OrchidSafari ARCHIVES*

Wed, June 10, WBS 8 PM (CDT)
Moderator: Ned Nash, Director of Education and Conservation,
      American Orchid Society
   TOPIC: Orchid Questions and Basic AOS News

Present: 28

sparkysteve (Boca Raton FL)
Harold (Dallas TX)
graphicgreg (South FL)
Ruckster1 (Sharon, TX)
Ellen,Smithtown,NewYork
richardful (South FL)
phal (melanie from Margate, Fla.)
DavidJ SC
ela132 (Edith, Lake Worth FL)
paulav (Boca Raton FL)
JR000 (Northern CA)
Evlyn (Northwest Louisiana)
marylois (Northwest Louisiana)
schaeffa (Markus, Sao Paulo Brasil)
JCY8S (Arcadia CA)
Andy NVA (that's Northern Virginia, folks)
Josh319 (Iowa)
jimwatts (Miami FL)
Richard in West Palm Beach
aosned (South FL)
uncleearl (Vacaville CA)
Native Heart (South FL)
CaryStarr (Boca Raton FL)
mplewinska (Magda, Miami FL)
Carol Holdren (Boca Raton FL)
gaillevy (Boca Raton FL)
Tha Lictor (Kenn, St Louis MO)
swearly (Stephen, Australia)

CaryStarr (Cary...Boca Raton,Fl.)
I'm a little slow, but thank you Ned, your society presentation was wonderful last night! [Ned Nash was guest speaker at the Deerfield Beach Orchid Society, Tuesday evening, June 9th, subject: "Unusual Orchids you can see with the Naked Eye".

mplewinska (Magda from Miami)
Hi, all. Jane reminded me about the chat tonight, so here I am! Hi, Ned!

Carol Holdren (Boca Raton, FL)
Congrats, Magda!!

uncleearl (Earl in Vacaville, CA)
Is this the Probationary Judge (newly promoted), Magda?

mplewinska (Magda from Miami)
Thanks, Carol. Yes it's me, the probationary-to-be.

phal (melanie from Margate, Fla.)
Hi Magda. Congrats on the judgeship!

marylois (Northwest Louisiana)
Anyone else promoted? Richard Ful and Magda recommended for probationary???

Carol Holdren (Boca Raton, FL)
Jane comes up in July!

Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
Yes, Marylois, last night the Fl-Caribbean Center voted to recommend them for promotion to probationary!!!!

phal (melanie from Margate, Fla.)
Hey, Jim from Miami. We have a nice spread from East to West tonight.

Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
Ned, are you here? Topic?

Evlyn
Hi, Ned. What happened to Dos Pueblos? I couldn't find it last year.

aosned (aosned)
Oh, I see how this works, I have to keep pushing the send/recieve button or it just sits there. Dos Pueblos finally went tango upsilon a couple of years ago when Mrs. Moser decided to stop putting any more money into it.

Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
Ned, now you are cookin'

aosned (aosned)
And do I infer from Jane that I'm supposed to be doing more than just being a passive conversant? Topic? How do we manage to live in such hot climate? I dunno.

JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Calif is cooler, Ned - at least for now!!

mplewinska (Magda from Miami)
Ned, you'll get used to the heat in just a few more years. I get cold when it's below 80 now.

graphicgreg (Greg Allikas from balmy SoFla)
Are you there Ned? Before we get heavy into another topic....I have a serious question about orchids, Ned. We brought home many Cattleya and Laelia species from the 96 WOC in Rio. Of course they are all touted as being 'nursery raised' which in Brazil means two years out of the wild. Some of the Cattleyas were seedlings so the might well have been raised from seed. Question is - can C. forbesii or intermedia be hiding so thoroughly in the background of two sibs of C. guttata or harrisoniana to only appear in 10% of the offspring? We are first-blooming several plants labeled as the latter that are actually C. x venosa (harrisoniana x forbesii) and inter-guttata (intermedia x guttata). Are these bifoliate Cattleyas so much in flux or are the lines between some species truly blurry?

Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
Ned, as Director of Education for the AOS do you have plans in the works to make vast AOS library available to Orchid researchers, student judges, etc. (when new headquarters complete)?

uncleearl (Earl in Vacaville, CA)
Ned, are Milton Warne and Oscar Kirsch were still alive?

aosned (aosned)
Two questions, both of which will take a second to answer... First, to the second question, yes, absolutely, we have a committee now charged with developing a 'user friendly' interface for our various databases (also scheduled for integration) that will ultimately be available via PIN to members over the web... And second, Greg...

[This will be from memory:
The simple answer to both of Greg’s questions is yes, the species influence can be buried to that extent and yes the lines are that "blurry" for several reasons. First, even if the plants are "nursery raised" from seed, many growers (and one if specific) would simply sow pods pollinated by the bees. In a mixed nursery collection with overlapping bloom seasons, you can see what might happen here. Also, some Unscrupulous growers would make primary hybrids, select for the desired species "look" and breed back to the species, as with C. loddigesii and C. walkeriana, as noted below...NN]

aosned (aosned)
I sure hope that that last didn't get lost, in any case, the best C. loddigesii are short and full from C. walkeriana infusion, while the 'best' walkerianas are taller with flowers from the top of the bulb from loddigessi infusion. The intent of this was, if the rest got lost, was that both bees and man have been at work in Brazilian nurseries to make the lines between species a little less clear.

graphicgreg (Greg Allikas from balmy SoFla)
Thanks Ned...you have confirmed my suspicion about the corrupt Brazilian gene pool.

marylois
Ned - suggest you set refresh rate at zero (0) so the chat box doesn't get away from you.

schaeffa (Markus - Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Marylois - what you wrote is just what I was asking me myself... It seems to be that some questions arise without contact to earth...

Ellen,Smithtown,NewYork
Ned, will we be able to access information thru computers especially since we are a long way away.

mplewinska (Magda from Miami)
Ned, is this user-friendly interface supposed to be on computer? And does AOS have a library that members could use. Either borrowing books by mail or coming to the headquarters if we happen to be in the area?

jimwatts (melting in miami)
Ned, what about past articles in pubs? will they be online also?

aosned (aosned)
Back to the questions about access to AOS library and information...the vision for the new HQ is to use the facility to make all AOS gathered information, books, periodicals, etc., available to members and researchers online, via fax, etc. Now it's just a gravity pool where stuff collects and can't be gotten out again. But in a year or two, viola, you'll be able to begin to get it all online. The awards system will be the trial example.

Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
Thanks, Ned, ML please do request no private messages, so we can chat with Ned. [This was done, and we continue to ask that all refrain from private messages, graphics, and - of course - off-topic chat during a program...mlg]

Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
But what about the rare books, are they ever going to be on display or available to just LOOK at?

mplewinska (Magda from Miami)
Ned. I may have missed your answer to this, but what about allowing members use of the books in the AOS library.

Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
Magda, THAT is my question, ditto, what about our using books HANDS ON?

[The AOS Library will be available for researchers, students, and judges, but will not be a "lending library" per se. At least that is our plan at this time. As discussed before, our real goal is to have as much of the hard core information as possible available online. This may take some time, but volunteers will be welcome. Too, space and storage considerations, as well as the need to preserve many of the rarer volumes, will preclude the rare books being widely available for "touching." Sure, a lot of the existing library, as well as anticipated acquisitions, may be available to "look at" but in the same way you don't get into the rare stacks at the Huntington (for example) you won't be able to with these, either. There are definitely plans for the books to be displayed for viewing in a museum-like setting, but again, they will have to be protected in such an environment. Just like flowers get ruined if everyone has to touch them, so will books, and they don't rebloom the following year. So, I guess the answers are: Yes, the library will be available both directly and on-line in many ways that it is not presently. Yes, there are plans for the rarer and more beautiful volumes to be displayed. No, you won't necessarily have the opportunity to browse through the rare volumes on your own. And, finally, the enhancement of our ability to accept, process and distribute orchid-related information is the main reason for our needing a new HQ facility. The local community will enjoy having a facility such as we plan for a resource, the visiting public will enjoy the gardens and grounds planned, and the staff will enjoy having the ability to do their jobs better. But...the facility is planned first and foremost as a source of orchid-related information distribution. What it ISN'T about is "bigger offices for the staff." My office will probably be smaller, for example...NN]

marylois (Northwest Louisiana)
Ned, sounds really good to me - it's one of the major complaints about helping get a South Florida HQ! Making the library available for research will be a fantastic pull. [And putting data on-line is most palatable to those of us not in the Miami area...mlg]

Phal (melanie from Margate, Fla.)
Ned, have you begun the landscaping with orchids and tropicals yet?

