 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Napa Senior Activity Center, 1500 Jefferson Avenue.

BLOOMING IN JANUARY

C. Portia 'Sky Blue' Den. glomeratum (aka sulawesiese)

*SCOS Awards & Trophies 2014 Best of Class Rosettes:  Best Slipper Orchid  Best Phalaenopsis  Best Cattleya Alliance  Best Alliance  Best Pleurothallid Alliance  Best Cymbidium  Best Dendrobium  Best Vanda Alliance  Best of Other Genera  Best Basket of Orchids Special Award Rosettes:  Best Orchid Species  Best Miniature Orchid (not exceeding 8” including flowerscape)  Best Specimen Orchid Plant  Best of Show  Best Commercial Display Trophies:  Best of Show  Best Novice-grown Orchid  Best Intermediate-grown Orchid  Best Entry by a Sonoma County Orchid Society Member. Perpetual Trophy in Honor of Earl & Kathy Rathbun for Extraordinary Care and Nurturing of the So- noma County Orchid Society. Trophy sponsored by SCOS.  AOS Show Trophy (for the most outstanding exhibit)

*Note: Editor believes there will be two "special" trophies awarded in 2014 only. Sonoma County Orchid Society Schedule of Show Classes - 2014

A. Slipper Orchid Alliance C-6. Other species and hybrids, i.e. Epidendrum, Broughtonia, Dia- A-1. Paphiopedilum species, crium, Barkeria, etc. single flower C-7. Intergeneric hybrids between C-1 & A-2. Paphiopedilum species, multifloral C-6, i.e. Dialaelia, Iwanagara, Epi- A-3. Paphiopedilum species, brachypeta- cat, etc. lum or parvisepalum type C-8. First bloom seedlings A-4. Primary hybrids A-5. Half-primary hybrids (one parent D. Oncidium Alliance is a species) A-6. Maudiae-type hybrids w/ striped D-1. Oncidium species and hybrids dorsal D-2. and Miltoniopsis species A-7. Complex hybrids and hybrids A-8. Phragmipedium & Cypripedium D-3. All other related species or hybrids species i.e. Brassia, Cochlioda, Rodrigu- A-9. Phragmipedium & Cypripedium hy- eza, etc. brids D-4. species and hybrids A-10. First bloom seedlings D-5. All other intergeneric hybrids, i.e. Miltassia, Odontioda, Vuylste- B. Phalaenopsis Alliance keara, Odontocidium, Wilsonara, Odontonia, etc. B-1. Phalaenopsis and Doritis species D-6. First bloom seedlings B-2. Multifloral (branching), small flower- ing hybrids E. Pleurothallis Subtribe B-3. White (including white with colored lip) hybrids E-1. Masdevallia species and hybrids B-4. Lavender and pink hybrids E-2. Pleurothallis species and hybrids B-5. Yellow, green, red, and art shade E-3. All other related species and hy- hybrids brids, i.e. Dracula, Restrepia, Lep- B-6. Patterned - stripes and spots hy- anthes, etc. (including intergener- brids ics) B-7. First bloom seedlings E-4. First bloom seedlings

C. Cattleya Alliance F. Cymbidiums

C-1. Species: Cattleya, Laelia, Bras- F-1. Cymbidium species savola and Sophrinitis F-2. Miniature hybrids (<1.5” flower C-2. Hybrids from C-1: White & semi- spread) - white, cream, pink alba (colored lip) F-3. Miniature hybrids - red, brown, C-3. Hybrids from C-1: Pink, lavender and purple bronze C-4. Hybrids from C-1: Red, yellow and F-4. Miniature hybrid – yellow, art shade green and all other colors C-5. Hybrids from C-1: All other colors, F-5. Novelty hybrids - white, cream, pink i.e. green, splashed, spotted, flared F. Cymbidiums (contd)

