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Orchid Society of Alberta February 2016 Volume 40, Number 5 President’s Message ADVENTURES IN CHINA! THE SHOW MUST GO ON It is hard to believe that our 39th annual the next meeting. Let’s all do our best to ✦ This month Ben Rostron will orchid show and sale is less than two spread the word about our show! share his adventures hunting months away. Our hard-working show Tickets for the Saturday evening Orchid Cypripediums in China, while committee has been busy behind the Fair banquet are available at $40 each. scenes getting everything in place. Once Gordon Heaps explains the I encourage everyone to attend, especially again we will hold the show in the new members. The more the merrier! The finer points of orchid feeding! beautiful Moon Flower Room at the banquet is a fun evening of celebrating Enjoy Centre in St. Albert. and socializing. There are also lots of Our dedicated volunteers make this orchid door prizes donated by our great INSIDE THIS ISSUE show possible, so be sure to sign up for vendors, so please plan to come to the a job or two at the next meeting. If you banquet. You’ll be glad you did! February Meeting...... 2 can’t make the meeting, you can sign –Darrell Albert, President up by contacting our show volunteer Coming Events...... 3 coordinator, Yp (that’s pronounced “Eep”) DeBoer, at [email protected]. In Publishing Information . . . . 3 addition to earning you free admission at the show, volunteering is great fun and a Orchid Fair 2016 ...... 5 wonderful opportunity to socialize and make a contribution to our Society. January Meeting Report . . . 7 Our Orchid Fair attendance was down Odds & Ends...... 10 last year, partly due to the fact that we held the show in the middle of April Blooming at OSPF...... 12 when people were already spring cleaning in their yards. Social media is a great way Membership Renewal . . . . 15 to advertise, so for any of you who are social media-savvy, please post, like and OSA Contact Information. . . 16 share our Facebook page, Orchid Society of Alberta. If you are not social media savvy, you can recruit your younger family members and friends to spread the word on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the Miltonidium Issaku Nagata ‘Volcano Queen’. like. Posters and postcards to hand out It has been blooming since March 2013. to your friends will also be available at Grown and photographed by Barb Grisdale-Helland. FEBRUARY MEETING

SPEAKER WHO IS BEN ROSTRON?

This should be fun! This month we My real job is “others” (including a present OSA veteran and AOS Judge Professor, Department Paph rothschildianum Ben Rostron, who will be telling of Earth and that is current in us about his Adventures Hunting Atmospheric Sciences, flower under lights!!). and Photographing Cypripediums University of My outdoor collection in China. Some of the world’s most Alberta, researching of Cypripediums lovely Cyps make their home in China, groundwater flow. includes 10 to15 I started growing different species and but few of us are lucky enough (or orchids in university hybrids. brave enough) to see them in their (1985?) with a single natural habitat. Ben will have an I’m heavily involved hybrid Phalaenopsis. in the Native Orchid interesting story to tell, along with When I joined the lovely photos documenting his finds. Conference, working OSA in 1988 or ’89, hard right now on the See the biography at right for more my collection grew 2016 Annual Native information about Ben. exponentially, limited Orchid Conference only by a graduate in Arizona. I’ve student’s salary! spent many hours CULTURE SESSION At its peak, my collection consisted of defending native locally as well, 11 benches plus extras, crammed into through my work with the Wagner a 7´x10´ downstairs room. I had Natural Area. I am a founding member focused on Phal species, but had a solid of the Orchid Species Preservation Veteran horticulturalist and master collection of red hybrids and clones Foundation, and was one of the people orchid grower Gordon Heaps will of Orchid World! I have a weakness unloading the first plants off the truck for large-flowered fragrant cattleyas, from Vancouver! present our February culture session. but have grown dendrobiums, Join Gordon to learn about Feeding As for “orchid achievements”, there cymbidiums, bulbophyllums, etc. Your Orchids, a very important subject have been a few ... finding Malaxis as we approach the spring flowering I had been interested in judging paludosa in-situ, finding albescent season! orchids since I worked in Dallas, Calypso bulbosa in-situ, winning best Texas in 1991–93. I used to attend hybrid at the COC in Regina (1997), the monthly judging there, and really winning several OSA show trophies, enjoyed seeing all the different plants getting several AOS nominations, Happy, Prosperous and Lucky and what made them particularly good. getting an AOS award for one of my Chinese New Year! I had told Ingrid Ostrander that if the plants (Red Hot Imp ‘Catherine’ THE YEAR OF THE MONKEY AOS ever opened a judging centre in HCC/AOS), seeing my first hybrid Vancouver, I would consider being flower, getting accepted as an AOS a student. So once they opened the judge, etc. Centre, they came calling! I guess the two things I like most about In May 2014 I became a fully orchids are the great people and the accredited judge in the American sense of the unknown surprise! There is Orchid Society. My orchid collection always something new and exciting just now consists of about 300 plants around the corner... indoors – mostly Phal amboinensis, – Ben Rostron bellina and violacea, with a few

