orchid j soocietyu of grrenat braitailn - stuart meeson61)1.pdf · woc stamps by chris barker ......

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Editor’s notesMany thanks andcongratulations toNicola Wakley and SueLane of the DevonOrchid Society for avery successful orchidweekend at DawlishWarren last October.The RHS OrchidCommittee's session

on how and why they award plants wasparticularly interesting for all those whoattended.

The 20th World Orchid Conference in Singaporelast November was well attended by orchidenthusiasts from around the world and offeredtruly wonderful exhibits to marvel at. See Letterfrom the President for some of the highlights.Also in this issue are articles by our previousEditor, Dr Eileen Watson, and OSGB CommitteeMember, Francis Quesada-Pallares.

More than 90 OSGB members attended theDecember meeting and enjoyed a Christmaslunch organised by Betty Barber, Roy White andthe Committee; the photographic and artcompetition; and a quiz devised by DerekBelcher. Many thanks to all involved for a mostsuccessful meeting (see centre pages).

Our new website was launched in January 2012and can be found at www.osgb.org.uk

The Society is grateful for the colour funddonations made along with membershiprenewals this year, which help with the costs ofproducing our full-colour Journal.

Please note the change of date for the Julymeeting at Napier Hall which will be on the 2ndSaturday in the month, Saturday 14 July, becauseof the Peterborough Show on the first weekendin July.

Best wishes to all our members for successfulorchid growing in 2012.

The copy deadline for the next issue is 10 March2012.

ContentsOfficers of the Society ......................................................... 2Editor’s Notes .......................................................................... 3News:

Bulbophyllum nocturnum .............................................. 4Correction to Volume 60 No 4 ..................................... 4New judging schedule for 2012 ................................. 4New OSGB website .......................................................... 5OSGB trips to Budapest and Northern Cyprus ...... 6 25th British Orchid Congress 2012 ............................ 6 New books for the OSGB Library ................................ 6

Letter from the President, Henry Oakeley .................... 7WOC stamps by Chris Barker .......................................... 22 Elusive wild orchids in Vietnam by Francis Quesada-Pallares ........................................... 24 British native orchids by Sam Hurley ........................... 28Phalaenopsis for a windowsill by Eileen Watson ..... 32Book Reviews:

Orchids of Brazil by Dalton Holland Baptista, Patricia A Harding & Americo Docha Neto ........... 38Renziana, Journal of the Swiss Orchid Foundation ......................................................... 39

John Blower’s book - Orchids by Sam Hurley ........... 40OSGB Christmas Party ....................................................... 42Ottawa Orchid Society news by Rick Sobkowicz .... 44Lecture – Orchids: the Epitome of the Exotic ........... 45LOS and Spring Show 2012 by Val Pugh .................... 46OSGB Autumn Show report by Sally Mill ................... 48Psychopsis papilio by Judith Hoggarth ....................... 52Photographic and art competition report by Mary-Jane Hawkins ...................................................... 53Napier Hall meetings:Report of proceedings by Mary-Jane Hawkins ... 58Table Show report by André Roux .......................... 60

New judging schedule by Dusha Hayes ..................... 64New books for the OSGB Library .................................. 65The RHS Orchid Committee awards ............................ 66Advertisements ................................................................... 74Services to Members:Meetings, Cultural Advice, Website, Library, Displays ............................................................................. 82

Show Diary ............................................................................ 83

Photos by Henry Oakeley unless otherwise stated

Front Cover: Coelogyne speciosa subsp.incarnata, a species from Sumatra to Java, shownby Colin Carter at Napier Hall in October 2011

Back Cover: A colourful exhibit by OrchidwoodsNursery of Sarawak at the Singapore WOC inNovember 2011

Registered Charity No. 261273 www.osgb.org.ukThe Orchid Society of Great BritainOfficers of the Society

#President: Dr Henry Oakeley77 Copers Cope Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 1NR Tel: 020 8658 0358 e-mail: [email protected]

Vice Presidents: Mrs B Arnold, Mrs J Kelleher, Mr T Lewis, Dr E Watson

#*Chairman:Mr Roy White30 Acorn Grove, Ruislip Gardens, Middlesex, HA4 6LP Tel: 01895 632689 Mobile: 07980 630235e-mail: [email protected]

#Secretary:Mrs Val Micklewright103 North Road, Three Bridges, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 1SQ Tel: 01293 528615e-mail: [email protected]

#Treasurer: Mrs Sally Mill82 Hazelwick Road, Three Bridges, West Sussex, RH10 1NH Tel: 01293 547896

#Membership Secretary: Mr Walter Lefley39 Hainault Road, Romford, Essex, RM5 3AA Tel: 01708 788389 e-mail: [email protected]

Programme Secretary: Position vacant

#Displays Manager:Miss Valerie Pugh4 Reynard Close, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 4GXTel: 01403 251176 e-mail: [email protected]

Librarian and Vice Chairman: Mr Derek Belcher7 Derby Road, Cheam, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 2BL Tel: 020 8715 3635

Chair Judging: Mrs Dusha Hayes62 Link Lane, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 9DZ Tel: 020 8647 8496 e-mail: [email protected]

Sponsorship Secretary and Press Officer:Miss Mary-Jane Hawkins Mobile: 07905 527089 e-mail: [email protected]

Committee MembersMr Marc Harris 7 Bandon Rise, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 8PTTel: 020 8647 7434 e-mail: [email protected]

*Editor: Lady Samantha Hurley 17 Veronica Road, London, SW17 8QL Tel: 020 8673 7751 Mobile: 07900 250247e-mail: [email protected]

Mrs Diana Neophytou Downland, 25 Blenheim Road, London SW20 9BATel: 020 8542 4335e-mail: [email protected]

Mr Francis J Quesada-Pallares 50 Fir Tree Gardens, Shirley, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 8JQTel: 020 8777 2904e-mail: [email protected]

Advertising Secretary: Mrs Kim Solomon 31 Burghley House, Somerset Road, Wimbledon,London, SW19 5JBTel: 020 8946 4410 Mob: 07717 222403 e-mail: [email protected]

#Trustees of the Society*Representatives to British Orchid Council

The Journal (ISSN 0306-2996)Editor: Lady Samantha Hurley 17 Veronica Road, London, SW17 8QL Tel: 020 8673 7751 Mobile: 07900 250247e-mail: [email protected]

Layout and typesetting: Smallfish Designs Ltde-mail: [email protected]

Printed by: Impress Print Services Ltd e-mail: [email protected]

The Journal is printed on paperwith a certified Chain of Custodyfor wood fibre. At least 70% of the fibre originates from certifiedsustainably managed forests.

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 5

News

New OSGB Website –www.osgb.org.ukOur new website was launched in January2012 and has been designed by Marcel Kral ofSmallfish Designs who has been designingthe Journal for many years. The website waspreviously created and managed on avoluntary basis by Ian Parsons, who wasrecently elected Chairman of the BritishOrchid Council. The Society is extremelygrateful to Ian for all his diligence inchecking and maintaining the site since2006 and is delighted to offer him lifemembership in thanks for all his work overthe years.

It is hoped that the new website can be runin conjunction with the Journal and provide a

useful tool for members to find up to dateinformation about news and events.Features include: a Forthcoming Events pagelisting news and information aboutupcoming events and an online calendarlisting all the dates from the Journal’s ShowDiary; a News page which will be updatedwith stories from the world of orchids; and achanging selection of Henry Oakeley’sbeautiful orchid photographs.

Please note the new website address. I shallbe managing the website in future andwould appreciate hearing your thoughtsabout it. All comments to Sam Hurley, tel:07900 250247, e-mail: [email protected]

NewsSam Hurley

Night-flowering orchiddiscoveredAn orchid that blooms exclusively at nighthas been discovered on New Britain, anisland near Papua New Guinea.Bulbophyllum nocturnum was discovered byEd de Vogel, a Dutch botanist during a fieldtrip into lowland forest. The findings haverecently been published in the BotanicalJournal of the Linnean Society by him and hisco-author, Andre Schuiteman, an orchidexpert at RBG Kew.

The flowers of Bulbophyllum nocturnumopen after dusk and wither before sunrisebut this was only discovered once the plantwas being studied in the Netherlands.Bulbophyllum is the largest genus in theorchid family with over 1,800 extraordinaryspecies distributed throughout a wide range

of habitats around the tropical andsubtropical world.

Correction to JournalVolume 60 No 4My sincere apologies for an error whichpossibly only added to the confusion overthe new nomenclature. I hope all will nowbecome crystal clear!

Page 265, column 2, paragraph 1, lines 2-6.This should have read ‘… the plant previouslyknown as Vuylstekeara Cambria would nowbe written in the Journal as Oncidopsis(previously Vuylstekeara) Cambria.’ (NotMiltoniopsis as printed).

New judging schedule for 2012A new judging schedule will be used for allfuture monthly Table Shows, Spring andAutumn Shows. See page 64 for details.

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Bulbophyllum nocturnum (Photo by Andre Schuiteman)

Letter from the PresidentHenry Oakeley

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 7

Japanese orchid growing tipsReaders of this column will remember thechampion orchids of Dr Masahiro Saitoh,President of the All Japan Orchid Society,who has won the Tokyo Dome Show GrandChampion plant on more than one occasion– a Eulophiella roempleriana nearly threemetres tall (2008) and a Cattleya trianae‘Ocado’ with 250 flowers (reserve GrandChampion 2008) followed by a LycasteShoalhaven with ten flowers 13cm across(2009).

I called in to see him to find out how he doesit. His greenhouse is not huge and it is notovercrowded, but his plants look wonderful –and many are huge. Having a limitedcollection – so one has time to look after all

of them seems one secret. The other is thetime spent. He spends an hour or so in thegreenhouse before he goes to work in themorning at a medical clinic, comes back for acouple of hours work at lunchtime and afterthe afternoon clinic spends another fourhours with the orchids before going home(half an hour away) to supper at 10pm atnight. That is secret number two. The finalsecret is that he really does look at hisorchids.

Example one: Cattleyas enjoy sunlight and asthe sun in Japan is low in the sky throughthe autumn to the spring ( just like here –same latitude) he hangs them so the pot istilted and all the long pseudobulbs face thedirection of the sun. All the leaves then getmaximum and equal light.