CaryStarr (Cary...Boca Raton,Fl.)
When is the due date for the South Florida headquarters AOS?

[Neither ground-breaking nor landscaping the HQ site has begun. We have been waiting to see the level of funding available to us before spending any more on finalizing our site plans. We expect the final plans to be approved at our Fall Meetings in Los Angeles, with ground-breaking some time after that. Depending on a lot of variables, both under and not under our control, we expect the "move in" date to be late '99 or early '00...NN]

Richard in West Palm Beach
Hi,everyone -- you too, Ned. Sorry I'm so late.

Ellen,Smithtown,NewYork
Will Sanders be available over the net? [Sanders is the property of the Royal Horticultural Society - if it went on line, they would be the instigator. IMHO this is doubtful since they are in the business of producing and selling the RHS Orchid Database which is, of course, Sanders...mlg]

schaeffa (Markus - Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Well, I wanted to know something about registration: if you have a hybrid which is not registered - you can register it although you have not created it? And how do you do this (in case you are allowed to do it). [Markus, first of all, a hybrid must have flowered before it can be registered. If you are not the hybridizer you must have the permission of the hybridizer (or show documentation of efforts to get permission) in order to register it. For the "rank and file", this usually occurs when one gets an award on a cultivar of an unnamed grex. The secretary of the awarding body generally makes the form available to the owner of the plant awarded. The form is sent to the Royal Horticultural Society with the $12.50 registration fee. Forms are also available from the International Registration Authority or the AOS...mlg]

aosned (aosned)
Well, yes, the ultimate plan is to have our own -- very own -- web site with all the bells and whistles, at least a lot of them. But, remember, the current web site was free and continues to be so, and that counts for a lot in a not-for-profit. Of course, we welcome contributions toward such programs? In all seriousness, we've learned a lot and are nearly ready to begin to get on with a project. Remember though that fiduciary responsibility for members' funds results in slow wheels grinding fine.

mplewinska (Magda from Miami)
Ned, How much does a web site cost and couldn't you get someone to dedicate some money for it? Some ISP person out there must be into orchids?

Ellen,Smithtown,NewYork
Ned, I have a question about donating a collection. How would one go about making arrangements for a collection to find an appreciative home.

ela132
How much do web sites cost?

jimwatts (melting in miami)
Ellen wants to get tax deduction.

Ellen,Smithtown,NewYork
No Jim, just want a safe place for my 800 babies.

phal (melanie from Margate, Fla.)
800 plants? a safe place? do they like Florida?

marylois (Northwest Louisiana)
Ned, I didn't make Toronto (hubby sick), so was unable to attend the Workshop Committee - it was my job to contact 47 societies for their activities...I sent two mailings and 17 are still out...unless societies cooperate, the website will always be out of date...no matter how any webmaster tries.

uncleearl (Earl in Vacaville, CA)
Ned - may I suggest that you get in touch with Vengers.com. He does his own hosting, I believe, and could probably give you some figures to work with re costs to run your won server directly on the web.

marylois (Northwest Louisiana)
I got a domain for Orchid Digest with a secure subscription order form = $50 a month - after initial costs. Plus $100 to Internex for two years, then $50 year thereafter...not too dear. The secure form was $100, plus a monthly cost included in the $50/mo.

No! Don't get tied up with anyone else - get a private domain!

aosned (aosned)
Sheesh, sorry for all the burps and pauses, but blame the machine for this one.. No, nothing is on line yet, ... However, I can see the magazine on line for members with PIN numbers, and for select articles to come on line some time after publication (6 - 12 months) for non-members, otherwise, why join? And, as for donating collections, we are going to have a very strict policy on that to insure that we don't go overboard but have a designed collection (I assume you meant plants.)

mplewinska (Magda from Miami)
Ned, absolutely. Don't give away articles to non-members!

uncleearl (Earl in Vacaville, CA)
Ned - Does that mean that back issues will be viewable and searchable? If so, thanks!!

jimwatts (melting in miami)
You mean I wont have to spend another 12 hours at the library disturbing the dust?? Hooray.

Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
I heard about the AQ's being on line, but how about the old Bulletins and Orchids?

graphicgreg (Greg Allikas from balmy SoFla)
Lois, we can do even better with a private domain...$49/mo, SSL included.

marylois (Northwest Louisiana)
e.g., the ODC domain is only $50 a year over what you quote.

marylois (Northwest Louisiana)
Re AOS website - it should really be up to the person who is going to maintain it to select the ISP...one that is most convenient...there will be MUCH input.

phal (melanie from Margate, Fla.)
Before the AOS gets into having their own website, they will have to have
(a) their own domain name which costs about $100 to register for two years,
(b) someone with computer resources, (3) depending on the traffic, an ISDN line, (c) there are fees to Southern Bell for installation of the ISDN line, monthly service fees,
(d) ISP installation fees and monthly usage fees
(e) fast computer and modem
(f) personnel to put your data online, etc.
It's a big expense and alot of work. And that is what I can recall for our website.

marylois (Northwest Louisiana)
And AOS should consider biting the bullet and getting the new site professionally designed...with some great graphics of the caliber of, let's say, someone like Greg. *S*

graphicgreg (Greg Allikas from balmy SoFla)
Thanks for the plug Lois, Ned and I have met previously on a few occasions *grin*. I have been lobbying to work on the AOS website for a year now but the duties will most likely fall on the inhouse graphics person, Reilly, who knows her way around html.

jimwatts (melting in miami)
I agree with melanie, I'd rather see the data online and running before a separate site.

Ellen,Smithtown,NewYork
I agree with Jim.

marylois (Northwest Louisiana)
...but I believe AOS is looking for a new web home now.

KB Barrett
Hi All, Just getting home from work, what a day. Hi, Ned, if you're still online, I graduated from UCSB in '75 too, though I was in marine biology. My favorite memories!

Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
Hi, Kathy, that was a GREAT class!

KB Barrett
Jane - are you an alum too? Great! Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
Gosh no, but I know two of the best!!!

Tha Lictor
Hello, people! This is Kenn!

gaillevy ( Boca Raton, Fl)
Welcome back Ken, long time.

aosned
Ah, yes, UCSB in '75...those were the days. Anyway, now that I seem to have gotten the hang of it, I'm going to join the exodus, as it has been a long day for me as well. I'll be out of the office until monday, but should any of you care to send email, I always seem to respond to that first.

Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
Good night, Ned, thanks for last night at DBOS and tonight.

marylois (Northwest Louisiana)
Nite, Ned - have to let a tired man rest. Think about another visit - maybe in August?

Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
Mary Lois has no mercy. *G*

sparkysteve (of Boca Raton Florida)
Thanks, Ned---you were great!

mplewinska (Magda from Miami)
Jane, I guess we are going to have to bug Ned about this in private. He just said bye.

phal (melanie from Margate, Fla.)
Bye, Ned, and thanks for the chat!

gaillevy ( Boca Raton, Fl)
Melanie, how are you haven't seen you in ages, how are things in Coral Springs?

graphicgreg (Greg Allikas from balmy SoFla)
Is the 'official' program over? May I post something personal?

marylois (Northwest Louisiana)
Yes, I think Ned has 'left the building' - Green Light on private messages...free-for-all for chat.

jimwatts (melting in miami)
Greg, since Ned's gone, anarchy rules!!

marylois (Northwest Louisiana)
Well said, Jim! *LOL*

A NOTE FROM MARYLOIS:

Actually, there was a lot of before, after and DURING topic chat.

Just a little reminder - when we have a speaker, he has the floor. And this evening showed that we must refrain from personal messages during a topic as well. Our speakers give of their time and expertise - all we have to give is our courtesy and attention. I realize we have many newcomers who aren't aware of these needs...please take this as it is intended: an effort to make your topic time at OrchidSafari rewarding.

And I must apologize for not getting there for the first part - no power.

Unfortunately, the open chat prior to Ned's arrival was lost - we had three people trying to keep notes, but - the best laid plans. Fortunately! We had five people cutting and pasting when Ned arrived. *S*

Here is what was salvaged - enjoy!

gaillevy ( Boca Raton, Fl)
What's happening.

ela132
Does anyone know where I can get basic salts?

Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
What do you want them for ela132?

ela132
My book says i need them to try meristemming.

Evlyn (NW LA)
What are basic salts?

JR000 (No. CA)
Iela: Sigma Chemical has all the salts but they require a nursery license before they will sell to you.

Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
What book? and what do you want to meristem?

ela132
Basic salts are salts that are neither neutral nor acidic. I have a book that goes into detail on meristemming and growing by seed. It says I need basic salts for the media.

ela132
I want to meristem my mini-cattleya. it has a beautiful peach flower with a dark purple lip.

uncleearl (Earl in Vacaville, CA)
Should be able to get pre-mixed from any number of sources. Why mix yourself?

paulav (Paula in Boca Raton, Florida)
Ela, what is the name of your peach cattleya?

ela123
The flower doesn't have a name. It just has the parents written on a plastic tag. I got it from J.E.M. Orchids in Delray Beach. It's outside right now. I forgot what the parents were.

Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
Good luck, ela123.

JR000 (No. CA)
Ela: Do you have a laminar hood or an equivalent to keep the air sterile?

ela132
JR: No, that's my biggest stumbling block. I can't afford $2000 for a laminar flow. I don't know what to do to keep the air sterile. I have all the other equipment needed (according to the book)

Evlyn (NW LA)
Ela--but the time you pay for all the stuff you need---it would be cheaper to send it to a lab.

JR000 (No. CA)
Ela: It really helps for someone to show you the techniques. I would not attempt anything without a hood. I think the suggestion to send it to a lab is a good one.

uncleearl (Earl in Vacaville, CA)
Melanie - Contact me by email at earldunn@community.net and we can discuss this meristemming further, if you wish.

ela132
Well, I'm not going to stop trying. I'll figure out something. For my more favorite ones, I'll send them to labs.. I'll keep trying at home with my epidendrum. If I mess that up, it won't hurt so much. It has about 5 seed pods on it for my to play around with. :)

uncleearl (Earl in Vacaville, CA)
If you're a good builder, Melanie, there are plans for flasking cabinets available. Work fine (ask Carmela, Iwanaga, H&R, etc. *S*)

ela132
Does anyone know where I can get flasks of den's?

JR000 (No. CA)
Ela: I believe H&R in Hawaii have flasks. They advertise in AOS.

uncleearl (Earl in Vacaville, CA)
Ela - I'll send you some URLs for some nurseries with flasks, if you want.

ela132
Thanx, Earl. Usually I'm limited to orchid growers around here. I've always been leary of mail order, but I'd like to give it a try. [Suggest you specify you want flasks of seedlings ready to pot out as shipped flasks always come in with the agar mixed up and that makes plants rot pretty fast...best to get bigger flask babies and plan on potting as soon as they come in...otherwise handcarry them yourself...mlg]

Tex1 Dan (Dan from Wharton, Texas)
Sharon, I have them on the Wundergrow diet now! I've been very happy with the results on my phals and catts with the Wundergrow. The results are amazing. Nice shiny leaves on the phals and multiple growths on all plants. Also great flowers. My cyms don't seem to respond as well, but...it may be the heat. I'm afraid they are not warthm tolerant! No more Dyna-Gro for me!!

schaeffa (Markus - Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Melanie, so I am sorry - seems to be my problem. But really strange: your text begins green and turns purple...

phal (melanie from Margate, Fla.)
I hope that you can read some of the pastel colors some of us are using without too much difficulty. Markus. If not, I will change mine.:)

schaeffa (Markus - Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Well, folks, my father is colorblind (cannot distinguish pure red and green), but as you all should know, this cannot pass to the first generation, but only to the second of the daughter (exception: that both parents have this problem). So I still think that it is a problem of my computer and not mine - finally my plants are all green, with exception, may be, of some Laelia sanguiloba or Laelia milleri...

marylois
I'm sure your eyes are okay - computers set differently.

schaeffa (Markus - Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Melanie, I was just joking a little - I am shure that the problem has to do with my Netscape 3 Version... there is no need to change anything FOR YOU...

Ruckster1 (Sharon from Tejas)
Dan, I want to try, once I settle down a bit I will put mind on it too.. mine haven't had ANY fertilizer in about two months... sad but true, this weekend they will, ooops yard sale this weekend, next Wed they will (I keep promising themmmmm.....)

jimwatts (jimw in miami)
Hi, y'all

JR000 (No. CA)
Dan: Most cyms are cool growers.