The Monkey Orchid ( simia) Ben Rostron photo from the (Photo from Pinterest) archives of the Vancouver Sun.

2 ✦ OSA News ✦ February 2016 Vol 40, Num. 5 ✦ Orchid Society of Alberta COMING EVENTS

WEB CAFE PUBLISHING AOS Webinars INFORMATION OSA News is published monthly, Find them at http://www.aos.org/Default.aspx?id=509. nine times per year. There is no Orchids of Mexico - Tuesday, February 23, 2016; 8:30 PM EST newsletter in July, August or Members Only - many webinars are free, this one is for AOS members only. December. Ron McHatton, Director of Education of the American Orchid Society, will discuss Deadline for submissions is the the orchids of Mexico. This will be an informative look at some of the attractive last day of the month preceding orchid species to be found in Mexico, both the well-known and the lesser-known, publication. with comments on their habitats and cultural needs. Mailing Address: You can enjoy a FREE webinar at http://www.aos.org/Default.aspx?id=509. Check Orchid Society of Alberta out the list on the right side of the page. I just finished watching a good one titled PO Box 31117, Growing Phalaenopsis, by Tom Harper – very interesting! RPO Namao Centre, – David Whitaker Edmonton, Alberta, T5Z 3P3 Article / Photo Submission Deadline: FOOTHILLS ORCHID SHOW – YEE-HA! The 10th of each month. Anything After some discussion, our Calgary submitted after the 10th will appear colleagues have decided to hold in the newsletter of the following “Orchids for Everyone”, their annual month. show and sale, on May 27, 28 and 29, To arrange for submission of articles, 2016. The show will take place at the contact the OSA News editor, Triwood Community Centre, the usual Lynne Copeland home for the Foothills event. For more by telephone at (403) 865-0027; details, check out the FOS website, by mail at www.foothillsorchidsociety.com. 4919-48 Street, Innisfail, Alberta, T4G 1N1; Remember, the OSA likes to enter by e-mail at [email protected] a display in Calgary, so mark your Advertising Rates: calendars and start thinking about ✦ what plants you might be able to enter. Full page: $50 Half page: $30 We are always short of volunteers for Quarter page or less: $5 per this event, so if you think you can help inch organize an OSA entry at the Foothills show, please contact Darrell Albert or any other Executive member. Contact information for every Executive member can be found on the last page of this newsletter. LINKS ALIVE Where do orchids come from? For your convenience, all the links From a mommy orc and a daddy orc in this newsletter –set in bright blue– are alive and functional.

Orchid Society of Alberta ✦ Vol 40, Num. 5 OSA News ✦ February 2016 ✦ 3 COMING EVENTS, continued

WESTWARD HO If you’re looking for an excuse for a trip to the coast, consider heading to the Vancouver Orchid Society’s show and sale. The show is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, March 26 and 27, 2016, in the Floral Hall at the VanDusen Botanical Garden, 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver. Find details at www.vancouverorchidsociety.ca. Rumour has it the tulips will be in bloom, too…

Cymbidium goeringii, grown and photographed by OSA members Mary and Allan Quong.