Mariko Sakashita with Dr Saitoh’s giant CattleyaWrithlington School’s exhibit at the London Orchid Show 2011

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News

OSGB trips to Budapest andNorthern Cyprus Sadly, the proposed trips to Budapest andNorthern Cyprus (advertised in the lastissue of the Journal) are unable to proceeddue to a lack of interested members. Bothtrips have been cancelled but the Societyhopes to arrange other trips in the future.

25th British Orchid Congress atWrithlington SchoolRegistration for the 25th BOC at WrithlingtonSchool in Somerset, 26–28 October, is nowopen. Events will include a two-day orchidshow; preview evening and registrants’ buffet:programme of lectures; one-day scientificsymposium; tours of the school orchid houses;workshops on orchid micropropogation; tradesales and society displays.

Early registration (before 30 May): £25.00(single) and £35.00 ( joint) – includes entranceto all events except the congress dinner. Congress dinner: £25.00 per personScience symposium and Saturday show only:£10.00One day show entry (Saturday or Sunday):£5.00Preview evening (Friday 6–10pm): £12.00

For more information and to register onlineplease visit: www.wsbeorchids.org.uk/bocPostal enquiries to: Simon Pugh-Jones, BOC25, Writhlington School, Radstock, BA3 3NQ.

New books for the OSGBLibraryA number of new books have been added tothe OSGB Library. Please see page 65 fordetails of the new titles available, or look atthe full Library list online.

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 9

Letter from the President

Example two: Vanda Miss Joaquim and othersun-loving orchids in this genus are tallplants with narrow, stick-like (terete) leaves.The plants grow vertically for two metreswith roots and leaves coming off all the wayup the stem and then produce flowers onthe top. Not an easy plant to show at its best.

Dr Saitoh noticed that if he laid the stems ofPapilionanthe (previously Vanda) teres flat onthe bench, then the nodes along the stemproduced branches which grew upwards andflowered – so he had several flower spikesfrom what was originally one stem. He woundthe long stems horizontally around a sphericalframework and then, as the branchesappeared growing vertically, he wound thesehorizontally around the framework and endedup with a sphere completely covered inPapilionanthe (previously Vanda) teres stemsand a mass of flowers.

Example three: He became disenchantedwith the hugely long, single stems of Laeliaanceps so pinched out the top when theflower spike first appeared, much as one doeswhen one is growing garden bedding annuals,like Cosmos – result, the plant then producedthree shorter flower spikes per bulb.

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Vanda Miss Joaquim growing in the Singapore Botanic Gardens

Vanda Miss Joaquim has flowers only at its top Papilionanthe (previously Vanda) teres showing newvertical growth from node on horizontal stem

Papilionanthe (previously Vanda) teres forma alba‘Oyamazaki’ with flowers all around the framework(Photo by Masahiro Saitoh)

Dr Masahiro Saitoh with his Papilionanthe (previouslyVanda) teres wound round a framework

Cattleya grown to face the sun

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 11


the pots by the shock, and I cannot make outwhich were their original positions’ (TheOrchid Review (1923) 31(321): 353). Memo toJapanese orchid growers: fix labels in pot,securely.

My main aim in visiting Japan was to meetwith the Lycaste club – a hospitable group towhom I gave a lecture in English and thenlistened to two hours of lectures in Japanese.We were at a holiday centre with woodenchalets around a lake, and a central facilitiesarea. I experienced my first visit to aJapanese bath house – one sits on a woodenstool and soaps and showers and then leapsinto a shallow, hot, pool for a soak (alongwith all the other naked men and children);bit of a cultural shock for this shy European.

Lycastes are out of season but Abou Orchidswith their huge fans and cool (higheraltitude) conditions grow nothing else –mostly for the pot plant market.

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Example four: He is aiming to grow anotherchampion Lycaste. Lycaste skinneri hybridslike to grow cool. Japan in the summer canbe 45°C in the day and 35°C at night forweeks on end so Dr Saitoh has built an air-conditioned bubble-plastic ‘box’ which keepsthis plant at 22°C in the day and 18°C atnight. At the end of the summer when I sawit, it had a lead pseudobulb the size of anapple, and I see no reason why it will nothave flowers to match next February – forthe Tokyo Dome Show.

He is not afraid of sun, and many of hisorchids were still out of doors without shadein October and the leaves of his purple-flowered Dendrobium victoriae-reginae wereheavily, and attractively, pigmented with redas a result.

Memo: Spend lots of time with your orchids....learn how to grow them from experts.

EarthquakesI visited Tsukuba Botanic Garden with itsmammoth greenhouses and hugeDendrobium species collection curated by DrYukawa. This had been hit by the earthquakethat triggered the tsunami in March 2011.The steel girders had buckled and were beingreplaced, curiously most of the glass wasintact. The plants were fine, if a bit shakenbut lots of labels landed on the floor. In theGreat Kanto Earthquake of 1923, which killed100,000 people around Tokyo, CommanderPrince Tadashige Shimadzu, a member of theRHS Orchid Committee, was reported killed.However, on reading about his death hewrote to The Orchid Review noting ‘MercifullyI did not suffer. All my orchids are safe exceptjust two or three. The orchid houses are farstronger than an ordinary house. But ...almost all of the labels have jumped out of

Dark purple Dendrobium victoriae-reginae

Scaffolding in the Tsukuba Botanic Garden greenhousewhile repairing earthquake damage

Heavily pigmented leaves of Dendrobium victoriae-reginae grown in full sun

Dr Yukawa in the Tsukuba Botanic Garden greenhousedamaged by the March 2011 earthquake

Tens of thousands of Lycaste skinneri hybrids beinggrown as pot plants at Abou Orchids

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The World Orchid ConferenceThere will be few World Orchid Conferencesto rival the 2011 WOC in Singapore. Inparticular, the organisation and thehospitality shown to the registrants excelledanything previously experienced. There was amagnificent show, dominated by orchidsfrom the region; a conference to suit everylevel of interest, and the registrants hadcomplimentary breakfasts, lunches andcontinuous refreshments as well as the Galadinner and preview. The new Gardens by theBay, including a 0.8 hectare cool greenhouse,were opened just for the week, sevenmonths ahead of schedule, and one saw thestunning vision of the ‘green’ Singaporebeing built to make a truly futuristic future. Iam sure they will be a tourist magnet,greater than the Singapore Botanic Gardens.One of the Seven Wonders of the new world,they are being built at a cost of £500 million

The greenhouses, Gardens by the Bay

Inside the smaller greenhouse, Gardens by the BayOrchid display within the Gardens by the Bay

Exotic display inside the smaller greenhouse, Gardens by the Bay

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pounds sterling on land recovered from thesea. In years to come I predict that, just asheight has come to be measured in double-decker buses, and area by football fields,costs will be measured in ‘Gardens by theBay’ units.

The show was in a huge conference hall inthe Marina Bay Expo and Convention Centre.The Eric Young Orchid Foundation (EYOF)from Jersey and McBean’s Orchids fromSussex were there, the latter with giant treetrunks provided by the Singapore BotanicGardens, with plants from their collection.

They were a credit to the UK (why no NorthAmerican exhibits, one wonders). (Ed: Bothwere successful in the trophy stakes, theEYOF winning five and McBean’s winningtwo.)

There were other excellent ‘props’ and PapuaNew Guinea’s masks decorated with orchidshelped gain them the ‘runner-up’ position,and the elegant shop-window mannequinfrom Thailand.

Dendrobium and Vanda, along with Mokara,Ascocenda, and Renanthera, were much inevidence as one would expect.

Exhibit by Thailand featuring an elegant mannequin Exhibit by Papua New Guinea

McBean’s Orchids display

The Eric Young Orchid Foundation display

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Exhibits at the World Orchid Conference Exhibits at the World Orchid Conference

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But there was one fascinating display in anaturalistic setting, with species and stuffedanimals from Malaysia’s diminishing forests(and fauna).

As always, there were some jewels to be seenin the individual plants and the pink andyellow forms of Habenaria rhodocheilaattracted me, as did three colour forms ofthe internationally invasive Arundinagraminifolia.

There was even a plant of Ascocenda HenryOakeley, whose dull brown flower looksrather better in a photograph than in life(see page 21).

More details can still be seen on the WOCwebsite: www.20woc.com.sg/

Two colour forms of Habenaria rhodocheila

Three colour forms of Arundina graminifolia

Malaysian species display

Small wild cat in among the Malaysian species

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 21


of much light on dark forest floors wherethere was little plant competition. Neottianidus-avis has gone down this evolutionaryroute, while the twayblade, Neottia (Listera)ovata, in the same genus, has remained onthe forest margins as a green-leaved plantproducing chlorophyll. There are generawhich contain predominantlyphotosynthesizing orchids with a fewsaprophytic ones (eg Neottia, Cephalanthera,Cymbidium, Eulophia) and somephotosynthesizing orchids have a prolonged,chlorophyll-free, saprophytic stage (egEulophia, Govenia, Oeceoclades andCatasetum) before sending up shoots, leavesand flowers. Growing in the dark meansfewer pollinators and Neottia nidus-avis hasbecome self-pollinating and, without theneed to attract pollinators, has dulluncomplicated flowers.

Chelsea Flower Show 2012 At the end of May 2012, the OSGB is setting upits 53rd exhibit at the Chelsea Flower Show, soif you have design skills, are good at manuallabour especially carpentry and electrics, andcan come to Chelsea on the build-up daysMay 17–20 to help, please get in touch withme. If you would like to help collect plantsfrom other members during the build-up orhelp look after the stand during the show,please contact Val Pugh. Above all, please getyour plants ready for display – if everymember produced one show-ready plant wewould be in orchid heaven (so let Val Pughknow what you can offer during May).

The exhibit this year will include orchidsfrom all the major continents, exhibited in anaturalistic setting of mountain, woodlandand meadow, displaying orchids which growon trees, on rocks and on the ground. Visitors

can expect to see Cypripedium from NorthAmerica and China; Anguloa, Cattleya,Epidendrum, Phragmipedium and Oncidiumfrom South America; Phalaenopsis fromtropical Asia; Cymbidium, Dendrobium andPaphiopedilum from northern India andtemperate Asia; Disa and Angraecum fromAfrica; and terrestrial orchids from Europeand Australia as well as many lesser knownorchids.

Man-made hybrids and natural species willbe shown to illustrate the diversity of orchidswhich can be grown in greenhouses,windowsills and gardens.

