Eyes on Orchids Newsletter of the Baton Rouge Orchid Society

P.O. Box 66242—Baton Rouge, LA 70896-6242 September, 2014 - Volume 56 - Issue 8

www.batonrougeorchidsociety.com - 225.308.1404 – info@batonrougeorchidsociety.org

September Meeting - Wednesday, Sept. 17 2014 - 7 p.m.

Baton Rouge Garden Center - 7950 Independence Blvd.

Program: “Our Common Orchid Pests and What to

do About Them”

President’s Message

September Program - by Bob Danka “Our Common Orchid Pests and What to do About Them”

Our orchids in south Louisiana seem to be under constant threat from invertebrate pests. Your plant culture will be improved if you are able to detect and identify the problems we commonly experience; in fact, the ability to correctly diagnose a prob-lem is the basis of successful pest management. We will have a look at some of the most commonly encountered pestiferous insects and their relatives, learn a bit about their life histories, and discuss options for preventing and managing them.

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Important decisions will be made in the upcoming meeting. Not only are we re-quired to vote for new officers but to also decide on several constitutional amend-ments. Some of the membership believe that these changes are nec-essary for the club “to stay successful and grow.” Let me state at the beginning that I believe the Society has grown and expanded over the last twenty years that I have been a member. We have had speakers with national and even international repetitions, held two SWROGA meetings and shows, as well as held our annual show for the for the thirty years. We have well known breeders who have not only discussed their breeding programs but made plants of their lat-est projects available. I don’t believe that the proposed changes will offer any improve-ments or accomplishments of the Club and under some conditions cause disruptions in Club business. The fact that the system has worked for forty years does not sup-port the need to amend the constitution. Furthermore, the addition of one or two more board members will not increase the efficiency of the board, but it may cause greater problems. If the board members are elected for three years; and they can be re-elected for three more years, the board members will control the quorum in dif-ference to the elected officers. This could lend itself a control of the club by a clique. While I think that the proposed amendments are ill advised, I would like to rec-ommend that the new president appoint a committee to revise the constitution and standing rules to bring the club in line with modern technology.

John

BROS Officers, 2014 President John Huner 225.275.7419 jbhuner@yahoo.com Vice-President Beth Blackstock 225.284.4999 bethbb@cox.net Secretary Valerie Creehan 225.756.8363 vcreehan@bellsouth.net Treasurer John Nelson 206.817.5400 john@laorchid.com Show Chairman, 2014 Lata Johnson 225.933.0801 ljohnson@sulc.edu Newsletter Editor Danna Spayde 225.317.0933 orchidnut_2000@yahoo.com

Board Members Blair Many, thru 2014 John Graham, thru 2015 Jim Gershey, thru 2016 SWROGA Representative: James Jeansonne AOS and Orchid Digest Representative: John Huner Standing Committee Chairs: Program Co-Chairs ♦ Lata Johnson ♦ Tin-Wein Yu Membership ♦ Beth Black-stock Finance ♦ John Nelson Librarian ♦ Bob Danka Refreshments ♦ Vacant

Minutes of August Meeting

President John Huner called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM. He reviewed internet sites such as our web site and AOS, which provide helpful information in growing orchids. He also announced to members the immediate need to form a nominating committee followed by the election of new of-ficers in October. Marie Williams announced an upcoming trip to Earl Young’s greenhouses in Hattiesburg, Ms. The trip will be this following Saturday, August 23. Anyone interested in this trip needs to email Danna Spayde. She will contact those inter-ested members to determine how many cars will be needed along with the departing time. The program for the meeting was given by Frank Zachari-ah on the topic of “Orchid Essentials”. Frank gave a most informative Power Point presentation with valuable cultiva-tion tips. He reviewed the following important growing es-sentials: proper light in foot candles, proper watering, knowing the needs of the orchid, managing the rest period in the winter, proper fertilization, optimum pH, tempera-ture, air circulation, and potting media choices. He dis-cussed topics such as root structure, pseudo bulbs, and the problems associated with over potting. Members took a break for refreshments. Lata Johnson discussed the proposed trip to the Redlands in May 2014. The door prize and raffle plants were awarded. The meeting adjourned at 8:31 P.M. Respectfully submitted,

