Please feel free to forward this newsletter to friends who might be interested in knowing about Five Cities Orchid Society and encourage them to subscribe at www.fcos.org | |
Laelia lobata var. coerulea 'Maria Christina'
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A message from the President’s Potting Bench…..
Dear Members,
We are halfway through the year and preparing for the summer activities. I hope you will join us.
Mark Your Calendars for June
FCOS will be at Cambria Nursery on June 8th at 11am and will present a talk on orchids that will grow outside on the California coast.
Our annual potluck and orchid auction is set for June 15, 2024, from 12:30 to 3:30 PM. Details and RSVP information can be found in the SignUp Genius link and the poster below. Bring your favorite dish to share, extra orchids to donate to the auction and your best orchids for our Show & Tell Contest.
More information on the meeting is posted below.
Friendly Reminders
Please remember to join or renew your membership if you haven't done so already. Your dues help us keep our society thriving with these fantastic events and more.
The Five Cities Orchid Society (FCOS) thrives on collaboration and camaraderie, so I encourage all members to share with us pictures and videos of your orchids and grow areas, no matter where you are in the world. Let's turn our newsletter into a gallery of global orchid beauty!
FCOS Merchandise: Don’t forget to check out the new orchid shirts and other merchandise available in the FCOS Store. Sporting our logo on hats, shirts, sweaters, mugs, and tote bags is a great way to show your orchid pride and support our society.
Stay Connected
Our newsletter remains your go-to resource for the Zoom link to our upcoming OrchidTalks, recordings of past talks, member photos, articles, videos, field trip opportunities, buying, selling and trading orchids and much more.
FCOS has a strong presence on Facebook, Instagram and a Youtube Channel with videos submitted by our members. It's all about staying connected and sharing our passion for orchids.
We are excited to announce the creation of a “Members ONLY” FCOS Membership Roster that allows you to voluntarily opt into exclusive networking opportunities. This roster will provide a link accessible only to members, offering a platform for connecting and expanding your network within the FCOS community. Join us in taking advantage of this valuable resource to enhance your professional relationships and collaborations.
So let’s keep our spirits high and our orchids thriving. Here's to another month of growth, learning, and community!
I have posted a few pictures from my orchid collection below. I hope you enjoy them!
Stay rooted in joy and keep blossoming!
Jeff Parham
President, FCOS
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Phragmipedium Eric Young (besseae x longifolium). First bloom, grown under LED lights. | |
LC Tropical Pointer Cheetah BM/JOGA. Grown under-led lights. Plant is nicely fragrant. Obtained plant during our last auction. |
I may have a bit of an addiction problem with my Sarcochilus and you can see why. I have some seedlings from the 4th generation of hybridization, available from Sunset Valley Orchids. Not only have the reds gotten a deeper shade but the flowers are larger. Notice how the flowers have upturned towards the light and act like little Satellite dishes to catch the light.
You may find one or two of these in the orchid auction on June 15.
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This is my rack of orchids growing in the front-yard. I have several Sarcochilus in bloom this year and it is an incredible display. | |
This is a close up of Laelia lobiata var. coerulea ‘Maria Christina’, the cover photo. I received this as a gift have had this orchid for about a year. This orchid is originally from Brazil and is notoriously difficult to bloom. It’s pleasantly fragrant! It is a lithophyte and in culture needs high light, a bit dryer conditions, known for blooming only when it begins growing roots outside the pot. Unknowingly, I have provided all the correct conditions. It has 3 inflorescences with 2 to 3 flowers per growth. Grown under LED lights in my backyard shade-house in Los Osos,CA. | |
FCOS June meeting/potluck and Orchid Auction
Along with good food, we will hold a short business meeting at 2 pm as well as a Show & Tell contest of our members orchids and our traditional Silent Auction.
Bring plants you wish to donate for auction. Fill in a bid sheet (you can print off our website or click the bid sheet link) describing the plant. Photos of its flowers always heats up the bidding. BIDDERS: Minimum raise $1.00.
The auction will run until 2:45 pm at which point you may collect your winning plants and gather together your winning bid sheets. It is most helpful for us if you can hand us a written tally of your bids along with the original bid sheet. We accept cash, checks and electronic payments.