2012 – Happy New YearAt the risk of tempting fate, half waythrough January, I note that the weather hasbeen warm, the greenhouse bills not ashorrendous as for the winter of 2010–2011,and we have had sunshine. With all bestwishes to everyone for a very Happy NewYear; may all your orchids flourish.

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How orchids evolveA student in Madrid asked me about orchidevolution, in particular about whyAngraecum sesquipedale developed a nectar-containing spur 35–40cm long, and how theBird’s-nest Orchid, Neottia nidus-avis,became a saprophyte (Ed: derivingnourishment from dead or decaying matter).The belief regarding the former is thatoriginally moths had moderately longproboscises so were able to hover and suckout the nectar without touching the pollinia.Plants which developed longer spurs had abetter chance of being pollinated as themoth then had to press up against theflower (and therefore the pollinia) in orderfor its proboscis to reach the bottom of thespur. Moths which developed a longerproboscis were better able to reach thenectar, and the evolutionary pressure onboth moth and orchid made for an

increasingly long proboscis. This led toXanthopan morgani, the West African hawkmoth with a 35cm proboscis whose existenceas the pollinator had been predicted byDarwin 41 years before it was found.Incidentally, sesquipedale is Latin for ‘one anda half feet’ (18 inches), the imperialequivalent to 45 cm, although the spur isnever that long.

All orchids have a saprophytic stage in whichthey have no chlorophyll so need a fungalmycorrhiza to digest organic matter andconvert it into sugars for the plant to use.Normally this is only necessary in thegerminating seedling, and adult orchids canusually manage without this symbiosisbecause they develop cells, containingchlorophyll, which use light energy to makesugars. Plants that continued in asaprophytic stage, dependant on mycorrhiza,were able to grow and thrive in the absence Ascocenda Henry Oakeley appears better in a

photograph

The long spur of Angraecum sesquipedale The saprophytic Neottia nidus-avis which thrives with-out chlorophyll, in dark forest floors

20th World Orchid Conference stamp issueChris Barker

Singapore Post has released a new set ofbeautifully illustrated orchid stamps tocommemorate the World Orchid Conference(WOC) in Singapore. There are five individualstamps plus a sixth stamp contained in acollectors’ sheet.

The orchids illustrated on the stamps are –

Renanthera 20th WOC Singapore 2011: Thiswas the official flower of the WOC and hasbeen described as free-flowering, with long-lasting blooms, compact in size and easy togrow. The red flowers are associated withprosperity, wealth and success.

Grammatophyllum speciosum: This is theworld’s largest orchid species and is oftenreferred to as the Tiger Orchid because themarkings on the flower resemble the stripeson a tiger.

Dendrobium World Peace: This hybridcommemorates the 50th anniversary of theUnited Nations. The flowers are about 7cmacross with white or cream petals and sepalsthat have light purple veins.

Cyrtocidium Goldiana (formerly OncidiumGoldiana): The flower spikes of this oncidiumare very popular as cut flowers and it is oftenreferred to as ‘Dancing Ladies’. I suspect thatthe taxonomists have overtaken the releaseof this stamp and it can now be found asOncidesa Goldiana (Gomesa flexuosa xOncidium sphacelatum) on the RHSInternational Orchid Hybrid Register.

Vanda Miss Joaquim: This Vanda was namedafter Agnes Joaquim in 1893 and was thefirst Vanda hybrid to be registered. In 1981Vanda Miss Joaquim was selected to be thenational flower of Singapore.

The sixth stamp in the collection is found inthe centre of the collectors’ sheet whichdepicts a basket full of the five orchids listedabove.

The stamps make a delightful souvenir of the20th WOC in Singapore and can be purchasedonline at http://shop.vpost.com.sg. Stampsdo not require any watering or feeding andyou will find them very difficult to kill.

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Renanthera 20th WOC Singapore 2011

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 23

20th World Orchid Conference stamp issue

Grammatophyllum speciosum Dendrobium World Peace

Vanda Miss JoaquimCyrtocidium Goldiana

Elusive wild orchids in VietnamFrancis J Quesada-Pallares (Photos by Francis J Quesada-Pallares)

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 25

I was absolutely delighted with the idea ofspending the last two weeks of August 2011in North Vietnam, with two of my friends,travelling and getting to know such abeautiful country.

Vietnam is extremely rich in orchids, withnew species being discovered and describedon a regular basis. I was excited to have athree-day trek through the mountains of theSapa region included in my visit, spendingtwo nights in small villages, living with thelocals, enjoying their wonderful food and themagnificent views of endless rice paddies inthe small forest clearings.

Unfortunately, I did not spot a single orchidgrowing in the wild, despite the route takingour small party along roads and paths thatwere completely surrounded by heavywoodland and bamboo forests. I was a littledisheartened by the fact that even my localguide did not seem to know what I wastalking about when I asked him aboutorchids.

We arrived at the little village where wewere to spend our first night, absolutelydrenched by heavy rain. As we walked alongthe one and only road that crossed thevillage, I spotted a colourful flower growingin the front garden of one of the houses. Itook a closer look and it was without a doubtan orchid, yet one unknown to me. Growingterrestrially, with an elongated pseudobulband a flower spike growing from a leaf nodehalfway up, it was unlike any orchid I hadseen before. (Ed: Identified by RBG Kew asPhaius wenshanensis, previously known onlyfrom Yunnan province, China.) It was thenthat our guide, Hoan, exclaimed ‘Ah, Hoa

Lan!’ – Vietnamese for orchid. ‘Yes, tomorrowwe can visit a garden full of Hoa Lan.’

The following day, as we walked back toSapa, we saw a few houses with manyorchids hanging in their gardens, and Hoanasked the home owners if they would allowus to have a look at their orchids, which theyall agreed to quite happily.

Amongst the orchids I saw in flower weresome excellent specimens of Dendrobiumdevonianum, Ornithochilus difformis var.difformis, Coelogyne nitida (previouslyCoelogyne ochracea), Paphiopedilumgratrixianum, Cleisostoma species and amost weird and wonderful Epigeneiumclemensiae.

Phaius wenshanensis, previously known only fromYunnan province, China

Phaius wenshanensis growing in a small garden in avillage in the Sapa region of Vietnam

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Elusive wild orchids in Vietnam

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 27

Elusive wild orchids in Vietnam

All of these plants had been wild collected,and then grown in the hope of selling themto local hotels, who would then mount themonto trees outside their main doors. I sawthis in many of the hotels and foundbeautiful examples of Dendrobiumbrymerianum and Coelogyne schultesii.

Although not exactly growing in the wild, Iwas absolutely delighted to be able to seesome of the native orchids in flower, and thecountry’s friendly people, beautifullandscapes and amazing flora and faunamade for a very enjoyable break from thehustle and bustle of London.

I would like to thank Andre Schuiteman ofRBG Kew for identifying Phaiuswenshanensis, and Kenneth Bruyninckx andGeoff Hands for their invaluable help inidentifying some of the other orchid species,as well as the pictures by Jay Pfahl on hiswebsite www.orchidspecies.com

Dendrobium devonianum Ornithochilus difformis var. difformis Epigeneium clemensiae

Dendrobium brymerianum used to decorate theentrance of a local hotel in Vietnam

Orchids are taken from the wild and nurtured in village gardens in the hope of selling them to local hotels

Paphiopedilum gratrixianumCoelogyne nitida (previously Coelogyne ochracea)

During May and June 2011 I joined severalvisits to nature reserves to see British nativeorchids. These were organised by variouspeople, including Iona Macphie, former OSGBProgramme Secretary; Jean Stowe, NewsEditor of The Orchid Review; and MalcolmBrownsword, Field Trip Co-ordinator of theHardy Orchid Society (HOS).

Whilst foreign travel to exotic events andlocations, such as the WOC in Singapore lastNovember, is a wonderful thing, most of usdon’t need to travel very far to experiencethe joy of seeing orchids in our beautifulcountryside. I greatly enjoyed seeing manyBritish orchids for the first time,understanding more about the intricacies ofeach reserve’s ecology, and sharing my daywith fellow enthusiasts from whom I learneda great deal.

Malcolm Brownsword led a visit to tworeserves in the Chilterns. We visited woodsthat were home to Cephalantheradamasonium (White Helleborine) andNeottia nidus-avis (Bird’s-nest Orchid), andfields where we found Orchis militaris(Military Orchid) and Ophrys insectifera (FlyOrchid). Overlooking the meandering RiverThames, we climbed hills covered with Orchis(simia x purpurea) fondly called the ‘LonkeyOrchid’, a natural hybrid of Orchis simia(Monkey Orchid) and Orchis purpurea (LadyOrchid). Also nearby were small numbers ofNeottia (previously Listera) ovata (CommonTwayblade).

Nigel Johnson, also of the Hardy OrchidSociety, escorted a group to two sites inHampshire where we found large colonies ofboth C. longifolia (Sword-leaved Helleborine)and N. nidus-avis in the beech woods. After

enjoying our picnic lunches at his house, hekindly showed us the native orchids growingin his garden.

Iona Macphie arranged a visit to DawcombeReserve led by Simon Humphries of SurreyWildlife trust. On an increasingly wet day wewere able to see, but struggled tophotograph, Dactylorhiza fuchsii (CommonSpotted Orchid), Gymnadenia conopsea

British native orchidsSam Hurley

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 29Ophrys insectifera (Fly Orchid) giving a perfect imitationof its namesake (Photo by Malcolm Brownsword)

Orchis militaris being visited by an ichneumon wasp(Photo by Malcolm Brownsword)

A view of the River Thames from the Hartslock NatureReserve (Photo by Sam Hurley)

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 31

British native orchids

The HOS will be arranging more visits thisyear although these are only for paid-upmembers of their society – consider joining ifyou have an interest in seeing native Britishorchids in the wild. A new society, theCoastal Gardening Society, is arranging avisit to Samphire Hoe (made from thematerial dug out to create the ChannelTunnel), near Dover, on Saturday 5 May.Visitors should be able to see large numbersof Ophrys sphegodes (Early Spider Orchid),Dactylorhiza and Anacamptis. Dactylorhizapraetermissa (Southern Marsh Orchid) havealso been recorded at the site by rangers ofThe White Cliffs Countryside Partnership.