F-6. Novelty hybrids - red, brown, bronze I-3. Zygopetalum alliance species and F-7. Novelty hybrids – yellow, hybrids not included in I-2, i.e green and all other colors Maxillaria, Zygopetalum, Bollea, F-8. Standard hybrids (> 3” flower Promenea, etc. spread) - white, cream, pink I-4. Bulbophyllum and Cirrhopetalum spe- F-9. Standard hybrids - red, brown, cies and hybrids bronze I-5. Coelgyne and related species F-10. Standard hybrids – yellow, green (Pholidota, Pleione, etc) and hy- and all other colors brids F-11. Pendant spike I-6. Dendrochilum species and hybrids F-12. Variegated foliage I-7. Terrestrials (including Phaius, F-13. First bloom seedlings Disa, and Calanthe) I-8. All other species and hybrids G. Dendrobium Subtribe I-9. Outstanding foliage

G-1. Phalaenopsis and antelope type J. Basket of Orchids (non-commercial exhibi- species and hybrids tors only) G-2. Oxyglossum section and Pedilonium species and hybrids J-1. At least 3 blooming orchids-other G-3. Latouria section species and hybrids plants and props allowed in moder- G-4. Formosae section species and hy- ate quantities. Individual plants brids can also be entered in their ap- G-5. Australian species and hybrids not propriate section. included in G-1 G-6. All other species and hybrids G-7. First bloom seedlings Note: First bloom seedlings, foliage, and pendant spike can also be entered in their H. Vanda Alliance appropriate class.

H-1. Vanda and Ascocentrum species Judges will also award Best Species, Best and hybrids Miniature, and Best Specimen plant from H-2. All other related species and hybrids, within all entries. i.e. Rynchostylis, Aerides, Renan- thera (including intergenerics) H-3. First bloom seedlings

I. Other Genera

I-1. Angraceum and related species and hybrids, i.e. Aeranthes, Aerangis, etc. I-2. Lycaste and Anguloa species and hybrids Sonoma County Orchid Society Spring Show 2014

RULES FOR EXHIBITORS

Show vendors and invited visiting orchid societies are encouraged to enter their plants for ribbon judging, provided the following rules are followed. All other plants entered must be owned and grown by a member of Sonoma County Orchid Society.

1. Entry cards must be completed for all plants entered into competition. Cards must be turned into the Plant Entry table by 7:00 pm Friday, January 31, 2014, unless other arrangements are made with the Judging Chairperson. 2. Plants entered in show ribbon judging must have been owned and cared for directly by the exhibitor for at least 6 months. Judges may decline to consider a plant if ownership is ques- tioned. 3. Plants incorrectly labeled or entered may be eliminated. 4. If a plant is found to be infected or infested, it will be disqualified and isolated. 5. All plants and items exhibited must remain on display throughout the duration of the show.

For AOS judging, specific entry cards must be completed and left with the AOS clerk. However, since this is an AOS-sanctioned show, all plants exhibited may be considered for AOS awards unless “No AOS Judging” is written on the entry card. Unless so noted, plants may not be judged at a later date on the same inflorescence.

Every effort will be made to safeguard all plants entered. However, exhibitors assume all risks and liabilities for their property.

CLASSIFICATION OF EXHIBITORS

NOVICE/BEGINNER: one who has never won a trophy/rosette/award (other than ribbons) at any orchid show.

INTERMEDIATE: one who has won at least one, but fewer than 10 trophies/rosettes/awards (other than ribbons) at any orchid show.

OPEN/COMMERCIAL: one who has won at least 10 trophies/rosettes/ awards (other than ribbons), or one who is a commercial grower or operates a sales booth at the show.

PLANT AWARDS-RIBBONS & *TROPHIES

At the discretion of the judges, first, second and third place ribbons will be awarded in all classes and sections. Judges may withhold awards if, in their opinion, no suitable material is exhibited. BEST OF CLASS Rosettes will be selected from the First Place ribbons awarded at the discretion of the judges. Trophies for Best Novice and Best Intermediate exhibitors will be selected from ‘Best of Class’ rosette winners in those skill categories. SPECIAL AWARD Rosettes for ‘Best Orchid Species,’ ‘Best Miniature Orchid,’ ‘Best Specimen Orchid Plant,’ and ‘Best of Show’ may be chosen from any Blue Ribbon winner in any Class. If the Best of Show winner is a member of SCOS, that entry will automatically be awarded the Rathbun Perpetual Trophy. *Note: Editor believes that there will be two "special" trophies awarded in 2014 only.