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ORCHID CONSERVATION
The Orchid Conservation Alliance works to create and support orchid reserves so that nature’s most amazing flora will continue to thrive in the wild. The Orchid Conservation Alliance has done an outstanding job preserving critical orchid habitat in Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil.
The FCOS would like the general membership to give a voice vote at the meeting on supporting their work with a donation of $5,000 (our treasury now sits just under $20,000). This donation should allow the OCA to purchase 14 acres of orchid rich habitat to add to their preserves. More information about them can be found on their website.
If you would personally like to support the OCA, you can donate here.
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“Madagascar, A Land of Many Contrasts"
with Ron Parsons
The vast island nation of Madagascar, is a land that should be visited sooner than later. It is home to many hundreds of native orchid species, most of which are as unique as the other flora, and the fauna of this fourth largest island in the world. Unfortunately, much of the land is environmentally devastated, but the wild areas are home to some of the most incredible experiences a person can have. I may not have had great initial impressions upon arrival and for the first several days, but as the trip progressed my feelings changed. I am filled with indelible and wonderful memories, and a longing to return.
Ron traveled to Madagascar with the Orchid Conservation Alliance (OCA). About 60% of the species on the island are endemic. The island is about 1,000 miles long and 400 miles wide. There are several reserves or national parks on the island but there is little if any control about what takes place in these areas. They began their trip in the capital and during their visit were able to see orchids, plants, and animals in various habitats including in some of the reserves and National Parks. Ron shows many slides of orchid species they encountered in at least the following genera:
· Angracum
· Aerangis
· Benthamia
· Bulbophylum
· Cymbidiella
· Cynorkis
· Eulophiella
· Grammangus
· Jumella
· Oberonia (only 1 species on Madagascar)
· Oeonia
· Oeniella
· Vanilla
Ron also showed photos of many lemur and gecko species. They also saw some of the 6 species of Baobab tress that are found on Madagascar. He also stated that if you see a caterpillar with spines do not touch it because they might be poisonous.
Ron is planning another trip back to Madagascar in the near future. We hope to have Ron back to speak with us next year.
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Mother’s Day Fairy Festival at San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens | |
The Fairy Festival at SLO Botanical Gardens was a great success - great weather, crowds of people and lots of orchids purchased. | Our youngest FCOS member, Felix Hammer brought his mom and dad with him to this event so they could join him in admiring the many new Phalaenopsis colors and patterns. | |
CalCoast Orchids donated hundreds of Phalaenopsis and Cymbidium orchids for this event. Bas delivered the orchids to SLOBG early Sunday morning. Many thanks go to Bas and Alison of CalCoast Orchids for their continuing strong support of FCOS. | Michelle, Jeff and Ed manned the FCOS display and had a great time talking orchids and signed up two new members. All-in-all a fun day. Michelle fully engaged in the fairy spirit with appropriate ears and costume, sad to report Ed and Jeff were not so inclined. | |
What’s Blooming Now - a few photos from our members and friends | |
Cattleya Scintillation ‘Virginia’ |
Orchid cactus and a picture of our two high desert palms all that came from Placerville, California over 40 years ago. They remind us of family and friends that we left behind over 60 years ago. We think of them every time we look at their beauty and they keep showing us their love They remind us of those we love that have gone to be with the Lord and those who are still with us.
Stay safe and well
Ron and Virginia Hardy
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SLC Jewel Box ‘Dark Water’. Grown by Ron Hardy, Gig Harbor, WA | |
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Lots of blooms this year for me! All are potted in Hydroton and doing very well and healthy.
1. Trichopilia marginata Second blooming this year!
2 Cuitlauzina pendula Doing fabulous potted in Hydroton!
3. Caulophilia Ipo (Myrmecophila tibicinis × Caularthron bicornutum) First time bloomer for me, purchased Nov. 2018.
Grown by Julie Wolter in Los Osos, CA.