Contact one of our Affiliated Societiesaround the country, or your local orchidsociety, to see if they are arranging nativeorchid walks near you. The cost of the visits is

usually just a modest donation to thereserve. I would encourage members to takeadvantage of such organised visits in thecoming months when there is much to seeand learn on our doorstep.

The Hardy Orchid Society, Single annualsubscription £12.00 (+ enrolment fee £2.50),website: www.hardyorchidsociety.org.uk

Coastal Gardening Society, contact: FayHanrahan Russell, e-mail:[email protected]:www.coastalgardeningsociety.org.uk (siteunder development).

For details of OSGB Affiliated Societies, seepage 32 of the Annual Supplement or visit thewebsite: www.osgb.org.uk

30 • OSGBJ 2012, 61(1)

British native orchids

(Fragrant Orchid), Ophrys apifera (Bee Orchid)and more N. ovata. See page 54 for RobertSimmons’s winning entries in thephotographic competition, bothphotographed at Dawcombe Reserve.

Jean Stowe conducted a tour of two sites inCambridgeshire during the PeterboroughShow weekend. We saw large numbers ofAnacamptis pyramidalis (Pyramidal Orchid)and Ophrys apifera swaying wildly in awindswept field at the first site (anotherphotographic challenge) and at the second,vast numbers of Dactylorhiza fuchsii, alongwith a few Dactylorhiza incarnata (EarlyMarsh Orchid). I felt like a child at Christmas,spoilt for choice, hopping from one plant toanother not knowing which to photographnext.

Neottia nidus-avis amongst beech woods in Hampshire(Photo by Sam Hurley)

A lone Dactylorhiza fuchsii amongst a group of Gymnadenia conopsea at Dawcombe Reserve, Surrey (Photo by RobertSimmons)

Anacamptis pyramidalis and Ophrys apifera atSwaddywell Pitt, Cambridgeshire (Photo by Sam Hurley)

Ophrys sphegodes growing at Samphire Hoe near Dover(Photo by Paul Holt/WCCP)

Phalaenopsis for a windowsill:choosing it and caring for itEileen Watson

The most popular pot plant is now thePhalaenopsis. One sees it for sale in gardencentres, florists, supermarkets and local tablesales for charities. Most of these plants mayonly be labelled ‘Orchid’ or at best‘Phalaenopsis Orchid’ (to purchase a good,named variety of Phalaenopsis the customerneeds to buy from a dedicated orchid nursery).However, many people are being introduced toorchid growing on their windowsill by buyingone of the anonymous, mass-producedPhalaenopsis hybrids. I have lost count of thetimes I have been consulted by neighbours

and friends about how to grow these plants.The conversation usually starts ‘I’ve got thisorchid, what do I do with it?’, so the followingis an attempt to list advice which may begiven to the novice Phalaenopsis grower.

How to select the plant The conditions under which it is displayedshould be noted. The plant will be affected if itis kept too cold (market stall in winter), or toohot (supermarket), or is standing by openingdoors in a draught of cold air. Avoid plantswhich have been stored at the shop for days if

32 • OSGBJ 2012, 61(1)

Julie Henson’s 10 year old Phalaenopsis flowering well (Photo by Julie Henson)

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 33

Phalaenopsis for a windowsill

possible. The plant should be inspected closelynoting the following points.

The rootsAs Phalaenopsis grow naturally on trees withtheir roots stretched out in the moss along thebranches or dangling in warm, moist air, so ‘incaptivity’ the roots need to have moist aircirculating around them. Being planted in apot is totally artificial but we must do our bestto imitate the natural conditions. The plantshould be planted in special orchid compostwhich is usually either Sphagnum moss or abark mixture - both with some perlite addedto keep the air spaces open. It is not advisableto choose an orchid planted in sand in a fancyglass vase. It may look lovely for a while, butair will not circulate and water cannot drainaway and the roots will quickly go rotten.

Although not essential, it may be preferable toselect a plant which is in a transparent plastic

pot. At least one can see if the plant has gotroots! Good, growing roots will have greenabsorbent tips, not yet covered by the greyvelamen surrounding the upper, older part ofthe root. One or two roots may even beoutside of the pot. This is not detrimental tothe growth of the plant, in fact some of mywindowsill Phalaenopsis grow and flower wellwith nearly all their roots outside the pot - butthis is not liked by judges. Dead roots appearthread-like, brown and squashy.

The leavesFirstly: note whether the plant has leaves. Ihave seen a plant for sale in a garden centrewhich had a lovely flower spike – but noleaves. Leaves will drop off if the plant isallowed to remain in a cold environment(down to say 5°C) for too long. With a greatdeal of loving care, the leaves may eventuallygrow again, but is it worth this effort?

Petrol station Phalaenopsis (bottom row) for sale intemperatures around 2°C – not a good investment(Photo by Sam Hurley)

Clear pots allow the roots to be seen – these healthy,green roots are growing in a mixture of bark andSphagnum moss (Photo by Sam Hurley)

34 • OSGBJ 2012, 61(1)


Secondly: note the appearance of the leaves.Are they blotchy with different shades ofgreen? This means the plant has beenstanding in uneven light, causing thechlorophyll to develop unevenly.

Thirdly: are the leaves a good bright-greencolour and turgid – or are they floppy? Wateris stored in the leaves of Phalaenopsis, andfloppy leaves indicate that there has been aproblem with water absorbsion due toinactive roots, or maybe no roots at all. Verydull leaves mean that the plant has beenstored in a dark area. Conversely yellow to redleaves mean too much light – and there mayeven be scorch marks on the leaves fromexcess sunshine.

Lastly: are the leaves sticky, particularlyunderneath at the tip? This indicates aninfection by insects – maybe scale insects (lookfor tiny scales like miniature molluscs), or thefurry blobs of mealy bug, or the movement oftiny red spider mites. Either way do not

purchase from that source as other plants arelikely to be infected. If the plant has alreadybeen purchased, these insects can be removedby wiping the leaves with cotton wool dampedwith 50% methylated spirits/50% water, butfurther outbreaks may occur. Insecticides suchas Provado can be tried (see OSGBJ (2011) 60(3):222–224 where the problem of eradicatingpests is discussed in detail).

The flowersPhalaenopsis flower sequentially up the stem,thus if all the flowers are open it is an old spikeand the flowers will soon start fading from thebottom of the stem. The early flowers mayeven have dropped off as can be seen by anotch remaining where the flower wasattached to the stem.

Check: have the buds at the top of the spikedried out or dropped off? This would indicatethat the plant has been stored in too dry anatmosphere or a draught.

Bright-green, shiny leaves are a sign that thisPhalaenopsis is growing well – each new leaf shouldgrow longer than the previous one

New flower buds develop at the top of the spike andflower sequentially along the stem (Photo by EileenWatson)

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 35


Check: do the flowers show insect infestationas discussed for the leaves. Do not purchase.

The plantIf it is a first attempt to grow an orchid, do notbe tempted to purchase one from the ‘reducedplants’ section in a nursery. The plant has beendiscarded for a very good reason and thepurchaser may be very disappointed if theplant only struggles along, and may bedisillusioned and discouraged from furtherattempts at growing orchids.

So, having purchased a plant with healthyroots, a nice well-supported, long flower spike(or two) with only half the (large) flowersopen, and clean turgid leaves, how should it belooked after?

CultivationMost descriptions of Phalaenopsis cultivationrefer to greenhouse conditions (see HenryOakeley’s article in OSGBJ (2011) 60(4): 261).

Few people nowadays can afford to maintaintheir greenhouses at 26–28°C and even incentrally heated houses there have to becompromises. Nevertheless, modernPhalaenopsis hybrids which are bredspecifically to be grown in the house willtolerate lower temperatures (but Phalaenopsisspecies, which may only be purchased fromspecialist orchid nurseries, need to bepampered and grown in a warm greenhouse).

I have grown Phalaenopsis hybrids quitesuccessfully on windowsills for several years.These I have bought at local charity table sales.They are donated by a local commercialnursery growing (on) thousands of pot-plantPhalaenopsis. My plants are grown away fromdraughts on the sill of a south-facing double-glazed window, but on sunny days I pull theblind down to shield them from fierce sunrays. The central heating is switched off atnight, but when I am expecting a very coldnight, I lower the blind to shield the plants

Healthy buds at the end of the flower spike are a promise flowers yet to bloom

36 • OSGBJ 2012, 61(1)


from the cool down-draught from thewindow. It may also be desirable to move theplants more into the room but not near aradiator. The temperature that my plantsgrow at is usually 15–22°C.

The plant pots are inserted into larger (moredecorative) pots and are stood on pebbles sothat water can be added to the larger pot toprovide some local humidity withoutsaturating the compost. I water with rainwater every week and add fertiliser at 800µS(microsiemens) every 3–4 waterings. Mostroots hang outside the pots and show green,active tips without me having to spray them.The spikes need support but the plants arerarely repotted. However, they continue toflower regularly – in fact are rarely withoutflowers. The joy of these plants is that theflowers last for weeks, so that with six plantsthere is always a display on view. I have oftenhad 30–40 flowers on one plant.

When the flowers on a spike have all died, Iinspect the spike. There might be small budson the very end of the spike which will furtherdevelop into flowers – otherwise the spike canbe cut off at a point just below the lowestflower notch and above the topmost node onthe stem. This will encourage a further spiketo grow out of the original one. These flowersmay not be as large as the first ones on thatspike but will certainly give pleasure. Whenthe spike is exhausted and cut off, another onewill soon grow. This happens without anyeffort on my part.

Occasionally a flower bud may gradually turninto a small plant – a keiki. Roots and leaveswill develop until eventually it can be removedand planted to become an independent plant.

I do hope these notes will be helpful to newgrowers and as a result we will see manywindowsill-grown Phalaenopsis at our futuretable shows.

Brian Bett’s Phalaenopsis thrive in their bright position (Photo by Brian Betts)

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 37


A new spike will often form if the original spike is cutback just above the topmost node after flowering(Photo by Eileen Watson)

A new flower spike growing from the base – it will needstaking as it grows

A keiki (baby plant) has formed on this Phalaenopsis Gold Tris – it can be removed and planted on its own

Book Reviews

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 39

Book Reviews

38 • OSGBJ 2012, 61(1)

Keys are given to the genera in each of thetwo groups, and there are keys to the speciesin each genus. For each of the 68 speciestreated in this volume, there is a concisedescription and several photographsshowing different colour forms whereappropriate and often the whole plant. Thedescriptions give measurements of the plant,in which of the Brazilian states it occurs andits distribution outside Brazil, and a briefnote on the habitat and altitudes at which itgrows.