Masdevallia veitchiana hybrid, photoraphed by OSA member Bruce Bretzlaff

OSA CALENDAR 2016 Pull out your Day-Timers – here’s our Society’s year at a glance! Please note the change of date in March: our meeting will now be held on March 20, to avoid Easter Sunday the following weekend. January 24, 2016 Terry Groszeibl, Forestview Gardens – Paphiopedilum Culture February 28, 2016 Ben Rostron, AOS Judge – Chinese Cypripediums in China March 20, 2016 Speaker TBA April 1–3, 2016 Orchid Fair 2016 – Enjoy Centre, 101 Riel Drive, St. Albert. Set-up on March 31. April 24, 2016 Beginners Month – Expert growers present hands-on demonstrations May 15, 2016 Glen Decker, Piping Rock Orchids – Topic TBA June 26, 2016 Fred Clarke, Sunset Valley Orchids – Topic TBA September 25, 2016 Speaker TBA October 23, 2016 Speaker TBA November 27 2016 Annual Meeting and Silent Auction

4 ✦ OSA News ✦ February 2016 Vol 40, Num. 5 ✦ Orchid Society of Alberta ORCHID FAIR IS EVERYWHERE Time really does fly, and our annual ORCHID DISPLAYS show and sale is once again looming on We’re very excited the horizon. Orchid Fair 2016 takes about the show this place Friday, April 1 through Sunday, year—dazzling natural April 3, with setup on Thursday, light and warmer March 31. We will once again be weather (we hope) basking in the warm glow of the should make Orchid Moonflower room at the Enjoy Centre Fair 2016 a standout. in St. Albert, the scene of so many However, we need breathtaking displays and so much blooming orchid plants to display in frenzied orchid buying last year. our fabulous venue. If you don’t have ORCHID PHOTOGRAPHY As always, we need YOU to make enough plants to mount your own The time has come to pick your Orchid Fair a success! There is no display, enter your orchids in the OSA favorite orchid photos and enter them show without volunteers, so remember display. Even if you only have one nice in the photography competition. There to sign up for a position (or two, plant in bloom, there’s always a chance have been a couple of minor changes or three) when the volunteer sheets to win a ribbon, trophy or AOS award. this year. First, the Black & White appear at our February meeting! If you See p.6 for details on how to enter categories have been cancelled due to can’t make the meeting, contact our plants. a low number of entries. Second, we volunteer coordinator, Yp (“eep”) de have decided on a maximum print Boer by phone at (780) 476-7839 or ORCHID ART size of 24˝ x 36˝, to make sure we by e-mail at [email protected]. don’t run out of room for everyone’s The OSA is once again inviting artists photos. Finally, please try to provide If you are a new member and aren’t of all ages (youths, adults and seniors) an easel for large heavy photographs sure what a job entails, don’t be and of all abilities (amateur and in glass frames, to prevent damage. shy! Ask any Executive or Show professional) to submit 2D and 3D These entries are very beautiful, but I’m Committee member (see our website, orchid art for display and judging. All always scared of an accident! www.orchidsalberta.com, for contact art submissions must have an orchid as information) and we will pair you up a dominant part of the piece. Updated Entry information and forms with an experienced volunteer. There is information and registration forms will are available on our website or at a lot of work to do in the initial setup, soon be made available on our website upcoming meetings. If you have teardown and cleanup, but many hands (www.orchidsalberta.com). Hard questions, please contact Celine Foster make light work. copies will also be available at OSA at (780) 757-8538, or by e-mail at We encourage new members to meetings – please inquire at the Plant [email protected]. participate in one of the ribbon Sales table or at the Volunteer Sign Up judging teams on Friday morning, table. The same information will also April 1. No experience is necessary be sent to art supply stores, schools and and it’s a great opportunity to meet societies in the near future. Questions? other members and learn about orchid Contact Jadzia (pronounced “Yaja”) judging. The signup sheets will be at Auschrat at [email protected] or the upcoming meetings, or contact (780) 484-4290. Judging Coordinator Monica De Wit by phone at (780) 470-0910 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Orchid Society of Alberta ✦ Vol 40, Num. 5 OSA News ✦ February 2016 ✦ 5 COMING EVENTS, continued