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Dendrobium hancockii. A hot to cool growing epiphytic found at an elevation of 200 to 1600 meters in southern China on tree trunks. This orchid is growing in a clay pot filled with bark and lava rock. Currently growing in a cool greenhouse but has grown well outside in past years. Grown by Chris Ehrler. | Dendrobium trantuanii. In orchidspecies.com this is reported to be a warm growing epiphyte native to in northwestern Vietnam elevations of 800 to 1,000 meters. But this orchid is growing well mounted on a piece of cork bark which is in a cool greenhouse. It has survived 40 F nights in winter. Grown by Chris Ehrler. | Dendrochilum wenzelii. A hot to warm growing epiphytic species frond in the Philippines at elevations of 300 to 1,000 meters. This orchid is growing well mounted and hanging in a cool greenhouse, but maybe would grow and flower better in a warmer environment. Grown by Chris Ehrler. | Euchile (Encyclia) citrina. A cool to cold growing pendant, epiphytic species found in Mexico at elevations of 1,300 to 2,600 meters. This orchid is growing mounted with the mount hanging outside under a wood lath shade structure. This is a new genus (set up in 1998) and only has three species. | Lepanthopsis hirtzii. A cool to cold growing epiphyte growing in Colombia and Ecuador at elevations of 1,600 to 2,700 meters. This orchid is growing in a plastic pot filled with sphagnum moss. The pot is in a cool greenhouse. Each flower is about 1/4 inch tall. Grown by Chris Ehrler. | Side view of Masdevallia coccinea 'San Bars Red Flaire' flower. | Masdevallia santae-insesae. A cool to cold growing epiphyte found in southern Ecuador in cloud forests at an elevation of 1900 to 2500 meters. Growing in a cool greenhouse mounted on a piece of cork oak with some sphagnum moss on the roots. A division of this orchid is growing well in a clay pot filled with sphagnum moss. Grown by Chris Ehrler. | Unnamed Miltoniopsis hybrid. Growing in a plastic pot filled with sphagnum moss. The pot in in a cool greenhouse. This genus needs cool, moist conditions with bright light to do well. Grown by Chris Ehrler. | Pleurothallis canaligera. Is native to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru growing in cool to cold environment as either an epiphyte or as a terrestrial. Growing in a cool greenhouse in a plastic pot filled with bark and lava rock. Grown by Chris Ehrler. | Side view of Pleurothallis grandiflora 'Gigi' flower. | Pleurothallis linguifera. Found at elevations of 1,500 to 3,400 meters as a cold to cool growing epiphyte in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Venezuela. This orchid is growing in a clay pot filled with sphagnum moss, with the pot in a cool greenhouse. Grown by Chris Ehrler. | Side view of Pleurothallis macroblepharis flower. | Pleurothallis megalops. A cool to cold growing epiphytic species growing on the western slopes of the Andes in Ecuador at elevations around 1600 meters. Growing mounted with some sphagnum moss on the roots hanging in a cool greenhouse. Grown by Chris Ehrler. | Polystachya pubescens. This cool to cold growing species is found in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland in South Africa) grows both as an epiphyte or lithophyte as a cool to cold growing species at elevations up to 1500 meters. Currently growing mounted with the mount hanging outside under a wood lath. I wonder what the pollinator senses when it sees the fine hairs above the lip? Grown by Chris Ehrler. | Porroglossum schramii. A cool growing lithophyte found in cloud forests in Ecuador at elevations around 1,600 to 1,800 meters. This orchid is growing in a mesh pot filled with sphagnum moss. The pot in in a cool greenhouse. Photos show that this species has a movable lip. Grown by Chris Ehrler. | Side view of Porroglossum schramii flower with lip in down position. |
Scaphosepalum grande. A cool growing epiphytic species growing at elevations of 1,200 to 1,500 meters in Colombia. This orchid is growing in a mesh pot filled with a mixture of bark and lava rock. Grown by Chris Ehrler.