The book is well produced and informative,and looks and feels good, but it is a pity thatthe proof-reading is so sketchy – words areoften spelt differently, sometimes on thesame page. For example, in the keydifferentiating the Gomesa group from theTrichopilia group, there is ‘leave structure’ onone line and ‘leaf structure’ on the next.

Many people will want to collect the seriesand make a start by buying this first volume– 68 species down, only another 2,000 or soto go!

Isobyl la Croix

Renziana vol 1/2011,PaphiopedilumJournal of the Swiss Orchid Foundation

Paperback, 98 pages, A4, ISSN: 2235-0799.Available from Reinhardt Media Service: +41 (0) 61 264 64 50 or [email protected]€12.00 per issue (around £8.50 + postage).

This first issue of what is planned as anannual publication will be ‘a hard act tofollow’, containing as it does a very elegantreview of the genus Paphiopedilum, witharticles by distinguished experts. Phillip

Cribb writes on classification, with 87photographs of species, and on geographicaldistribution, ecology, morphology andconservation – some extracted directly fromhis book, The Genus Paphiopedilum, updatedand sometimes condensed. Hans Bänzigerwrites on pollination mechanisms;Ehrenfried Lucke on seed development anddispersal; Hannes Gamper on theirrelationship with mycorrhizal fungi; HolgerPerner on seedling development in the wildand conservation; Hilmar Bauch on theproblems of raising them from seed in thelaboratory; Oliver Dürbusch on propagatingcomplex paphs; Olaf Gruss on the aims andhistory of breeding; and Franz Glanz and OlafGruss on cultivation. Samuel Springer writeson the usefulness of herbarium specimens.There are a lot of interesting pictures, inparticular those illustrating how one uses a

Orchids of Brazil, Oncidiinae –part 1 by Dalton Holland Baptista, Patricia AHarding & Americo Docha Neto

Hardback, 224pp, 28 x 21.5cm, English andPortuguese, many colour photographs, 2maps, ISBN: 978-0-9836747-0-2. Fromwww.orchidstudium.com/orchidsofbrazil.html $40.00 (around £26.00 +postage).

This is the first volume of a series that isplanned to describe and illustrate all ofBrazil’s orchids – a mammoth but veryworthwhile task. This volume covers 16genera in subtribe Oncidiinae – theTrichopilia group with four genera and theGomesa group with 12. To many readers,most of the generic names will be unfamiliar.Only four are accepted in the Kew Monocot

checklist – Psychopsis and Trichopilia in thefirst group and Gomesa and Nohawilliamsiain the second.

Oncidium and its relatives are plants thathave divided taxonomists and growers forquite some time. Until relatively recently,plant classification was based onmorphology, in other words, the appearanceof plants. Now it is largely based onphylogeny (plants’ evolutionaryrelationships) and DNA work has shown thatmany relationships are not as previouslysupposed; sometimes plants that look verydifferent are closely related while others thatappear similar are not; the resemblance maysimply reflect a similar pollination syndrome.

In volume 5 of Genera Orchidacearum, theauthors hold a broad concept of Gomesa,giving a genus of about 125 species centredin Brazil – this is the classification that isaccepted by the RHS and the AOS. Theauthors of Orchids of Brazil, while using thesame data, have interpreted it differently andhave divided Oncidiinae into many smallergenera, several monospecific. Regardless ofwhat labels are in the pots, I suspect thatmany growers will look at these yellow andbrown flowers and think ‘Oncidium’! Thesedisagreements are at generic level, and assynonyms are given both in the text and in acomprehensive index, it is not difficult tofind a particular plant under any of itsnames.

In the introduction, the authors explain theaims of the proposed series and give theirreasons for their generic decisions. Followingthis, there is a map showing the six majorbiomes found in Brazil, with a discussion ofeach. Another map shows the 26 states intowhich this large country is divided.

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 41

John Blower’s book – Orchids

contemporary book. There are excellent andaccurate tips on repotting although all thephotographs show clay pots rather thanplastic. Some things are refreshinglyfamiliar; orchid houses’ habit of becomingtoo small, the orchidist’s enthusiasm beingdampened by the high cost of heating and aplant with no name being worth little morethan the pot it is in.

Other parts of the book remind us thatorchid-growing habits have changed. Onlyfour genera are highlighted; cymbidiums as‘the most popular orchid today’, cattleyas as‘among the easiest to grow’,odontoglossums which will soon ‘becompeting with cymbidiums for popularity’and cypripediums (meaning all slipperorchids including ‘phragmopedilums’ –fortunately this genus name never caughton) as the ‘aristocrats’ of the orchid world.Some passages may prompt nostalgicmemories: chopping Osmunda fibre(£13/100lb bale), gathering bracken forcompost from local commons and forests, orthe orchid corsage, the gift of which ‘will notfail to thrill the recipient’. Other passagesproduce a wry smile; the recommendation ofspraying ‘once every two months with DDTto control pests’, the use of ‘asbestossheeting to line the greenhouse’ or doubleglazing for greenhouses being at ‘anexperimental stage’.

Just occasionally a passage demonstrateshow much has changed since 1962. Theauthor’s statement that ‘few terrestrialorchids interest the orchid grower’, showsjust how widely our taste in orchids hasexpanded over the years and his commentthat ‘species are generally available directfrom the natural habitats’, offers a glimpse ofa pre-CITES world before conservation

became such a prominent issue.

Sadly, of the 14 orchid nurseries listed onlythree are still in existence and there are onlyeight local orchid societies mentionedalthough there is the assurance that‘experienced growers are most willing togive advice’. Interestingly, the wordPhalaenopsis appears only once in the entirebook and can be explained by the belief that‘monopodial orchids do not claim muchattention in this country’.

So keep an eye out for such gems at orchidevents and in second-hand book shops; mypurchase cost the grand sum of £2.00 buthas provided a wealth of knowledge andinterest. My love of books got the better ofme again at this year’s plant auction anddespite the wonderful bargains on offer Icame away with ….. another book.

40 • OSGBJ 2012, 61(1)

John Blower’s book – Orchids

bow and arrow to get a line up a giant treeto study epiphytes, and the giant clumps ofwild plants.

The paper is a heavy-weight one with amatt/silk finish and the font somewhatheavy in the leading, but the overallimpression is favourable. The text is in bothEnglish and German; cleverly done (the topof the page is German, the lower half inEnglish, so the two languages do not getmuddled up as one turns a page). Thetranslation into English is well done, and Ionly found one incomprehensible phrase.

This journal is published by the Swiss OrchidFoundation, a charity based at the Instituteof Botany, University of Basel. Thisorganisation was started on the base

provided by the library and herbarium of DrJany Renz and aims to provide ‘qualityinformation on orchids to growers,conservationists and scientists through theinternet’. The collection of pictures andherbarium specimens on its websitewww.orchid.unibas.ch should be your firstport of call when trying to identify an orchidflower – a task that is now impossible usingthe Google images search engine which willproduce everything from steam trains topeople, among a host of irrelevant plants ifone tries to find an orchid by name.

This copy is well worth purchasing as anintroduction to the many aspects ofPaphiopedilum.

Henry Oakeley

John Blower’s book – OrchidsSam Hurley

At last year’s OSGB auction I bought a bookby the late John Blowers, founder of theOSGB, having been reminded by one of ourauctioneers that expert advice never loses itsefficacy. It was published in 1962 and is fullof wise counsel for those suffering fromwhat the author calls ‘orchiditis’. At nearly50 years old it is a little piece of orchid-growing history.

Much of the book is as relevant today as itwas in 1962. Good culture is explained,stressing the consideration of each orchid’sindividual requirements with regard totemperature, light and humidity.Explanations are offered to dispel the mythssurrounding orchid growing and muchencouragement is given to alleviate thebeginner’s anxiety, just as we might find in a

John Blowers (1920-2009), founder of the OSGB

Overleaf: OSGB members enjoying the Christmas partyat Napier Hall, December 2011

Ottawa Orchid Society newsRick Sobkowicz

Lecture – Orchids: the Epitome of the Exotic

I am the editor of the Ottawa OrchidSociety’s newsletter, Spike, which is issued 10months of the year. Our Society (Ed: which isnow affiliated to the OSGB) is comprised ofapproximately 125 members and we holdmonthly meetings from September to Mayinclusive every third Sunday of the month atthe Tom Brown Arena, 141 Bayview, Ottawa,Ontario in Canada. We usually have anelaborate show table comprised of members’plants for folks to see and admire. We alsohave a very user-friendly website containingdetails on the Society and our activities,including many pictures of our annualshows. Our newsletter is also posted on the

website and access is unrestricted.

I thought I would send you a picture of theorchid that won the Best in Show at the 30th

annual Ottawa Orchid Society Show in April2011. The plant is Rhyncholaeliocattleya Portsof Paradise (Rhyncholaeliocattleya Fortune xRhyncholaelia digbyana) and was grown byWilson Ng of Scarborough, Ontario.

Wilson Ng writes: I am really excited that myCattleya has won the Best in Show for thefirst time in the Ottawa Orchid Show. Istarted my orchid growing hobby 20 yearsago before I moved to Canada in 1991. At thebeginning, Phalaenopsis and Cattleya were

44 • OSGBJ 2012, 61(1)

Rhyncholaeliocattleya Ports of Paradise, with nine flowers, Best in Show at the Ottawa Orchid Society show in April 2011(Photo by Rick Sobkowicz)

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 45

Ottawa Orchid Society news

my favourite orchids but I still grow a bit ofsome other genera. My emphasis has shifteda bit more to cattleyas in the last five yearsbecause I feel that cattleyas are really showyand elegant. This plant, RhyncholaeliocattleyaPorts of Paradise, is a pretty old hybrid, firstregistered in 1970. It has a nice, bright greencolor and a very pleasant fragrance. One of itsclones has received a FCC from the AmericanOrchid Society. I grow my Cattleya withcoconut chips mixed with a bit of moss. Allmy cattleyas stay outdoors from around Mayto late October and then they are movedindoors for the rest of the year. I fertilize themheavily in the summer. I have built a woodenstructure on the flower bed in my backyardand all my cattleyas are hanging except thereally big and heavy ones which sit close toground level. I grow my cattleyas with about30% shade in the summer to preventsunburn.