Tex1 Dan (Dan from Wharton, Texas)
JR....I know they are, but I got a deal on these....and you know all orchid growers are a sucker for a deal. I need to ship them to Jim Kawasaki. They were also in poor shape. I've had one bloom, but it's an uphill battle. I just don't see the resppnse with Wundergrow on the cyms, like I do the phals, paphs, catts, and onc's.

phal (melanie from Margate, Fla.)
Good. We are putting a display in the IPA show at the Biltmore this month. It promises to be nice. Are you going?

Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
Melanie, Carol Holdren and I are going to the IPA thingy. Who are you putting the exhibit in for?

gaillevy ( Boca Raton, Fl)
Melanie, Jane and Carol are going, I doubt if I will go.

jimwatts (melting in miami)
I'm into equitants and such, so IPA isn't much interest to me personally (no slings and arrows please).

phal (melanie from Margate, Fla.)
Jane, Coral Springs Orchid Society is putting in a display. Trying for a ribbon.

Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
That is nice, Melanie, good luck I will look forward to seeing the fruits of your efforts!

phal (melanie from Margate, Fla.)
Jane, don't give me credit for the display. Peter Staudenmaier, the new Prez is getting his group together to do it. He is very artistic.

graphicgreg (Greg Allikas from balmy SoFla)
If anybody is still listening...I would like to put some tips for new orchidists on 'Building A Collection' up at the O zone this summer. Please forward any personal suggestions to: graphicgreg@orchidworks.com

phal (melanie from Margate, Fla.)
Ok, Greg!

KB Barrett
Greg, my personal tip is not to get too big too fast!

Tha Lictor
Does anyone know of any good orchid shops, commercial or other, in Chicago?

Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
Klehms, Hausermanns, EFG The last two are in ADDISON, just outside a few miles.

gaillevy ( Boca Raton, Fl)
Well Ken there are alot of great Orchid places in Chicago. Hauserman, EFG, Klehm, Oak Hill, Windsong.

Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
Gail, you are so super, I guess your full house beats my 3 of a kind! *G*

Tha Lictor
Cool. im going up there next weekend and staying for a week.

gaillevy ( Boca Raton, Fl)
Actually, there are more!

Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
Hope you get to all of them, Ken.

Tha Lictor
I know I won't get to all of them, but I'm gonna go shoppin!!!!

gaillevy ( Boca Raton, Fl)
Ken, I would suggest Oak Hill, they have alot of species and the best prices ever!

Tha Lictor
paphs and phraggies???

Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
What a surprize!! Gail recommends the SPECIES place!!! *G* *G* *G*

graphicgreg (Greg Allikas from balmy SoFla)
I would suggest Oak Hill also Ken...they do have nice species.

KB Barrett (Kathy in N Calif)
Too true, Janie, but Hermann Pigors just got a round of applause for good plants, reasonable prices and for being a good guy on rec.gardens.orchids.

Tha Lictor
Are the prices reasonable??? [See above.] Im not into geting a species that is only expensive due to its name.

jimwatts (melting in miami)
For Chicago, also look in http://www.orchidlink.com/growers.html Very good search engine.

graphicgreg (Greg Allikas from balmy SoFla)
I dunno about ole Hermann, I think he's semi-retired. He's been sending his peons to all the FLA events lately...mebbe he just can't stand the heat.

marylois (Northwest Louisiana)
Hermann will NEVER retire...goes 18 hours a day...can't sit still 5 minutes.

gaillevy ( Boca Raton, Fl)
Greg, Herman himself is our speaker in July at COS, at Fairchild!!!!!!!

Swearly (Stephen From Aus)
Hi, all.

Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
Good day, Steven!

Richard in West Palm Beach
I've got a few Aerides blooming now -- houlettiana, flabellata, rosea, and soon, falcata. Wonderful citrusy fragrances. And ... 0ne of my recent imports is already in spike! -- Aerides houlettiana X Asctm. miniatum!! Can't wait to see that one!

sparkysteve (of Boca Raton Florida)
Is this the REAL Richard in West Palm Beach? or a clone?????