ORCHID PHOTOGRAPHY, continued e-mail them to David Whitaker at Tickets will be on sale at the Library [email protected]. table at our February meeting; you Our photography judges have provided Questions? E-mail or call David can also reserve tickets by contacting a few tips and tricks to optimize your at (780) 473-6392. Plants may be Darrell or Carol Albert at 986-8504 or photos – see below. displayed without being registered, but [email protected]. PhotographyTips From Our Judges they will not be eligible for judging. ✦✦ Avoid distracting backgrounds. Don’t want to set up your own display? GOOD NEWS TRAVELS FAST! ✦ No problem, you can enter as many ✦ Try photographing from different It’s time to start spreading the word! plants as you like on the shared OSA angles (i.e. from above or below). You can help publicize Orchid Fair by display, which usually turns out to ✦✦ Use the macro setting on compact e-mailing our show poster to friends be quite impressive. Only have a few cameras. They give excellent results - and family, and by posting it on social blooming plants? There is a judged equal to fancier expensive cameras. media. In the next few days we’ll be display category of 1 to 5 plants, so get sending every OSA member a digital ✦✦ Keep your camera steady. Use a creative. We also have the Landscape copy, which you can forward on to as tripod or set it on something sturdy Display class that does not require a lot many people as you like. and use the self timer. of plant material. So get the creative juices flowing and give it a try. HOW TO ENTER YOUR PLANTS IN Plant registration is a time THE SHOW consuming process, so PLEASE try to register your plants well in How do I register my plant(s) for advance of setup day, March 31 – it judging in the show, you ask? It’s makes everyone’s life a lot easier. If it simple - you’ll find detailed registration turns out your plant doesn’t bloom in instructions and forms on our website, time for the show, it is far easier for us www.orchidsalberta.com. Just fill out to take it off the list than to add it at the form on your computer, save a the last minute. copy and e-mail it back to us. Can’t manage any of the above? The form requires Microsoft Excel; Okay, register the plant at the show if you don’t have Excel on your if you must. Plants can be registered computer, there is a version of the form between 9 AM and 7 PM on setup day, that opens in most word processor Thursday, March 31. Unfortunately, programs (e.g. Microsoft Word). If registrations received after 7 PM will you don’t have access to the Internet, not be eligible for judging, so please We also have hard copies and postcard printed copies of the show schedule don’t miss the cut off. Registering is size versions for you to drop at any and entry form will be available at the easy once you’ve done it a time or two, venue where you think there might be March meeting. so don’t be shy – step up and enter interest. These will be available at the A copy of the Show Schedule can also those plants in Orchid Fair 2016! February and March meetings. be found on the website: it explains A big thank you to the OSA’s resident the different classes you can enter your EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY! graphic artist, Rocío López-Bretzlaff, plants in. If you need help figuring out for creating our fabulous poster this what class fits, just bring the plant’s full Everyone loves the Orchid Fair Gala year! name (you DON’T need to bring the Banquet! This year’s model will feature plant itself, just its name tag will do) to a delicious buffet at the Park Room in the March meeting and someone will the Enjoy Centre, for the bargain price help you out. of $40 per person. Cocktails start at Once you’ve selected the appropriate 6:30 PM, dinner at 7:15 PM. classes and filled in your forms,

6 ✦ OSA News ✦ February 2016 Vol 40, Num. 5 ✦ Orchid Society of Alberta JANUARY MEETING REPORT

