SONOMA COUNTY ORCHID SOCIETY

January 2014

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

IN THIS ISSUE

1

Speaker Bio and Speaker

Dinner

2

President's Corner,

and Thank You

3

Lillian Smith and

Mark Hopkins Obituaries

4

Membership, Refreshments

& Congratulations to

Lynne Murrell

5

Pictures of Holiday Dinner

6

Your Orchids in January

7

Orchid Adaptations to an

Epiphytic Lifestyle

8

Upcoming Events

9

Orchid Shows

10

SCOS Awards & Trophies

11 – 13

Schedule of Show Classes

and Rules

Our January Speaker

is

Mary Nisbet,

owner of California

Orchids in Bolinas

Mary has been growing orchids

since 1978. She got her start at

McLellans’ where she spent

3 1/2 years. There she was

exposed to commercial

growing, judging, hybridizing,

and many other aspects of the

orchid world.

After McLellans, Mary moved to a shared greenhouse in Daly City, where she began

boarding orchids. During that time, she was looking for a location on the coast to open

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

work, Mary performed magic to bring to fruition the lovely nursery that houses her own

orchid collection and her orchid boarding business.

At her nursery, Mary has five greenhouses that hold approximately 20,000 orchids. For

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

you’ve never been there, don’t miss her next open house, which we will advertise in this

newsletter. See photos of the orchid logs at the following Flickr site:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/finboy/sets/72157628374066587/

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.

JOIN US FOR DINNER WITH MARY AT JOHNNY GARLIC'S, 1460 Farmers

Lane, Santa Rosa (only a few minutes from our meeting place) at 5:00 p.m. Please RSVP

to Kathie Hile at 707-585-1912 or jph.kah@gmail.com by Monday, January 13.

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

Thank you to Billie

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 plants and other

lucky winners won raffle plants. Finally, some fun gifts

were exchanged. Thank you Lynne Murrell for

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.

SCOS Board of Directors

Board Highlights:

THERE WAS NO BOARD MEETING IN DECEMBER

California Sierra Nevada Judging Center Awards

can be viewed at: http://www.csnjc.org

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 tedkorithoski@aol.com 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

THE BOARD THANKS ALL OF YOU FOR

BEING MEMBERS IN 2013. WE HOPE

YOU ALL ENJOYED THE SPEAKERS,

FRIENDSHIP AND ACTIVITIES OF 2013.

The Board wants new members to know that we are all

here to help. Don't hesitate to ask a question of any

society member. We have many expert growers! Or you

can call or email board members. To email, go to our

Society webpage www.sonomaorchids.com, click on the

"contacts" link and email any director or committee

chair. Through the website, you can also read back

issues of our newsletter.

Wear Your Name Badge Wear your name badge and sign the list at the

Membership Table. At each meeting, one name will be

drawn and that person will receive a free raffle ticket.

Those who would like to order a name badge should

do so as soon as possible. Email Jeanne at

jeannevanb@gmail.com.

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.

Refreshments

We are asking members to bring snacks to the monthly meetings.

Please check the following list to find out what month you are asked

to participate.

Members with last names beginning with the letters:

T – Z January, 2014

A – B February

C – De March

Di – Fo April

Fr – H May

J – Le June

Ice Cream Social July

Li – M August

Bar-B-Q & Auction September

No Meeting in September

N - R October

S November

Holiday Dinner December

No Meeting in December

Thank you

Lynne Murrell

recipient of the 2013 Marie Wascow Award

Lynne Murrell receiving Marie Wascow Award

Guests arriving

After Dinner

Socializing

Earl & Kathy Rathbun and Kris Foster

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

will occur at a slower pace until spring arrives so the need

for water and fertilizer is reduced. Indoor growers: pull your

orchid away from the window if its leaves are touching the

exterior glass. Outdoor growers: keep an eye on the

minimum projected temperatures and take care to protect

your plants.

Cattleyas and their

hybrids. Tie up Cattleya

pseudobulbs. Watch for

signs of insect

infestation on the

undersides of leaves or

in the sheathing on

pseudobulbs. Remove

the sheathing

(cataphylls) carefully so as not to nick the soft tissue of the

newest bulbs, which could result in rot or the introduction of

disease.

Cymbidiums. Since you are watering less this time of year,

you should keep the ground around cymbidiums damp in

order to keep the humidity high. This will prevent the

shriveling of the pseudo-

bulbs and prolong

flowering. Later blooming

varieties are beginning to

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.

densiflorum and Den. nobile or

its hybrids). As the buds

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.

Paphiopedilums. Do not allow the roots of paphs. to dry

out. If growing on a windowsill, use a pebble tray, with water

in the pebbles, to increase humidity. Accumulated moisture

in the pouch shortens

flower life. Watch for

insects, particularly

mealy bug around the

base of the plant under

old browned leaves.

Phalaenopsis. The phalaenopsis flowering cycle is about

to start. Constant air circulation is essential to avoid.

