Petochilus fuscatus Bulletin of the Orchid Society of Canberra, Inc. GPO Box 612, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia Volume 22, Number 6 Nov-Dec 2007 Regular monthly meetings of time had all the plant organized. Audrey and Robert Monthly meetings of the Society are held on the first Rough yet again organized and delivered the food, which Wednesday of each month (except January) at the was a major appeal for many and was certainly a life Seventh Day Adventist Church, corner Gould and saver for those working at the show. We had about 700 Macleay St. Turner . Meetings commence at 8:00pm visitors through in the two days. On Sunday, a bus load with the library and trading table open from 7:30pm. of Sydney orchid enthusiasts arrived for a morning cuppa and a look at the show. They had been to Floriade the November 2007: Bill Ferris on “Native Cymbidiums” previous day and seemed to enjoy the orchids and in December 2007: Christmas Party-Bring a plate to particular the morning tea and scones that Audrey share provided. Trevor Hughes brought up a truck load of cymbidiums that all sold over the weekend and the other vendors did well also. Thanks to Jane Wright and all the Orchid Society of Canberra Events others who managed the sales table. Saturday, when the NOTE THAT MONTHLY MEETINGS WILL BE AT show opened there certainly was a feeding frenzy, but the THE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH AND line moved well and most people seemed happy. We NOT THE SENIOR CITIZEN’S CENTRE. were very proud to have two plants recommended for Nov 11 at 11 AM: New Member Workshop. See item awards, one cattleya (Geof Dyne) and one native (Jenny later in bulletin and Theo Schutz) so the quality of plants was high. Well Upcoming Orchid Events done to all those who brought plants and all those who Sapphire Coast Orchid Club and helped run the show. Australian Native Orchid Show The Christmas meeting will be held at the Nov 2 & 3 Twyford Hall, Merimbula Seventh Day Adventist Church this year. Remember to bring a plate to share as well as your plants. We will President’s Comments : provide soft drinks and juice as in past years. Rob Rough and Jane Wright will provide the quizzes and there will It has been a busy period since the last bulletin. be plants for people to win. I hope to see you all there. We have had two Horticultural Society of Canberra shows, a weekend demonstration/display at Floriade and, Committee Members of course, our own Spring Show. President- Ben Walcott 6161 2742 In spite of an error of omission by the Bulletin Vice President- Robert Bush 6297 1427 Editor, there was a good display at the September Hort Treasurer- Robyn Noel 6258 5734 Show and thank you to those who brought in plants. Secretary- Barbara Corsini 04 24836108 Hopefully, we will have a good display at the October Bob Evans 6295 3802 show. From my experience, the orchid table is a big hit at Bill Ferris 6297 5635 these shows and gives us another opportunity to show off David Judge 6278 4806 our plants and have them judged. Jim Harper 6254 9618 I want to thank Bob Bush and Bill Ferris who Robert Rough 6241 2729 put together the Floriade display and who spent the two lunch times demonstrating and talking about orchids. The Committee meetings : demonstration area this year was not as well set out as Nov 13: Bob Bush last but still a number of people walked through, saw the Jan 12 3:30 PM: Ben Walcott orchids and listened to the demonstrations. In the Disclaimer Canberra Times, a young girl was interviewed and asked © 2007 The Orchid Society of Canberra, The Orchid what she liked best about Floriade and almost at the top Society of Canberra disclaims liability for any loss, of her list were the orchids. Well done Bill and Bob. financial or otherwise caused as a result of the contents The Show was as usual a great success even of this Bulletin though there were fewer plants this year. I want to thank all those who helped out, and there were many of you, Annual Subscriptions but particularly I want to thank Robyn Noel who $25 single, $30 joint, $5 junior membership. managed so much of the show, and Mark Fraser and Jane Wright, who were the Marshals, and in a very short space REMINDER of 2007/8 DUES often occur on private land and the flower takes about 9 – Please either send your dues check to Robyn Noel, P.O. 15 months to develop. The National Parks authorities are Box 612, Canberra or bring a cheque or money to the alerted when the flower is about to open and they in turn next club meeting and see her about renewing your notify the tour groups. Flowering will last for about 7 membership. Our fiscal year ended April 30. days and