MINUTES FROM THE ORCHID SOCIETY OF ALBERTA GENERAL MEETING, JANUARY 24, 2016 Welcome to our new venue with its well-appointed Culture class room and meeting space! Motion by Cornelia Blunck to accept the minutes of the November 22, 2015 meeting as read; seconded by Donna Cuyler. Passed at 2:04 PM. Darrell Albert conducts the meeting NEWS ✦✦ Darrell introduced the 2015-2016 ✦✦ New this month: name tags. Executive. If you are ever interested DRAWS in helping, the task is really quite ✦ ✦✦ Lunch table – great table today – ✦ David Whitaker spoke about the easy. Please ask any of the current free draw to win a plant – Plants OSA’s policy for guests at meetings. Executive! donated by Tom de Boer and Paul LIBRARY ORCHID FAIR – APRIL 1–3, 2016 Paludet. Won by Cornelia Blunck, ✦ Iwona Nonay. ✦ Calendars available for pick up, ✦✦ Set up is March 30 and 31 photos by Judith Higham. Judith is ✦✦ Door prize plants drawn. ✦✦ Full show put on by volunteers the photographer who takes the AOS ✦✦ Thank ouy to all those who donated ✦ award photos for our annual show. ✦ Displaying orchid is the main goal – plants. please let us know if you will display ✦✦ Please return your books. ✦ any plants – will it be your own display ✦ Free draw – but we do accept donations at the table. SOCIAL or with the Society? The smallest display category is 1 to 5 plants. ✦✦ Lunch fees have increased by $1, SHOW TABLE ✦✦ Be sure to check and eliminate bugs, this will help offset operation costs. ✦✦ Presented by Carl Austin. Nice clean them up before bringing to weather has allowed us to have a the show. CULTURE SESSION great display of wonderful plants. ✦ ✦✦ Thank ouy to Paul Paludet for ✦ Saturday – awards banquet, tickets Thank you to all who brought presenting the culture session on sale now from Liz Miller in the plants to show. WOW! “When to Repot.” Paul is a very Library. experienced grower with 40+ years’ ✦✦ Art displays – Jadzia Auschrat NEXT MEETING experience. ✦✦ Photography – Celine Foster ✦✦ February 28, 2016 – Ben Rostron ✦ will be speaking on Chinese EXECUTIVE CHANGES ✦ Ribbon judging – one of the best ways to learn about orchids – Cypripediums at our next meeting. ✦ ✦ Thank ouy to the outgoing Friday morning. Great way for new Motion by Tom de Boer to adjourn Executive members: Past President, members to learn what makes a the meeting; seconded by Hank Tan. Terry Letendre and Meeting great plant. Be sure to sign up! Passed. Coordinator, Adam Foster. ✦✦ Volunteers do have free access to the – David Whitaker, Secretary ✦ ✦ Welcome to our latest additions to show on the dates they volunteer. the Executive; Joan Laszl, Director at Large, Rocío López-Bretzlaff, Co-Editor, and Carl Austin, Meeting Coordinator (with Marysia Auschrat sharing and training in that role)

Orchid Society of Alberta ✦ Vol 40, Num. 5 OSA News ✦ February 2016 ✦ 7 JANUARY MEETING REPORT

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS after that it is expected that they join LIBRARY MUSINGS the Society to enjoy all the membership Name Tags privileges. All guests are required to Again a plea to all who have overdue Well, it looks like the first run of the sign in upon entering the meeting. books, etc. We understand that you all-new Orchid Society of Alberta Thank you to everyone who has may have missed a meeting, then name tags went fairly well at the helped to increase our attendance and it was Christmas, or you made like January meeting. Thank you to all membership. a snowbird and flew off to warmer the members for your patience as we – David Whitaker, Membership Director climes – but please return all library worked through some of the hiccups. materials you may have! The library staff would rather be previewing and It was great to see record numbers of GRATITUDE FOR GOODIES members attend the inaugural meeting reading our books than spending hours at our new venue. Upon leaving the Once again a lot of our members on the phone tracking them down. If meeting, please kindly deposit your supplied the lunch table with very nice materials aren’t returned, we may be nametag in the “Name Tag Return” sandwiches and desserts. forced to make up a list of members with overdue materials to publish box. It will be re-filed and ready for We would like to thank the following in the Newsletter. At one point we you at the next meeting. If you have people for their generosity: Charlene had nearly 100 overdues, so please one of the previous green or black Lang, Mary Kobasiuk, Fran James, bring everything back at the February plastic name tags, please feel free to Joan Rever, Michele Sawatzky, Liz meeting! wear it, although we do ask everyone to Miller, Tom de Boer, Suzan Hon, don the new name tag. Iwona Nonay, Cornelia Blunck, Donna There have been about six new books Cuyler, Marilyn Simpson and Darrell added to our collection recently, but I Meeting Guests Albert. do not have the names. I promise they will be catalogued by the February As mentioned in January, we welcome We would also like to thank Paul meeting. guests to every meeting, so please do Paludet for donating a very nice bring a friend! All guests are welcome Phalaenopsis, won by Cornelia Blunck, – Liz Miller and Lorna Barclay, at no charge to their first meeting, but Librarians and Tom de Boer for donating a nice Paphiopedilum, which was won by Iwona Nonay. SPEAKING OF ORCHIDS – Yp (Eep) de Boer, Social Convener Keiki (pronounced kee-kee or ki-kee) is the Hawaiian word for baby. Keikis are plantlets that develop on an orchid cane (as in Dendrobiums) or flower stalk (as in Phalaenopsis). Generally it is said that once the keiki has the equivalent of 5 cm of its own roots, it is big enough to be removed and planted. Orchid Growing for Wimps by Ellen Zachos has some excellent photos and information on how to remove and transplant keikis (pp. 94-96).