Two weeks before the show, myRhyncholaeliocattleya Ports of Paradise onlyhad about five flowers open and I knew itwouldn’t have all the flower buds open unlesswe had some warm days. Unfortunately, thetemperatures were around 10°C during theday which would not be enough to facilitatethe flowers to open within the next twoweeks. I decided to turn my heat on to around

25°C during day time, and the night timetemperature dropped down to around 20°C.Within two weeks, four more flowers openedto produce the fantastic array of flowers Ihave now. Since the flower spikes were allmore or less at the same height, the orchidwas staked so the blooms form a circle. Thefinished look is really fresh and elegant and Iam very happy with it. I think the culture ofan orchid is an important element to having anice plant in the show. However, the timingand presentation of the plant is also animportant factor to make your plant look itsbest.

Ottawa Orchid Society, website:www.ottawaorchidsociety.com

Christopher Bailes, curator of the ChelseaPhysic Garden, will be giving a lecture titled‘Orchids: the Epitome of the Exotic’ onWednesday 29 February at 18:30, at TheGallery, 70 Crowcross Street, London, EC1M6EJ, organised by The Garden HistorySociety.

The lecture will review the history of orchidcultivation through the centuries to thepresent day, where orchids are now a staplesupermarket flower.

Tickets cost £10.00 (to include one glass ofwine) for non-GHS members and can bepurchased at the door or in advance onlineat www.gardenhistorysociety.org

Wilson Ng of the Ottawa Orchid Society (Photo withkind permission of Wilson Ng)

RHS London Orchid Show andOSGB Spring Show 2012Valerie Pugh

46 • OSGBJ 2012, 61(1)

We are fast approaching the show seasononce again. I always look forward to this timeof year; I know it is a lot of hard work foreveryone involved, but I thoroughly enjoy it.

I will be ringing around in early March to allthe members who have very kindly lent theirplants in previous years, asking them onceagain for their support. Val Micklewright hasoffered to take over creating the labels fromWalter Lefley. If you are lending your plantsplease e-mail your list [email protected]. Please ensure yourname is on your pots and your list of plantsaccompanies your crate.

RHS London Orchid ShowI hope you have all noted the change in thedays of the week for the LOS (not Sunday).The main show days will be Friday andSaturday 16–17 March, 10:00–17:00, with thepreview evening on Thursday 15 March,18:30–20:30. Preview tickets cost £12.00 toinclude return entry on Friday or Saturday;day tickets cost £5.00 for RHS members and£8.00 for non-members. RHS judging willtake place at 07:00 on Friday and a BOCjudge training symposium will be heldduring the show.

André Roux has very kindly offered to designour stand again and the theme will beTreasure Island. André writes: We hope thedisplay will once again capture theimagination and interest of fellow exhibitorsand the general public alike. Orchids areNature’s floral treasures and our aim is toshowcase the beauty and variety of plantsgrown by our members in an island paradisesetting. The principal feature will encompass ahigh cliff-face on the surf’s edge and theorchids will contribute their unique literal andmetaphorical qualities.

Of interest to members is news that the RHSis introducing a new award at this year’sshow for the best amateur specimen plant,complete with a cash prize. Please comealong, enjoy the show and support yourSociety.

Exhibitors this year will include:

Akerne Orchids, Alphabet Orchids, BurnhamNurseries, Chantelle Orchids, Ecuagenera,EPRIC, Equatorial Plants, EYOF, Heritage

Valerie Pugh, OSGB Displays Manager

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 47

RHS London Orchid Show and OSGB Spring Show 2012

Orchids, Joseph Wu Orchids, K J Orchids,Laneside Hardy Orchid Nursery, LaurenceHobbs, Lea Valley Orchid Society, McBean’sOrchids, Helen Millner, Haruhiko Nagata,Orchideen Kopf, Orchideen Tonn, OrchisFloriculturing, Orquídeas del Valle, PazuzuExtreme Flora, Peter Sander, PolinaPlotnikova, Ratcliffe Orchids, RHS Enterprises,Röllke Orchideen, Mike Park Books, The OrchidReview, Touchwood, Writhlington School andthe OSGB.

Wisley Orchid EventThe RHS Garden Wisley Orchid Event will runfrom Saturday 17 March until Sunday 15 April2012.

OSGB Spring ShowThe Society’s Spring Show will be held againat RHS Garden Wisley, in the GlasshouseGallery on Saturday 28 April.

We have booked our Affiliated Societyannual free RHS garden visit to coincide withthis, which gives us 55 free tickets formembers of the Society who are notmembers of the RHS, or not visiting theshow as an RHS member’s guest. The OSGBhas been asked to man a desk at theentrance to give out these tickets; it will bemanned from 09:00–12:00 and the ticketswill be given out on a first-come first-servedbasis. Please note the orchid show is openfrom 10:30–16:00.

Displays may be set up, and plants forjudging brought to the Glasshouse Gallerybetween 07:30 and 8:45. Wisley hasinformed us that all plants will be inspectedto check they are healthy and clear of pests;suspect plants may be denied entry. Pleaseensure you allow enough time for this.Judging will start at 09:00 and must be

completed by 10:30 when the show opens tothe public. The trophies will be presented at14:30, and the show will close at 16:00. Arevised judging schedule will be used at theSpring Show, to accommodate the manyrecent reclassifications of orchid genera. Thenew judging schedule can be found on page64. Directions for delivering plants to theback of the Glasshouse Gallery can be foundon page 20 of the Annual Supplement.

Members wishing to enter their plantsshould send a list of plants and the classesthey wish to enter to Dusha Hayes, Chair ofthe Judging Sub-committee, by post or e-mail a few days before the show. This willhelp with the advance preparation of showtables. Alterations and new entries will stillbe accepted on the day.

Jo Kelleher has agreed to put on a non-competitive display, and BournemouthOrchid Society will enter a competitivedisplay. Chantelle Orchids will provide tradesupport. There will be two pottingdemonstrations during the show at 11:00and 13:30.

Please contact me with any questions or ifyou require help in arranging transport foryour plants to the show, my details can befound inside the front cover of the Journal.

The Glasshouse at RHS Garden Wisley, venue for theOSGB Spring Show 2012 (Photo by Sam Hurley)

OSGB Autumn Show 2011Sally Mill (Photos by Sam Hurley)

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Once again, the OSGB Autumn Show washeld in conjunction with the BOGA AutumnFayre at Wraysbury Village Hall. Although theweather was rather cool and cloudy, I thinkall those who attended enjoyed the day. Aswell as the OSGB show tables, there werethree lovely society and individual displays;these were from the Chiltern and ThamesValley Orchid Societies, and Jo Kelleher.

There were several orchid trade stands andsundries to entice both beginners and moreexperienced orchid growers. These wereOrchids by Peter White, Plested Orchids,Burnham Nurseries, Laneside Hardy Orchids,Just In Glass and EarthenWear. Specialmention must be made of Arthur from

Burnham’s who managed to arrive on timedespite having to travel cross-country in thefog due to a bad accident completely closingthe M5. Evidently the sight of pigs grazingaround Stonehenge in the dawn fog wassomething to behold!

The three long OSGB show tables weresufficiently filled with entries although thenumber of plants was down compared to2010, mainly due to cymbidiums refusing tobe in flower. Orchids were entered in 24 ofthe 45 classes available, and seven of thepossible 15 trophies were awarded, includingthe Ernie Self Trophy for Best Novice. Thiswas awarded to Stuart Meeson forPhalaenopsis Taida Salu; a well-grown andwell-flowered plant that carried deep purple‘netted’ flowers. Some of the other winnersare highlighted below.

Class 1 – 1 Laeliinae species. Sally Mill’sProsthechea grammatoglossa ‘Estrela’BC/RHS. This interesting small species fromEcuador had seven spikes, all of which werecovered with green, star-like flowers eachabout 1cm in diameter. Sally was alsoawarded the Fernhill Trophy (1 Cattleya orallied genera) for this pretty plant. (Ed: Theplant was awarded a Botanical Certificate bythe RHS Orchid Committee in October, seepages 71 and 72.)

Class 9 – 1 Odontoglossum (now Oncidium)hybrid. Valerie Pugh’s Oncidium (previouslyOdontioda) Haute Tombette. Although thiswas the only entry in its class, it fullydeserved its first place. The plant carried aspike of pretty white flowers with purplesplotches, and gained Valerie the HubbardBowl (Best Odontoglossum).

Stuart Meeson, a new member of the OSGB, winner ofthe Ernie Self Trophy for Best Novice

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 49

OSGB Autumn Show 2011

Class 12 – 1 Paphiopedilum species. Sally Mill’sPaphiopedilum wardii. This large plant hadfour spikes, three of which carried twoflowers. All seven flowers were open andwere of good size, colour and substance; allof which led to this orchid gaining Sally theLen Page Trophy for Best in Show.

Class 14 – 1 Phragmipedium. Penny Hayes’sPhragmipedium Eric Young. Penny has manyphragmipediums, and this well-grown plantcarried three large, peachy flowers plusseveral buds.

Class 15 – 1 Phalaenopsis species. ChristineCarter’s Phalaenopsis lowii. Christinespecialises in growing Phalaenopsis – speciesand hybrids. This rare and beautiful plant wasa large specimen for its type, carrying sixopen flowers of a lovely pink with a purple lip.

Class 17 – 1 Pleurothallidinae species. StuartMeeson’s Lepanthopsis astrophora. This tinyorchid bearing several spikes of pink flowerswas beautifully displayed in a miniaturehanging terrarium; an ideal way to ensurethe required humidity.

Class 18 – 1 Pleurothallidinae hybrid. MikeBuckingham's unnamed Masdevallia hybrid.Mike’s masdevallias always enthral us; thisone, carrying many yellow flowers, was goodenough to be awarded although it had noname. It gained the Jo Kelleher Painting (BestPleurothallidinae). Mike was also awardedthe Dusha Hayes Trophy (3 Pleurothallidinaespecies and/or hybrids) for a nice group ofspecies and hybrid masdevallias.

Class 20 – 1 Terrestrial. Mike Penney’s Pecteilishawkesiana (previously sagarikii). Thisunusual little orchid carried two creamy-white, pointed flowers with a bright yellowlip; very attractive and definitely one to lookout for.