Valerie Creehan Secretary

We are planning a trip to the Redland International Or-chid show at Homestead FL. Show is usually the 3rd week in May. IF THERE are 54 people traveling, then APPROXIMATE trip cost is $325-350. This is a 5 day 4 nights trip and the cost includes transportation, accommodation (4 per suite), and breakfast. In addition to the show there are plans to visit some of the well known orchid nurseries and field experts. Lata Johnson is coordinating this effort. If you are interested and have not already contacted her, please call Lata at 225-933-0801 or 225-274-9900 or e-mail her at ljohn-son@sulc.edu by September 30, which is the deadline for reserving the coach bus. Members, your family and friends are also welcome to join the trip.

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2015 TRIP TO REDLAND

INTERNATIONAL ORCHID SHOW

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Let’s Talk About Orchids

by Frank Zachariah and Randy Johnson

Let’s Talk About Orchids by Frank Zachariah and

Randy Johnson 1. Randy, how long have you been growing orchids? What got you interest-ed? I've been growing orchids for 3 years. I went to Lowe's looking for Hoya one day and discovered their dead shelf. On it were many Phalaenopsis at reduced pric-es. I had never grown an Orchid before and thought I'd give it a try. The following year, I branched out into other Orchids and joined BROS. Now Plant Hoarders wants me on their TV show. 2. Do you have favorites? Why do you like them? There are so many great Orchids it's hard to have a favorite. I think the intense blue Vandas (i.e. V. Pachara Delight) are the prettiest flower of any plant. The col-or is amazing. The pendent cane Den-drobiums when in bloom are spectacular. The fragrance of a Brassavola is intoxicat-ing. A big floofy Cattleya will make any-one gawk. I also have an inexplicable at-traction to fat pseudo-bulbs. 3. Which orchids would you recommend for a beginner to collect? Phalaenopsis has to be the best introduc-tory Orchid. The long sprays of flowers that last for months, durability, availabil-ity, adaptability to home culture, and price make it a great beginner plant. 4. How many orchids do you think you have now? I have close to 600 Orchids but most are very young. Less than 200 are in 6” pots or larger. 5. Is there an orchid you like but have difficulty growing? What advice would you give someone just starting out? Hmmmm. I could grow a lot of Orchids better. Last Winter I didn't do well with the L. rubescens/aurea. After doing some research, I believe I watered them too much. My D. lindleyi grew well but didn't bloom.

My advice to anyone just starting out is get a huge greenhouse be-cause Orchids are addictive! 6. What is a good source to get ad-vice? BROS is a great source of infor-mation. Many members have years of growing experience and are will-ing to share their experience and wisdom. Green Growers is excellent. Of course the internet is a great source of information. I'm a big fan of online forums. My favorites are orchidboard.com and rv-orchidworks.com. The library has a large collection of books on Or-chids too.

Congratulations to Sue Ellen Gra-ham who was recently named Volun-teer of the Year of the Foundation for Historical Louisiana. She has vol-unteered since 1999 as a tour guide, training instructor for docents and guides, researcher and co-author of a booklet for kindergarten through third grade students about the Capi-tal City and the Old Governor’s Man-sion. She has hosted the December open house, lectured to tourists, taught students about other heritage and welcomes mansion visitors at the front door. We also appreciate all her volun-teer activities for the BROS. She has served as Society Secretary and works diligently at our annual Show.

Congratulations,

Sue Ellen!

Orchids for Seniors

Orchids for Seniors will meet at 10 a.m. on Monday, September 22 at Independence Park. The next meet-ing - on October 26 - will be our last meeting for 2014. Come and join us. We’ll have a Power Point program this month.

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Happy

September

Birthday to the

following:

Linda Molieri 9/10 Carolyn Clay 9/29 Marge Varnado 9/30

New Members

James & Nancy Morrison 7925 Director Dr. Baton Rouge, LA 70817 225.752.6383 (h) 225.247.1543 (c) 225.247.2329 (c) jhmorrisoniii@msn.com ncm6383@msn.com Diane L. Taylor 387 Maxine Dr. Baton Rouge, LA 70808 dianntaylor@cox.net

Green Growers Schedule October 8

November - no meeting December - no meeting

Meetings at 7 p.m. at the home of Gene & Thelma Berg, 425 Nelson

Dr. Come for good fellowship and learn-

ing, and door prizes.