8 ✦ OSA News ✦ February 2016 Vol 40, Num. 5 ✦ Orchid Society of Alberta JANUARY MEETING REPORT, continued

JANUARY SHOW TABLE

Best in Show...... Phragmipedium besseae...... Terry Letendre Best Cattleya ...... *Rhyncattleanthe Love Tapestry ‘Popular Song’ HCC/AOS. . . Gordon Heaps Best Dendrobium ...... Dendrobium superbum...... Auschrats Best /Pleuro. . . . Masdevallia Southern Sun...... Paul Paludet Best Onc/Odont...... *Cuitlauzina pulchella...... Gordon Heaps Best Paphiopedilum...... Paphiopedilum Judge Philip ...... David Hon Best Phalaenopsis...... Phalaenopsis amboinensis ...... Ben Rostron Best Phragmipedium . . . . . Phragmipedium besseae...... Terry Letendre Best Vandaceous...... *Vanda christensoniana...... Auschrats Best Other ...... Ludisia discolor...... Darrell Albert Best Miniature ...... Lepanthes (calodictyon x telipogoniflora)...... Darrell Albert Best Species...... Phalaenopsis amboinensis ...... Ben Rostron Best Culture ...... Dendrobium superbum...... Auschrats *Please note changes to currently accepted name Special thanks to our judges: Carl Austin, Marysia Auschrat and Ben Rostron

Carl Austin presenting ‘Best’ Ribbons

Meeting and Shaw Table photographs by OSA members Wilfred Maul, Bruce Bretzlaff and Rocío López-Bretzlaff.

Orchid Society of Alberta ✦ Vol 40, Num. 5 OSA News ✦ February 2016 ✦ 9 OSA HELP

I have some questions humidity in the growing area. Another Q) concerning Dendrobium very common problem, particularly Orchids...We have had these with orchids, is overwatering or orchids 5 years plus...For the last 2 underwatering, which leads to loss of years, these orchids have lost all of roots. Once the roots are dead, the there leaves...They are just stems now plant is unable to feed or hydrate itself, and when they do get a leaf coming, it and death is inevitable unless new turns yellow and it falls off... roots can be produced before the plant expires. Have your plants been repotted recently? How did the roots look? My suspicion, looking at the way your plants are sitting in their pots, is that Photo provided they have no roots left. I’m afraid your Dendrobiums are and the plant is unable to sustain any Unfortunately, it may not be possible A) in a bad way. Some Dendrobium new growth, it is usually dying. to save your plants at this point. However, my suggestion would be to species and hybrids are Long term decline in any plant usually remove the plants from their pots and deciduous, so leaf drop can be normal reflects growing conditions that are examine the roots. If they are dead, to some extent. However, your plants unfavourable. The problem may or if the medium is clearly decaying, are showing signs of serious long-term be too little or too much light, too repot the plants in fresh media. Then decline. When all the leaves disappear much heat or not enough, and low supplement humidity as much as you can in the growing area, provide a warm environment with moderate to bright light, water sparingly, and hope the plants start sprouting some new roots. If they do not, it would probably be best to discard them and start again with healthy stock. Remember, an orchid expert is someone who’s killed a thousand orchids. Sometimes it’s best to just learn from your mistakes and move on! I hope this helps. If you’d like more assistance, you are welcome to attend one of our OSA meetings as our guest. Our next meeting is on February 28th at 12:30 PM at Satoo School in south Edmonton. I am attaching a copy of our January newsletter, where you will find info on how to find us. Best wishes! – Lynne Copeland Orchid Society of Alberta Paphiopedilum Judge Philip, grown and photographed by OSA members David and Suzan Hon.

10 ✦ OSA News ✦ February 2016 Vol 40, Num. 5 ✦ Orchid Society of Alberta SWAP ’N’ SELL

Welcome to Swap’n’Sell, where OSA members can place their orchid- related classified ads free of charge. To place an ad, contact Lynne Copeland at [email protected], or by phone at (403) 865-0027.