Sally Mill’s Paphiopedilum wardii, winner of Best inShow

Stuart Meeson’s Lepanthopsis astrophora enjoys suitablehumidity in its miniature terrarium

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Christine Carter’s Phalaenopsis lowii, a large specimen of this rare species

Penny Hayes’s Phragmipedium Eric Young

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 51


Class 35 – 3 species of the same genus. ColinCarter’s three Coelogyne species. Not to beoutdone by his wife, Colin’s group includedtwo unusual and rarely seen species,C. assamica and C. fuscescens.

OSGB Autumn Show 2012 The Autumn Show at Wraysbury makes agood outing, and we have booked ourplace there again this year. However, thehall is not available on the first Saturdayso the Autumn Show in 2012, atWraysbury Village Hall, will be on Sunday4th November. Let’s hope that the changeof day encourages more members andvisitors to spend a very enjoyable day inthe company of orchids (and theirgrowers).

Two unusual and rarely seen Coelogyne species, shown by Colin Carter

Coelogyne assamica Coelogyne fuscescens

Pecteilis hawkesiana (previously sagarikii)

Psychopsis papilioJudith Hoggarth (Photos by Judith Hoggarth)

I purchased this orchid in bud and wasfascinated to watch it come into flower. Iphotographed it at approximately two dayintervals as the single blooms appeared insuccession along the stem to replace the onesthat had faded.

Cultural note from Sally Mill: Psychopsis papiliois found from Panama to tropical SouthAmerica. They like intermediate temperatureswith a winter night-time low of 14°C and asummer daytime high of 30°C. They requiregood air movement, high humidity (>70%) andhigh light levels so are grown towards the topof the greenhouse. A compost mix of 2 partsmedium bark, 1 part giant perlite and 1 partchopped cork, suits them well. Psychopsismust not be over-watered; the compostshould be allowed to dry between waterings.

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The annual photographic and artcompetition took place at the meeting inDecember. This was particularly wellsupported with a total of 120 entries, muchhigher than the previous year when manymembers were unable to attend due to thesnow. What a contrast with theunseasonably warm temperatures we areexperiencing this year!

The meeting began with a Christmas lunchduring which members voted for theirfavourite photographs and paintings. Lunchwas followed by the annual quiz, devised thisyear by Derek Belcher, which covered topicsranging from orchids, geography and sport

to a very entertaining section on pre-decimilalization currency, and was won by JoKelleher. After the quiz, the results of thecompetition were announced and there wereclear winners in each class with each winnergetting significantly more votes than thosein second and third place. The winners ofeach class are listed below.

Class 1 (for a small orchid photograph) waswon by Diane Moosai’s photograph ofColmanara ‘Masai Red’. It was taken in hergarden in bright, natural light and setagainst the backdrop of her magnolia treewhich provided a marvellous contrast to thestriking red flowers.

Photographic and art competition 2011Mary-Jane Hawkins

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 53

Colmanara ‘Masai Red’ (Photo by Diane Moosai)

Psychopsis papilio photographed at two day intervals as the flower bud opened

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Photographic and art competition 2011

Class 2 (for a large orchid photograph) waswon by Judith Hoggarth’s photograph of aMiltoniopsis hybrid. It was taken at an orchidshow and printed for the competition with awhite border which highlighted the white ofthe flowers and contrasted with the darkrock against which the flowers weredisplayed.

Robert Simmons was the successful winnerof both Class 3 and Class 4 (small and largephotograph of an orchid taken in the wild)with photographs of Dactylorhiza fuchsii andOphrys apifera. These photographs were bothtaken on a very wet and windy day on theOSGB trip last June to Dawcombe Reserve inSurrey (tiny droplets of water can be seen onthe stem of the Ophrys). The photograph ofthe Ophrys was cropped at the sides toaccentuate the tall, slim shape of the plant.Both of Robert’s photographs were takenwith an Olympus E-30 DSLR; manual focusand a tripod; ISO 100; aperture priority set atf5.6 (1/45s for Ophrys and 1/125s forDactylorhiza).

Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Photo by Robert Simmons)

Ophrys apifera (Photo by Robert Simmons)

Miltoniopsis hybrid, winner of the 2011 PhotographicTrophy (Photo by Judith Hoggarth)

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All five winning photographic entries weresubmitted as the OSGB’s entries to theBritish Orchid Council’s annual onlinephotographic competition and can beviewed on the BOC website:www.iantparsons.creators.co.uk/Database/ViewGallery.php. The winner will beannounced after 28 February 2012.

The OSGB Photographic Trophy for the bestphotograph was won by Judith Hoggarth’slovely photograph of a Miltoniopsis hybrid.

Ed: A new class will be added to the 2012competition for photographs of an orchiddisplay or exhibit. See the May 2012 AnnualSupplement for details.

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Joyce Cavanagh won Class 5a (orchidpainting) with a watercolour painting of aMiltoniopsis which had attractive pink, redand white colouring.

Class 5b (any other non-photographic orchid-related art) had a great variety of entriesincluding a needlework cushion and a pieceof jewellery but was won by Sue Oakham’sincredible Phalaenopsis 3D textile. The petalsand leaves were free machined on polyesterpaper using metallic threads and thenindividually wired around the edges beforesome of the fabric was burnt away with aheat gun; crystals were then machined on.

Sue’s entry gained the highest number ofvotes and points in the competition and wasa welcome return following a similar entrytwo years ago.

Henry Oakeley was the successful winner ofClass 6 (orchid-related photograph/painting/art by a member who has previously soldsome of their work). His large photograph ofCattleya dowiana var. aurea had the mostincredible colours, as suggested by its name,aurea meaning ‘golden yellow’. The imagewas produced from a scan of a 35mmpositive colour slide, Fuji Provia, 100 ISO, andtaken using a ring flash.

Sue Oakham’s 3D Phalaenopsis textile

Henry Oakeley’s Cattleya dowiana var. aurea

Joyce Cavanagh’s Miltoniopsis watercolour painting

Napier Hall MeetingsOctober 2011Malcolm Moodie – Orchid nutrition:considerations for successMary-Jane Hawkins (Photos by Sam Hurley)

Members were treated to an unusual talk inOctober by Malcolm Moodie, recently retiredfrom MAM Horticulture, which involved a quizand discussion rather than a visualpresentation.

Malcolm highlighted the key factors forsuccessful orchid growing, which he considersequally important: light; day/nighttemperature differential; water quality;humidity; pH; growing medium; pests anddiseases; air movement; nutrition.

These days Malcolm uses aluminium-coverednylon shading with the aluminium coveredside facing outwards and the white side facinginwards with an air gap between the shadingand the glass. This helps to increase lightlevels but decrease temperature. A coolertemperature at night (temperaturedifferential) is important for most orchids andsome, like cane-type Dendrobium require acool, dry rest period after growth has finished.

For watering, rainwater is best, and aconductivity meter is useful for measuring the

concentration of dissolved salts. Take carewhere you collect the rain water from.Malcolm had a customer with two waterbutts; the salt content in the one collectingfrom the greenhouse measured 40µS(microsiemens) but the one collecting fromthe garage roof measured 500µS as theconcrete roof tiles had leached salts into thewater. Humidity is important for most orchidsand can be achieved by damping down thegreenhouse floor.

An ideal pH range for most orchids is 5–6.5,although limestone loving paphiopedilums,such as Paphiopedilum bellatulum, need a pHof 7 or above. It is essential that the growingmedium balances drainage/air pockets withwater retentiveness, and it is important toremember that as compost degrades theacidity will increase, especially with Sphagnummoss. Another critical factor is the control ofpests and diseases; like so many of us,Malcolm has yet to eradicate the dreadedmealy bug. Air movement in the greenhouse isessential and can be created by using fixed oroscillating fans.

Malcolm then moved on to orchid nutritionand fertilizers. The main elements in fertilizersare nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) andpotassium (K), known by their chemicalsymbols as NPK. Nitrogen is required for greengrowth (leaf and stem), phosphorus promotesflower and root growth, and potassium helpsstem rigidity and the formation of fruitingbodies. The proportions are given on the labelusing a series of numbers, each numberreferring to the percentage of NPK in thediluted product (see labels opposite).

Fertilizers come in crystal or liquid form andgenerally, liquid fertilizers are more expensive.Many commercial orchid nurseries use slow-

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Damping down the greenhouse floor can help toincrease humidity

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 59

Napier Hall Meetings

release fertilizers but a general rule is alwaysto feed at a quarter of the recommendedstrength. It is beneficial to use a slightlyhigher nitrogen feed in summer when theplants are growing and a higherphosphorus/lower nitrogen feed when theyhave finished growing and are preparing toflower.

Nitrogen is available to plants in threedifferent ways (ammonia, nitrate and urea),and the balance between nitrate andammonia forms of nitrogen in fertilizers isimportant. Urea is not normally used onorchids because it is a complex molecule anddoes not break down readily to make thenitrogen available to the plant.

The three other macronutrients, apart fromNPK, are magnesium, calcium and sulphur.Calcium is necessary for cell growth anddivision, and the uptake of nitrates;magnesium aids the creation of chlorophylland flowers; and sulphur has similar functionsin plant growth and nutrition to nitrogen. It isimportant to make all micronutrients availableto plants – if they don’t need a specific onethey won’t take it up, although themicronutrients will come from the organicconstituents of the compost (unless growingin rockwood or other synthetic media).Micronutrients include boron, cobalt, copper,iron, manganese, molybdenum, zinc, nickel,chlorine and sodium. A liquid seaweed

A higher nitrogen feed for active growth inspring/summer

A higher phosphorus feed for autumn/winter as plantsprepare to flower

Fertilizer labels show the ratio of NPK that they contain (and everything else)

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fertilizer twice a year may provide these butusually there is enough in organic composts.

The quiz was won, not surprisingly butreassuringly, by OSGB Chairman, Roy White.This was Malcolm’s first visit to Napier Hall,despite being a member 10 years, and his quizwas a success. One thing which came throughvery clearly again is the importance ofunderstanding the growing conditions of yourplants, a good reason for going on trips to seethem in their natural habitat.