| SLC Mem. Evelyn Paquete 'Hot Spots' x SLC Katherine Clarkson 'SVO' HCC-AOS. The original orchid was donated to the university by Sunset Valley Orchid. This orchid is a piece of an orchid that Alan Durham got from the Cal Poly collection a few years ago and my guess is many folks received some of this orchid after Alan and I divided it from the large overgrown orchid he received.Grown in a plastic pot filled with bark and lava rock with the pot in a cool greenhouse. Grown by Chris Ehrler | Cataseum Millie’s Frilly Dragon x C. Dagny close up of the flower. Eric H. | Dendrobium chrysotoxom - one of my “dry winter rest” orchids. Mounted on an oak branch and watered daily in the spring and summer. Grown by Ed Lysek | A close up of Cattleya skinneri alba ‘snow’ showing a slight trace of purple in the throat. The white flowers glow in bright sunlight. Ed L. | Sederia japonica has a fantastic lemony fragrance and likes to be kept on the moist and cool side year round. Growing in a net pot filled with sphagnum moss inside a clay pot resting on a tray of wet gravel. This maintains a cool root zone even with my hot summer greenhouse temperatures. Although Chris Ehrler has more ideal cool conditions for his plant shown earlier in this newsletter I have three plants doing well using my “cool pot” growing method. Please click here for more information and photos. Ed L. | Maxillaria tenufolia has a strong chocolate/coconut fragrance. I’ve made two divisions of my plant which have rooted and are showing their first blooms. Both will be available at the June 15th BBQ silent auction. This is a very temperature tolerant orchid which can grow into a sizable specimen plant if well watered and fertilized in the warmer months. Ed L. | Cattleya (Laelia) purpurata ‘El Supremo’ x C. warneri alba ‘Snowdrift’ opened three blooms the day before this newsletter was scheduled to be sent, so I was able to include this photo. Growing in my greenhouse in a slatted wooden basket with bark, perlite and some left over Hydroton clay “marbles”. Ed L. | Taking the lead from Ron and Virginia in Gig Harbor, I’ve included one of my many Epidendrum ‘orchid’ cactus. I’ve had this one for over 30 years and the tag was lost in the far distant past. The color is a metallic peach-fuchsia and although the flowers last only a few days there are quite a few this year to keep this plant in bloom for several weeks. Space permitting in my truck I may bring several to include in the June 15th BBQ silent auction. Ed L. | |
Side view of Dendrobium hancockii flower.
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Closeup of Dendrobium trantuanii flower lip. Note the rough texture of the lip.
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Closeup of Dendrochilum wenzelii flowers.
| Closeup of Euchile (Encyclia) citrina flower. |
Closeup of Euchile (Encyclia) citrina lip.
| Masdevallia coccinea 'San Bars Red Flaire'. This is one of the many color forms of this species. This cold growing species is native to Colombia at elevations of 2,400 to 3,000 meters. This plant is growing well both mounted and in a clay pot filled with a mixture of bark and lava rock with both placed on the north side of the house where they get diffuse light and generally stay cool. Grown by Chris Ehrler. | Side view of Masdevallia santae-insesae flowers. | Closeup of Masdevallia santae-insesae flower. |
Phalaenopsis (Sedirea) japonica. This fragrant orchid grows in Japan, the Ryukyu Islands, Korea and western Yunnan and Zhejiang provinces of China at elevations of 600 to 1400 meters as a cool to cold growing species. This orchid is growing mounted in a cool greenhouse. Grown by Chris Ehrler.
| Closeup of Pleurothallis canaligera flowers. | Pleurothallis grandiflora 'Gigi'. A cool to cold growing epiphyte found natively in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia at elevations of 1100 to 3300 meters. This orchid is in a cool greenhouse and is growing in a clay pot filled with sphagnum moss. Grown by Chris Ehrler. | Side view of Pleurothallis linguifera flower. | Pleurothallis macroblepharis. A cool to cold growing epiphytic species found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru at elevations of 1,600 to 2,350 meters. Growing mounted with some sphagnum moss on the roots hanging in a cool greenhouse. Grown by Chris Ehrler. | Side view of Pleurothallis megalops flower. |
Polystachya pubescens flowers, roots, and mount.
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Porroglossum schramii after movable lip has been triggered and has moved upwards. This movement normally takes place when a pollinator lands on the lip.