FOR SALE After 30 years of growing, Blue Heron Orchids in Barrhead, AB, is having a first ever Phal sale. Our Phal collection is over 500 plants and we have no room left for plant growth. The following are for sale until April 1: A) Medium size plants • $15 each, SPECIAL 12 for $150, Onc. Twinkle leaf span min 18cm, 7in. Grown and photographed by OSA member Alexey Tretyakov.. B) Large size plants • $20 each, SPECIAL 10 for $150, leaf span min 28 cm, 11 in. Lc. Mini Purple “Blue Pacific” C) Extra Large size plants • $25 Grown and photographed by each, SPECIAL 5 for $110 OSA member Alexey Tretyakov. D) Stem Props • individually priced with range of $25 to $50 each, some species All plants are well grown with good roots, and will be 4 leaves or bigger. A and B plants are OUR CHOICE but we will try to give as many different crosses as possible. C and D e-mail plant lists will be available in late February, first come first served. Contact: Ken and Vivian, (780) 674-3672, e-mail: [email protected].

FOR SALE I am moving and will be selling most of my extensive collection of orchid books. Many classic and some antique volumes. All are at clearance prices! E-mail me for a complete list of books and prices. Contact: Ingrid Ostrander, e-mail: [email protected]

Orchid Society of Alberta ✦ Vol 40, Num. 5 OSA News ✦ February 2016 ✦ 11 ORCHID SPECIES PRESERVATION FOUNDATION

What’s Blooming at the OSPF? For more information on the Foundation and its work visit the OSPF website, www.orchidspecies.ca

EPIDENDRUM PSEUDEPIDENDRUM

Epidendrum is one of largest orchid (400–1000 m). In Panama, however, genera, with over 1400 known species plants grow in Chiriquí Province at throughout the tropical Americas and 3950 ft. (1200 m). Although fairly the Caribbean. The plants grow in common in cultivation, plants of climates as diverse as tropical lowlands this species are now rather rare in to high alpine cloud forests. There are nature, primarily because of habitat many terrestrial species in this group destruction. despite the genus name, which refers to The species’ common name is the False its epiphytic growth habit. Epidendrum. It produces quite large Epidendrum pseudepidendrum flowers, about 2-1/2˝ to 3˝ across. This can be found in Costa Rica and example is from the original orchid Panama. In Costa Rica it is most donation to the OSPF by Lorne Stuart often found in lowlands and lower in 1991. mountain rainforests at 1300–3300 ft. – Dave Nixon, President, OSPF

SCAPHYGLOTTIS PUNCTULATA This epiphytic or sometimes lithophytic genus, with highly variable plant forms, contains around 70 rarely seen species from Central America, the West Indies and south to Bolivia and Brazil. The species grow in altitude from sea-level to high in the Andes, so temperature requirements are based on the location and habitat of each individual species. The genus has a characteristic growth habit, putting out one pseudobulb on top of the next, and has a very small terminal inflorescence with tiny flowers held close to the pseudobulb. The genus name refers to the basin- shaped lip. Scaphyglottis punctulata has a wide range through Puerto Rico, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and the Greater Antilles. Plants may grow on trees or rocks or as terrestrials, often on roadside banks. They are found in wet forests and swamps from 1300–6250 ft. (400­–1900 m). It is the This plant is kept in the intermediate house only example of the genus we have in the OSPF collection and is on the east (shade) side of the greenhouse. commonly known as the Speckled Scaphyglottis. –Dave Nixon, President, OSPF

12 ✦ OSA News ✦ February 2016 Vol 40, Num. 5 ✦ Orchid Society of Alberta LAELIA MOYOBAMBAE

The latest taxonomy for this plant moved it from the genus Schomburgkia to the Laelia genus. It is still commonly referred to as the Moyobamba Schomburgkia. This species is found in Peru and Bolivia. It was first discovered in the Department of Loreto near Moyobamba, which gives the species its name. It is a large sized, hot growing epiphyte that produces metre-long inflorescences with as many as 20 to 25 This plant is kept in our intermediate house on flowers clustered at the tip. the west (sunnier) side of the greenhouse. Little has been written about this species, which is not a particularly common one. – Dave Nixon, President, OSPF

This plant is kept in our cold house on the east (shade) side of the greenhouse.