the highest prices to visit are paid for the first few days. The money is split among the involved parties. New Member Workshop Almost everything was for sale regarding the orchids, On Sunday November 11 at 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, there including some very rare dendrobiums. Also for sale will be a new member workshop held at Robyn Noel’s were many legally collected orchids (windfall) but a 3 house. New members will receive a letter with the week ban on export was the cause of much frustration! address and further details. This workshop will focus on It was sad to see the evidence of illegal logging. This is a potting up plants from communal flasks that were bought trade that is very difficult to police unfortunately, and an from Dennis Diem. Those participating will get a free economic necessity for many. plant as well as the experience of handling seedlings and It was an inspiring talk and photo show. It’s always great learning how to repot them. It will also be a great time to have an expert show us around the rest of the orchid for new members to meet some of the older members and world. to talk about orchids. While the emphasis is on new members, of course, other members are more than Raffle winners: Nita Wheeler, Scott Mann, Yvonne welcome. Bring your lunch, BBQ facilities will be Day, Jim Harper, Pat Parker, Ross Anderson and Peter available, and stay “on the eleventh hour of the eleventh Cudmore. day of the eleventh month” and chat. We hope to see you Door Prize: Mark Clements there. October General Meeting 2007 September General Meeting 2007 Apologies: Tony and Janice McDonald, Lynne and Brian Attendance: 42 Phelan, Theo and Jenny Shutz, Mark Clements. Visitors: Visitors: Joan Powell, Pete Threfall, Morran Anderson, Apologies: Lorraine King, Bob and Norma Bush, Jan Marlene Wilson. Furniss, Jan McDonald, Kathryn Ovington, Carol Ede, Announcements: Sylvia Timms, Robyn Noel. - The recent Horticulture Show had a good table of orchids. The next of the Horticulture shows is on Announcements: th th - Floriade talks will be happening soon and members October 27 and 28 and will again have a table are encouraged to volunteer. reserved for our orchids. - Spring Show information should have been received - Our Spring Show was very successful with over 700 in the last bulletin. Sign up sheets for volunteers for visitors, including a busload from the jobs at the show are waiting for names. Campbelltown Cymbidium Society. A big thanks to - Registrations for the show can be done via our the main organizers Robyn Noel, Jane Wright, Mark website and is the preferred option if possible. Fraser, and Rob and Audrey Rough for their work - The sales table will need people to help out in the in running the kitchen. near future. We will need people to man it during - Thanks also to all who participated by bringing meetings and others to share the load of the items along their orchids and entering their art and for sale please. craftwork, including Meryl Limbrecht, who posted up a beautiful collage for entry in the show all the Guest speaker: way from her home in Wahgunyah. Tonight we had Mark Clements speaking on the orchids - The weekend following the show was the Sapphire of Malaysia. He travelled on ‘A Malaysian Singapore Coast show attended by Sandra, Mark, Robyn and Orchid Tour’ organised by the Shergolds from ‘Easy Jane who took some of the spring show orchids with Orchids’. them to make a display. It was a great talk accompanied by many beautiful - Our workshop was advertised in ‘Orchids Australia’ pictures of orchids and the countryside of Malaysia and and we have already one booking. Singapore. This was a tour with a packed schedule from orchid shows, to market stalls, to wild mountain forests, Guest speaker: to botanic gardens, with orchids dripping from every Tonight Scott Mann spoke on orchids of the Philippines place. Some of the highlights included photos of (it was originally to be the orchids of China, but Scott has Paphiopedilum rothschildianum, shots from Mount promised this for another night). Kinabalu and absolutely stunning displays in the Scott has spent quite a bit of time in the Philippines as his Singapore Botanic Gardens. The tour included a visit to a wife has family living there. flowering Rhaphesia in Borneo. This parasitic plant is We were treated to a beautiful slide show showing the famous for having the largest flower in the world. They orchids of the Philippines, with environments ranging 2 from tropical lowlands, to misty mountains, to the harsh Report moved by Anne Mackenzie and seconded by Ross 50m high ash face of Mount Piñata Bo – this in particular Anderson.