Botrytis-spotted

blooms. Water

carefully to keep

flowers dry and to

minimize risks of

soft rot in the fleshy

leaves. Continue to

use a dilute water

soluble fertilizer.

Monitor for scale

and mealy bugs on

the inflorescences and undersides of the leaves.

Vandas. Many of the popular Thai hybrids and African angraecoids begin their winter flowering now. Watch for

signs of inflorescences; help them away from the main stem of the plant to ensure proper display. Water the roots every

other day and fertilize once or twice a week if light levels are sufficient.

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

The Orchidaceae 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 jagmsmith@yahoo.com 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 flarose@prmagic.com. 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, Rheisler@rcsis.com, 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 Oncidium 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

A-1. Paphiopedilum species, single flower

A-2. Paphiopedilum species, multifloral A-3. Paphiopedilum species, brachypeta-

lum or parvisepalum type A-4. Primary hybrids A-5. Half-primary hybrids (one parent

is a species) A-6. Maudiae-type hybrids w/ striped

dorsal A-7. Complex hybrids A-8. Phragmipedium & Cypripedium

species A-9. Phragmipedium & Cypripedium hy-

brids A-10. First bloom seedlings

B. Phalaenopsis Alliance

B-1. Phalaenopsis and Doritis species B-2. Multifloral (branching), small flower-

ing hybrids B-3. White (including white

with colored lip) hybrids B-4. Lavender and pink hybrids B-5. Yellow, green, red, and art shade

hybrids B-6. Patterned - stripes and spots hy-

brids B-7. First bloom seedlings

C. Cattleya Alliance

C-1. Species: Cattleya, Laelia, Bras-savola and Sophrinitis

C-2. Hybrids from C-1: White & semi-alba (colored lip)

C-3. Hybrids from C-1: Pink, lavender and purple

C-4. Hybrids from C-1: Red, yellow and art shade

C-5. Hybrids from C-1: All other colors, i.e. green, splashed, spotted, flared

C-6. Other species and hybrids, i.e. Epidendrum, Broughtonia, Dia-crium, Barkeria, etc.

C-7. Intergeneric hybrids between C-1 & C-6, i.e. Dialaelia, Iwanagara, Epi-cat, etc.

C-8. First bloom seedlings

D. Oncidium Alliance

D-1. Oncidium species and hybrids D-2. Miltonia and Miltoniopsis species

and hybrids D-3. All other related species or hybrids

i.e. Brassia, Cochlioda, Rodrigu-eza, etc.

D-4. Odontoglossum species and hybrids D-5. All other intergeneric hybrids, i.e.

Miltassia, Odontioda, Vuylste-keara, Odontocidium, Wilsonara, Odontonia, etc.

D-6. First bloom seedlings

E. Pleurothallis Subtribe

E-1. Masdevallia species and hybrids E-2. Pleurothallis species and hybrids E-3. All other related species and hy-

brids, i.e. Dracula, Restrepia, Lep-anthes, etc. (including intergener-ics)

E-4. First bloom seedlings

F. Cymbidiums

F-1. Cymbidium species

F-2. Miniature hybrids (<1.5” flower

spread) - white, cream, pink

F-3. Miniature hybrids - red, brown,

bronze

F-4. Miniature hybrid – yellow,

green and all other colors

F-5. Novelty hybrids - white, cream, pink

F. Cymbidiums (contd)

F-6. Novelty hybrids - red, brown, bronze F-7. Novelty hybrids – yellow,

green and all other colors F-8. Standard hybrids (> 3” flower

spread) - white, cream, pink F-9. Standard hybrids - red, brown,

bronze F-10. Standard hybrids – yellow, green

and all other colors F-11. Pendant spike F-12. Variegated foliage F-13. First bloom seedlings

G. Dendrobium Subtribe

G-1. Phalaenopsis and antelope type species and hybrids

G-2. Oxyglossum section and Pedilonium species and hybrids

G-3. Latouria section species and hybrids G-4. Formosae section species and hy-

brids G-5. Australian species and hybrids not

included in G-1 G-6. All other species and hybrids G-7. First bloom seedlings

H. Vanda Alliance

H-1. Vanda and Ascocentrum species and hybrids

H-2. All other related species and hybrids, 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

I-3. Zygopetalum alliance species and hybrids not included in I-2, i.e Maxillaria, Zygopetalum, Bollea, Promenea, etc.

I-4. Bulbophyllum and Cirrhopetalum spe-cies and hybrids

I-5. Coelgyne and related species (Pholidota, Pleione, etc) and hy-brids

I-6. Dendrochilum species and hybrids I-7. Terrestrials (including Phaius,

Disa, and Calanthe) I-8. All other species and hybrids I-9. Outstanding foliage

J. Basket of Orchids (non-commercial exhibi-tors only)

J-1. At least 3 blooming orchids-other plants and props allowed in moder-ate quantities. Individual plants can also be entered in their ap-propriate section.

Note: First bloom seedlings, foliage, and pendant spike can also be entered in their appropriate class.

Judges will also award Best Species, Best Miniature, and Best Specimen plant from within all entries.

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.