MASDEVALLIA HARLEQUINA

Masdevallia harlequina is one of more than 600 known Masdevallia species. It is commonly known as the Harlequin Masdevallia due to it resemblance to the beloved clown in Italian comedies, with his mask and spangled tights. The plant grows naturally in Peru and was acquired by the OSPF in April 2015. –Dave Nixon, President, OSPF

Sources:

✦✦ Charles Baker ✦✦ Orchidwiz ✦✦ Orchid Photographic Encyclopedia ✦✦ All photographs by Doug Bovee

Orchid Society of Alberta ✦ Vol 40, Num. 5 OSA News ✦ February 2016 ✦ 13 ORCHID SOCIETY OF ALBERTA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION OR RENEWAL

* The Orchid Society of Alberta does not share your personal information.

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* Please Note: Newsletters are distributed by e-mail ONLY

I am a ... (please check) ❑ New Member ❑ Renewing Member Membership Fees: ❑ $25 single ❑ $30 family (living at same address) ❑ $15 senior (65 yrs and older) ❑ $20 senior couple (65 yrs and older)

Please make cheques payable to the Orchid Society of Alberta. Memberships are non-refundable.

* Please Note: All memberships expire in September each year.

Member Information: 1. How long have you grown orchids? ______How many orchids do you have?______2. I grow in a (check one) ❑ Windowsill ❑ Greenhouse ❑ Under Lights ❑ Other (please specify):______

3. Topics that would be of interest to me at OSA meetings: ______

4. I am interested in hosting (billet) a guest speaker for a meeting or annual show: ❑ Yes ❑ No

Please Bring Form and Fees to Next Meeting OR Mail to: Orchid Society of Alberta, PO Box 31117, RPO Namao Centre, Edmonton, AB T5Z 3P3

orchidsalberta.com Check out our Website! The Canadian Orchid Congress Newsletter orchids alberta.com is available to all our members, on the COC website: And on Facebook: www.facebook.com/orchid society of alberta canadian orchid congress.ca

ORCHID SOCIETY OF ALBERTA EXECUTIVE 2015–16 President ✦ Darrell Albert – (780) 986-8504; [email protected] Vice-President ✦ Vacant Meeting Coordinator ✦ Carl Austin – (780) 962-0754; [email protected] Past President ✦ Terry Letendre – (780) 486-4474; [email protected] Secretary ✦ David Whitaker – (780) 473-6392; [email protected] Treasurer ✦ Barrie Corry – (780) 488-4059; [email protected] Membership Director ✦ David Whitaker – (780) 473-6392; [email protected] OSA News Editor – ✦ Lynne Copeland – (403) 865-0027; [email protected] OSA News Production ✦ Rocío López-Bretzlaff – (780) 484-5828; [email protected] Directors at Large – ✦ Marysia Auschrat (780) 484-6753; [email protected]; Donna Cuyler (780) 486-0652; [email protected]; Charlene Lang (780) 962-0953; [email protected]; Joan Laszl (780) 449-1922; [email protected] Social Convener ✦ Yp de Boer – (780) 476-7839; [email protected] Librarian ✦ Liz Miller – (780) 922-2640; [email protected] Plant Draw Coordinator ✦ Celine Foster – (780) 757-8538; [email protected] Plant Sales Table ✦ Heinz Auschrat – (780) 484-4290; [email protected] Show Chair ✦ Darrell Albert – (780) 986-8504; [email protected]

FEBRUARY MEETING INFORMATION

Date: Sunday, February 28, 2016 Location: Satoo School 8515-17 Avenue, Edmonton Meeting Prgram: 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM Plant and Raffle Ticket Sales: 1 PM to 2 PM Coffee and Snacks: Served 1 PM to 2 PM Display Tables: 1 PM to 1:30 PM Speaker: Ben Rostron, AOS Judge – Adventures Hunting and Photographing Cypripediums in China Culture Session: Gordon Heaps, Horticulturalist Feeding your Orchids

Octopus orchid, Encyclia cochleata, photographed by OSA member Rocío López-Bretzlaff

ORCHID SOCIETY OF ALBERTA PO Box 31117 E-mail RPO Namao Centre General Inquiries: [email protected] Edmonton, Alberta, T5Z 3P3 Newsletter: .OSA [email protected]