Richard in West Palm Beach
This is mericlone #5 responding to SparkySteve -- I'm here and the 'real' Richard in West Palm Beach is out playing fast and loose

graphicgreg (Greg Allikas from balmy SoFla)
Hey jimmwatts, check out the Home Depot...SunBulb is shipping some nice equitants. I am currently working on a website for Palmer Orchids who also has some great equitants...the URL will be online in a week or two http://www.orchidworks.com/palmer/

jimwatts (melting in miami)
Thanks greg, is palmer the old davidson? (I bookmarked it already *G*) My local home-depot doesn't have any equitants - booo

Richard in West Palm Beach
A vendor from Malaysia has asked me to recommend a source of mini-Cattleyas (in flask) that would do well in his climate -- hot and humid year 'round. Anyone have any suggestions? URLS would be especially welcome, but also any names of plants that should thrive in hot, humid conditions.

marylois (Northwest Louisiana)
Hmmmm, Richard, H&R in Hawaii - Gold Country in CA...or go straight to Fordyce.

KB Barrett (Kathy in N Calif)
Richard, don't forget Fordyce in Calif. He has a lot of minis, not on the web tho.

Richard in West Palm Beach
Thanks, but do those vendors sell flasks? I don't think H&R or Gold Country does, but I'm not sure about Fordyce.

KB Barrett (Kathy in N Calif)
Fordyce has some flasks, but VERY few.

marylois (Northwest Louisiana)
If a dealer talked with Fordyce, I think he could get some flasks -- Frank makes lots of hybrids and meristems.

jimwatts (melting in miami)
But I am going to Dallas in July, will come back thru Galveston & Anita Aldrich.

marylois (Northwest Louisiana)
Jim! The Equitant Queen! *G* Too bad you're not in Dallas this coming Sat - Dallas Judging Seminar....Carl Withner and Howard Ginsberg.

sparkysteve (of Boca Raton Florida)
Who's the equitant lady in Texas?

jimwatts (melting in miami)
Steve, it's Anita Aldrich in Galveston, where I'll be after I leave the parents.

graphicgreg (Greg Allikas from balmy SoFla)
Take a drive up to Palm Beach Jim. Rob Palmer is the head grower at Sun Bulb and also has his own nursery.

Evlyn
Have any of the Florida residents seen the orchid bench in the Home Depot's garden. Really nice--just put mine together--$79--has Catts (cast metal) all across back and one on iron work at side.

gaillevy ( Boca Raton, Fl)
I think I need to sleep, will wish you all a good night have a good week.

Native Heart (Jane in HOT Fort Lauderdale)
Magda, again, congrats. I am so glad that you are in the judging program. You are so dear to me. Mary Lois, Magda is a REAL GOOD ONE! So is Richard Ful.

marylois (Northwest Louisiana)
There's a lot of knowledge in these aspiring judges already!! Jane - would you please be in charge of getting a list of all the OS folks in judging, current status, etc.? And kinda keep up with it? [I've contacted Jane and she has agreed to do this...please be responsive when you hear from her...mlg]

KB Barrett (Kathy in N Calif)
Tell you what guys, its been a LONG day and I'm beat, so I'll see you all on Sat! *poof*

Tha Lictor
Hey, when does spicerianum bloom?

sparkysteve (of Boca Raton Florida)
Ken, around Christmas here.

marylois (Northwest Louisiana)
Knew you'd field that one, sparks.

Tha Lictor
OK. I have one that's ready to bloom. This will be its first. Should I keep it cool when it is around the time?

graphicgreg (Greg Allikas from balmy SoFla)
OH, I forgot to brag....Kathy and I got an AM on a Vnra. Fairy Tales last month ...AT THE WPB CENTER ! WoW ! When Richard Kosel asked me for a clonal name all I could say was 'Great Balls Afire', so I guess that's it.

jimwatts (melting in miami)
Nice going, greg.

marylois (Northwest Louisiana)
Great! You two are the best! Greg - on Fairy Tales? An AM - boy! It's about time! Maybe epi crosses are about to come into their own at long last.

graphicgreg
They should, Lois. I saw a really nice Epc. El Hatillo down at RF last weekend...nice painted fingernails on the petals. I have a crazy Epicatt I made in flask right now...Lc. Rojo on Enc. rufa...I'm hoping for scarlet torches.