BROS Meeting Dates &

Programs, 2014

Meeting Dates October 15 - Webinar on Dendrobiums with Manny Aybar November 19 - Philippine Orchids by Mack Rivenbark December - Christmas Party - Date & Location TBA May 2015 - Interested in a trip to the Redlands Orchid Show? Contact Lata Johnson for details - ljohnson@sulc.edu

Save the Date!

The 54th Annual Orchid Short Course sponsored by the Acadian Orchid

Society will be held on December 6.

Speakers will be Martin Motes, Motes Orchids in Florida and

Harry Phillips of Andy’s Orchids in California.

The Nominating Committee chaired by Frank Zachariah, with members Lata John-son, Blair Many, and Hal Canning met and selected a slate of officers for November, 2014 through October, 2015. The nomina-tions will be discussed at our meeting this month, and nominations will be taken from the floor. The election will take place at the October meeting, and the officers will assume their duties at the November meet-ing. The following slate is recommended and presented by the Nominating Committee: President Bob Lank Vice-President Valerie Creehan Secretary Marie Williams Board Members Randy Johnson At large Barbara Messina (If amendments Beth Blackstock Pass, 4 to be Blair Many elected; only James Jeansonne one if amend- ments fail.) John Nelson has agreed to serve as Treasur-er for another year. All nominees have been contacted by the Nominating Committee and have agreed to serve. We appreciate their willingness to take on the responsibility of leading the So-ciety through the next year. I will continue to edit the newsletter, and Valerie Creehan has volunteered to assist with it.

Nominating Committee

Report

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Proposed changes to bros by-laws

Our organization is becoming more active. We are involved with not only getting more speakers for our Club but also for the other five clubs in South Louisiana and Mississippi. And some members are organizing a trip to Redlands. We are participat-ing in the Foster Orchid program. And there is even the possibility of forming a sup-plemental Judging Center in the future. It is important the we have “active” members to help us stay successful and grow. There is the legal part we need to approve to add two more Board members. This is how our by-laws read now. Existing Wording: ARTICLE VI: BOARD OF DIRECTORS SECTION 1. The Board of Directors shall be composed of the four elected officers, the immediate Past President, three Members at Large, and the appointed Show Chairman. SECTION 2. One Member at Large shall be elected each year for a three-year term and shall not be eligible to serve consecutive terms. SECTION 8. The Board shall meet at least quarterly. Meeting dates shall be pub-lished in the newsletter. SECTION 11. The quorum for all Board of Directors meetings shall be a majority of its members. Proposed Changes: The proposed revisions are highlighted in blue ARTICLE VI: BOARD OF DIRECTORS SECTION 1. The Board of Directors shall be composed of the four elected officers, the immediate Past President, five Members at Large, and the appointed Show Chairman. SECTION 2. One or two Members at Large shall be elected each year for a three-year term and shall not be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms. SECTION 8. The Board shall meet at least quarterly. Meeting dates shall be published in the newsletter and/or announced at our meeting. SECTION 11. The quorum for all Board of Directors meetings shall be five of its members. Description of the changes: This change will add two new members to the board. (Section 1) Change how/when members at large are elected (Section 2) Allow board members to serve two consecutive terms. (Section 2) Allow Board meetings to be announced in either the newsletter or the monthly meeting. (Section 8) Change the definition of ‘quorum’ from majority to 5 members. It is presently 5. With the new members it would be 6. It is no big deal. I just don’t want anyone to worry that adding members will mean that it would be difficult to get a quor-um. (Section 11)

□ - Approve changes

□ - Do not approve changes

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August Photo Gallery

The Kansas Orchid Society requested that this notice of their fall show be sent out in our newsletter. If you happen to be in Wichita at the end of October and early No-vember, pay them a visit.

Cattleya Caudebec Candy ‘Susana’ (Cattleya Caudebec x Cattleya Lulu), HCC 77, owned by Todd Miller, Dripping Springs, Texas.

This flower was awarded at the SWROGA Show in Galveston on September 7. Photo by Malcolm McCorquodale.