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Meetings are the 1st

Wednesday of the

month @ 6:45pm

The Sepulveda Garden

Center

16633 Magnolia Blvd.,

Encino, CA 91436.

President

Millie Peskay

1st Vice President

Falguni Trieu

2nd Vice President

Pam Aitchison

Recording Secretary

Evelyn Mitarai

Treasurer

Millie Peskay

Corresponding Sec’y

Evelyn Mitarai

Membership Sec’y

Marcia Melcombe

Board of Directors

(Open)

Past President

Ruth Stern

Newsletter Editor

Falguni Trieu

All articles must be submit-ted by the 15th of each

month.

San Fernando Valley Orchid

Society Newsletter August 2014 Volume 54 Issue 8

No Meeting in August !

September 3rd, October 1st, November 5th and December 3rd—2014

Are regular meeting. The first Wednesday in each month at 6:45 pm

September 3rd 2014 Speaker

Arthur Pinkers

Arthur is an outstanding speaker that we have been fortunate to have

previously.

His subject will be announced in the September news letter.

Laelia purpurata

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ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

Dues $ 25—due now. We have currently 17 paid members.

Please mail or give your checks to Millie Peskay or Marcia Melcombe.

Two individuals at the same address: $25

Check payable to San Fernando Valley Orchid Society or cash at next meeting.

Marcia Melcome Millie Peskay

10014 Andasol Ave. 11175 Broadview Dr.

Northridge, CA 91325 Moorpark, CA 93021

Refreshments

Snacks and beverages for our September meeting will be provided by members whose last names

from L through M. Remember Healthy snacks are enjoyed as well as sweet treats. If you are sched-

uled to bring the refreshments and you are unable to attend, please call and trade with another

member. Of course, all members are encouraged to contribute at any meeting.

Thanks so much for supporting your Orchid Society.

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July Installation of 2014-2015 Officers and Directors:

Kent Lovelady was a gracious master of cerimonies. We do appreciate

all of his help. Those installed are:

President Millie Peskay

First Vice President Falguni Trieu

Second Vice President Pam Aitchison

Treasurer Millie Peskay

Corresponding Secretary Evelyn Mitarai

Membership Secretary Marcia Melcombe

Newsletter Editor Falguni Trieu

Directors (Open)

Recording Secretary Evelyn Mitarai

Past President Ruth Stern

AOS Representative Kent Lovelady

Orchid Digest representative Falguni Trieu

Webmaster Pam Aitchison

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Orchid Digest 12th Annual Speakers’ Day

Brenda Ward ( OCOS)

It was a beautiful Saturday in June.

The theme this year was ‘Orchids Around the World’. The speakers were amazing. Mary Gerritsen

talked about her orchid trek in Borneo. She showed many beautiful flowers in the wild along with

some creatures. She mentioned coming across man-eating alligators, leeches, and snakes.

She was followed by Tom Mirenda who presented ‘Orchids from Sicily’. He showed orchids growing

in the fields. Some were invisible until they actually got down on their knees. He showed the place

where they stayed for a few nights. They ate outdoors absorbing the beautiful scenery as he added

that they did not come across any man-eating alligators, leeches nor snakes in Sicily.

Ron McHatton presented ‘Orchids from Madagascar’. I learned that Madagascar has many niches so

it is not enough to know that the orchid came from there. You have to know exactly where the plant

came from to properly care for your orchid. He did not come across any man-eating alligators,

leeches nor snakes in his travel to Madagascar.

Jim Sloniker talked about the history of orchids in Santa Barbara County. It is the who’s who in the

orchid world. Man-eating alligators, leeches and snakes did not come to Santa Barbara. Gene

Crocker introduced us to Cattleyas of the Andes – with one exception!’ He also did not encounter

any man-eating alligators, leeches nor any snakes. Andy’s Orchids, Cal Orchid, Carter & Holmes Or-

chids, and Sunset Valley Orchids were there. There were plenty of plants to choose from for every-

one but no man-eating alligators, leeches nor snakes. There were libations, wine & cheese, cookies,

and more food at dinner but no man-eating alligators, leeches nor snakes. There was a raffle for a

basket of orchids. Jan Hennessy picked the winning ticket from the box and she happened to pick

her own ticket. What are the odds? I think she marked her ticket so she knew which one to pull. Just

kidding Jan. Congratulations! Gene Crocker received the Orchid Digest Medal. The medal is

awarded to someone with outstanding contributions to the orchid world. Harold Koopowitz’ numer-

ous and well-deserved recognitions were announced. He received the Orchid Digest Medal in 2010,

American Orchid Society Gold Medal in 2013, Royal Horticultural Society Westonbirt Orchid Medal

in 2014, American Daffodil Society Gold Medal in 2012, American Daffodil Society Innovation

Medal for Daffodil Itsy Bitsy Splitsy in 2010, two more Innovation Medals for two seedlings (2011 &

2013), a total of three times for this medal, and the Royal Horticultural Society Ralph B. White

Award for Daffodil Itsy Bitsy Splitsy in 2011. The take home message from this event was - we need

to protect our environment. Some orchids live in a specific niche with a specific pollinator. Once

that niche is gone then the pollinator and the orchid goes with it. The day was just super fun and if

you have never attended go next year. I promise, there will be no man-eating alligators, leeches or

snakes. Gardening Tip

Simple Slug Control: Slugs hate shredded pine mulch.

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Thank you to our wonderful Sponsors

for helping us with our annual Orchid Auction

BRING A FRIEND AND EARN AN ORCHID PLANT

Please invite your friends to our monthly meetings, and encourage them to join. New members join-ing from January to June will pay pro-rata dues of only $15. Our regular annual dues are $25. If you have any questions, please see our Membership Secretary, Marcia Melcombe. Remember that guests are always welcome. If you bring a friend who joins our society both you and your friend will get a free orchid plant. Lepanthes pulcherrima The lovely Lepanthes. Found at moderate elevations in Costa Rica.

Yih-Cheng Orchids

Taiwan R.O.C/

www.yihcheng.com

The Orchid Zone

(831) 214-1887

www.orchidzoneusa.com

Brookside Orchids

2718B Alpine Rd.

Menlo Park, CA 94028

(650) 854-4156

www.brookside-orchids.com

Tropical Exotique

tropicalexotique@yahoo.com

Chiangmai, Thailand

Seed Engei

1985-3 Tomitsuka-cho, Naka-ku

Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka, 432-8001, Japan

(81) 053-471-7506

Green Thumb Nursery

21812 Sherman Way

Canoga Park, CA

(818) 340-6400 Open 8 am

Valley Orchids

635 Miramonte Avenue

Morgan Hill, CA 95037

(408) 778-3913

www.valleyorchids.com

Orchids by Art

Art Mendoza

http://orchidsbyart.blogspot.co

m

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SFVOS Newsletter

Millie Peskay

11175 Broadview Drive

Moorpark, CA 93021

Page 6

Announcements

Please bring plants or anything else you care to donate. If you have extra fruit

(oranges or the like) bag them in small quantities, so we can sell each bag for a

dollar. Thank you for supporting your Orchid Society.