| Side view of Porroglossum schramii flower with lip in up (triggered) position. | Side view of Scaphosepalum grande flower. | Cattleya loddigesii x C. Janice Evans grown by Eric Holenda | Cataseum Millie’s Frilly Dragon x C. Dagny grown by Eric Holenda | Odontocidium Tiger Hambuhren x Odontioda Jubilee Volunteer grown by Eric H. | Cattleya skinneri alba ‘snow’ with 11 flower spikes and 67 flowers. This plant has been divided and one or more divisions will be offered at the silent auction on June 15th. This is an easy grower and every year multiple leads develop quickly creating a specimen plant. Grown by Ed Lysek (pictured in my barn being prepared for dividing) | Cattleya skinneri showing the standard color form. This plant blooms about two weeks after the alba (white) form. Very temperature tolerant, taking winter lows in the low 40’s to summer highs in the 90’s. Ed L. | Just like Julie’s Cuitlauzina pendulata pictured earlier in this newsletter, two of my plants have flowering spikes this year. I’ve found if I occasionally mist these plants in winter the pseudobulbs shriveling due to water loss is minimized. Once the thin threads of the flower spike begin to emerge about March/April the plants can be watered and fertilized on a regular schedule. While most orchids require a dry winter rest from Thanksgiving to Valentine’s Day it is recommended to keep this orchid on the dry side for seven months. Growing in a moss lined hanging wire basket filled with bark and perlite. For recommended cultural methods, please click here. Ed Lysek | Prosthechea (Encyclia) prismatocarpa is an easy to grow orchid from Costa Rica and Panama growing at elevations of 3,000 to 4,000 ft. Although described as cool growing, my plant does well with my warm summer greenhouse conditions, but with frequent misting. For more information, please click here. Grown by Ed L. |
Cattleytonia Why Not
Grown by Michael Jenné. Photograph by Chris Howard.
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Encyclia tampense
Grown by Michael Jenné. Photograph by Chris Howard.
| Maxillaria tenuifolia (yellow) “Yamada” AM/AOS. Grown by Michael Jenné. Photograph by Chris Howard | Coelognye xyrekis Grown by Michael Jenné. Photograph by Chris Howard. | |
You probably recognize a couple of these Phals. from last month (photo below). Now the rest of them have opened. I really like the variety of colors. Easy greenhouse rules for growing: feed but don’t overwater. Phalaenopsis do need some special TLC to encourage new spikes. BTW did you find “not like the others?” Judy Scheithauer | |
Did I pay my FCOS 2023 Membership? Click HERE to see if your name is on our Paid Members List. Thank you for all who have paid their 2023 Membership dues. | |
Membership Benefits and How to Join FCOS
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The FCOS Newsletter emailed every month. Keep up to date on FCOS activities, enjoy entertaining and informative articles, and orchid culture tips. Sign up for FCOS newsletter.
- Monthly Zoom talks from local and worldwide Orchid Experts.
- Opportunities to win beautiful and quality orchids.
- Network with amateur, advanced collectors and commercial growers
- Select invitation to our Holiday Party/Summer Picnic and Auctions.
- Participation in our Annual Central California Coast Orchid Show
- Create orchid displays for The Huntington Botanical Gardens International Orchid Show/The Santa Barbara International Orchid Show.
- Invitation to exclusive FCOS Field-trips to out of town vendors and events.
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Click to download a copy of the FCOS Membership Form.
- Membership dues are $30 per year for an individual or family. $15 after June 1 for the balance of the calendar year.
- Make your check payable to Five Cities Orchid Society, PO Box 1066 Grover Beach, CA 93483.
- Please include your completed membership form with your payment.
- Thank You for becoming a member of the Five Cities Orchid Society.
Payment by Credit Card with an FCOS-BetterWorld Account
If you wish to pay for your membership by credit card, you will need to establish an account with the FCOS processing service BetterWorld. Establishing an FCOS-BetterWorld account will also enable you to participate in FCOS on-line orchid auctions as well as paying for your membership dues. Click here to create an FCOS-BetterWorld account and pay for your membership by credit card.
A Lifetime Individual Membership is available for a one-time donation of $500. Your generous donation enables FCOS to attract quality speakers, create content rich newsletters and most importantly helps finance one of the largest regional orchid shows in the western U.S. You can submit your lifetime membership payment by check using the FCOS Membership Form or by credit card by clicking this link: FCOS-BetterWorld Lifetime Membership Donation of $500.
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FCOS Garage Sale
Send an email to Jeff Parham, Chris Ehrler or Ed Lysek and include an image of your item, a description, price, and your contact info. We'll include your info in our next monthly newsletter if there is space. FCOS assumes no responsibility for payment, taxes, etc. We ask the items be orchid or plant related. FCOS is not taking a commission or participating in any other way.
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Orchids are really great………and so are orchid growers! | | | | |