Table Show reportAndré Roux

September 2011Every once in a while the display tablewelcomes an orchid that leaves you scratchingfor words… and so it was our privilege at theSeptember meeting to gaze in awe at JoKelleher’s Gongora scaphephorus. Not only arethe flowers weird and wonderful – even thename Gongora invites connotations ofmedieval mythological monsters. The genuswas erected in 1794 by the inimitablebotanists Ruiz and Pavón and honours DonAntonio Caballero y Góngora, a SpanishCatholic archbishop who held the post ofViceroy of New Granada (Colombia andEcuador) between 1782 and 1789. In 1783 hesponsored the Royal Botanical Expedition ofthe New Kingdom of Granada and was anenthusiastic patron of that expedition’s leader,the scientist José Celestino Mutis. Thistaxonomically complex genus numbersapproximately 65 species native to tropicalAmerica, ranging from Mexico, CentralAmerica and the West Indies south to Brazil,with a centre of distribution in Colombia.Gongoras are epiphytes in wet, montaneforests up to about 1,000m in elevation.

Gongora scaphephorus is found in Ecuador,

Peru and Colombia. It bears characteristicsquare-shaped, deeply grooved pseudobulbstopped with a pair of plicate leaves; out-of-bloom, these features distinguish gongorasfrom their ally, the stanhopeas, whose leavesare larger, less pleated and darker green incolour. The inflorescences, however, areinstantly recognisable, arching gracefully awayfrom the pseudobulbs and cascading belowthe plant. The magnificent specimen ondisplay presented five 60cm-longinflorescences, each carrying an average of 33extraordinary flowers. Some describe theblooms as birds in flight, others as a string ofgrasshoppers – whatever your take on it, theflowers have historically caused morechallenges than just the descriptive.Frequently within species they show greatvariation in colour, and the intricacy of thefleshy lips has proven difficult to describeaccurately. The flowers are often stronglyfragrant – Gga. scaphephorus, though Istruggled to detect it, is reminiscent of floorpolish or camphorous, medicinal notes,depending on your nose. The scent is apparentalmost throughout the day.

With numerous flowers and lengthy periodsof fragrance to support, it is not surprisingthat gongoras enjoy copious amounts ofwater during active growth. Intermediatetemperatures and bright light, good humidityand air movement, and an acidic medium withfrequent feeding will result in robust, healthyplants. The resting period should be carefullyobserved during which time much less wateris needed. A hanging basket or pot is more orless essential for successful blooming; thelong, pendulous inflorescences are slow-growing, remaining in bud for seemingly agesbefore suddenly bursting into flower. I admireand applaud not only Jo’s skill but her selflessinterest and dedication in sharing with us a

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 61


plant that required immeasurable care andeffort to transport to Napier Hall.

A surely challenging task was handed tohybrids in the face of such magnificence andCattlianthe (previously Laeliocattleya) SagarikWax ‘African Beauty’ offered a strikingrejoinder. This combination of CattleyaSummerland Girl and the renowned Ctt.(previously C.) Chocolate Drop producedradiant, deep burnt-red flowers, enhanced by alacquered texture surpassing even its famousparent. The heritage behind these sensationalhues reveals the influence of no less thaneight different species in what amounts to afourth generation hybrid: C. guttata andGuarianthe aurantiaca from Ctt. ChocolateDrop; and C. tigrina, C. warneri, C. (previouslyLaelia) purpurata, C. dowiana, C. mendelii and C.trianae. Even though it was registered in 1979,

Ctt. Sagarik Wax clearly remains a sought-afterhybrid 30 years on.

October 2011Trends and cycles of interest are part andparcel of our everyday lives, and orchids are noexception. These fashions can be triggered bythe discovery of a new species in an alreadypopular genus, or the introduction by acommercial grower of an uncommon plantthat has proven particularly amenable toamateur cultivation. Over the last severalmonths, Liparis have been popping up atmeetings and shows on a frequent basis. Theyare one of the few global genera, extensivelylocated in the tropics yet also prevalent intemperate regions. Liparis are predominantlyterrestrial, although some species grow onrocks and others epiphytically. The genericname is derived from the Greek liparos,

The extraordinary flowers and spectacle of Jo Kelleher’s Gongora scaphephorus

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meaning ‘shiny’ or ‘greasy’, an apt choice as theleaves of many members have a glossy patina.Flowers, however, tend to be insignificant ordull.

That trait cannot be levelled at the free-flowering Lip. crenulata with its insect-like,colourful pale to dark orange-red blooms. Thisspecies is native to Sumatra and Java, variouslygrowing at warmer altitudes right up tohigher elevations of 2,000m where theenvironment is much cooler. Liparis aregenerally suited to culture in shallow pansunder moist, shady conditions for the durationof their growing period. When growth iscomplete, a somewhat drier regime isbeneficial. Repotting twice yearly helps tominimise the risk of root-rot.

In contrast to the 250-odd species of Liparis,the Taiwanese genus Haraella comprises only

two and Hal. retrocalla, a very fine example ofwhich was exhibited by Kim Solomon, remainsa popular orchid. That mature plants can be inmore-or-less constant bloom is quite possiblythe reason. This miniature species grows beston a mount to accommodate its slightlyrambling, monopodial growths. The plants donot like to dry out and a moist, humidenvironment partnered with intermediatetemperatures should be maintained, especiallywhen the roots are actively growing.Attractive, citrus-scented flowers are producedsequentially. Haraella retrocalla’s pollinator is amale beetle that is lured by both thefragrance, reminiscent of a mate, and her‘presence’ on the flower courtesy of the deepmaroon patterns on the lip.

Paphiopedilum species are perennial favouritesand Brenda Penney is a fan, although Paph.charlesworthii is one that, surprisingly, is not

Sally Mill’s Cattlianthe Sagarik Wax ‘African Beauty’ is a fourth generation hybrid with eight different species behind itsbreeding

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 63


seen too often. This dwarf species, with itsdistinct rose and carmine-striped dorsal sepal,uses its unique colouration to attractpollinators, mimicking the colour of nectar-giving flowers such as Clerodendrumurticifolium which grow in the surroundingarea. After pollinating these flowers, bees havebeen observed to repeatedly visit (but notsettle on) Paph. charlesworthii. This lovelyspecies was described in 1893 and is found ineast Burma, the Assam region of India,northern Thailand and the extreme southwestof China, though it is now scarce. Plants growat altitudes averaging 1,400m in the crevicesof steep, isolated limestone peaks to whichthey cling with tenacious roots. Temperaturesrange from 12°C to 22°C and while the summermonths are wet, autumn and winter arerelatively dry.

Mike Penney’s Liparis crenulata, a species from Sumatraand Java

The beetle-deceiving flowers of Kim Solomon’s Haraellaretrocalla

Brenda Penney’s Paphiopedilum charlesworthii, abeautiful yet seldom grown species

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 65

New books for the OSGB Library

37. 3 Dendrobium species and/or hybrids.38. 3 species of one genus, not listed in classes

25 to 37 e.g. Maxillaria, Lycaste, Coelogyne,Catasetum, Gongora, Stanhopea, etc.

39. 3 hybrids of one genus, from the genera inclass 38, including intergenerics containingthat genus.

40. 3 orchid plants from any of the genera inClass 38, including intergenerics.

41. 4 orchid species from the same or differentgenera.

42. 4 orchid plants from different genera,including intergenerics.

43. 6 orchid species from the same or differentgenera.

44. 6 orchid species and hybrids from thesame or different genera, includingintergenerics.

45. 6 orchid plants of any one genus, includingintergenerics containing that genus; nofoliage plants to be included.

46. A group of orchids and ornamental plantsspace up to one square metre. Ornamentalplants must not exceed 50% of the exhibit.

47. 1 species or hybrid, for an OSGB memberwho has not previously gained a first prizein the Society’s Spring or Autumn Shows.

48. 1 orchid species or hybrid for an OSGBmember aged 21 and under.

49. 1 corsage or buttonhole (flower need nothave been grown by the exhibitor).

Section BOpen class for all societies, individuals andprofessional growers at the Spring andAutumn Shows, including non-members ofthe OSGB and its Affiliated Societies.

50. A display of orchids and ornamentalplants, larger than one square metre,ornamental plants must not exceed 50%of the exhibit.

The following books have been added to theOSGB Library. Please contact the Librarian,Derek Belcher, if you would like to borrowany of them.

Section 1: General Orchid Books andCultivationHeitz, Success with OrchidsTibbs, A Practical Guide to Care and

Cultivation of Orchids

Section 3: European OrchidsLang, British OrchidsTahourdin, Native Orchids of Britain

Section 4: FlorasHermjakob, Orchids of Greece and CyprusLothian, Australian Orchids Millar, Orchids of Papua New Guinea

Miller, Warren, Miller, Seehawer, The OrganMountain Range, Its History and Its Orchids

O’Byrne, A to Z of South East Asian OrchidSpecies

Pearce & Cribb, The Orchids of BhutanStewart, Linder, Schelpe, Hall, Wild Orchids of

Southern Africa Stewart, Orchids of KenyaTeoh, Orchids of Asia

Section 6: MonographsFrauenschuh, Cypripedium calceolusMotes, Vandas

Section 12: CataloguesExmoor Orchids 1987

Section 13: MagazinesGardenwise Singapore Botanic Gardens

Vol 36 Jan 2011

New judging schedule 2012Dusha Hayes

New books for the OSGB Library

This revised judging schedule will be usedfrom February 2012 for all OSGB monthly TableShows, Spring and Autumn Shows.

Only members of the OSGB are eligible tocompete in monthly Table Shows but theSpring and Autumn Shows are open to non-members.

At the monthly, Spring and Autumn Shows,prize cards, bronze, silver, gold and culturalcertificates will be awarded. At the Spring andAutumn Shows, rosettes will be awarded forfirst, second and third places in each class.

OSGB trophies will be awarded to currentmembers of the OSGB only. If a winner is notan OSGB member a certificate will be awardedin its place.

Any plant entered in classes 1 to 48 must havebeen in the entrants’ possession for at least 12months.

Section AClasses to be judged at all shows includingmonthly Table Shows. Plants in Classes 1–24may be judged within Class 50 on request tothe judges.

1. 1 Laeliinae species e.g. Barkeria, Brassavola,Cattleya, Encyclia, Epidendrum, Guarianthe,Mexican Laelia, etc.

2. 1 Laeliinae hybrid, including intergenerics.3. 1 Cymbidium species.4. 1 Cymbidium hybrid.5. 1 Dendrobium species.6. 1 Dendrobium hybrid.7. 1 Oncidiinae species e.g. Ada, Brassia,

Miltonia, Oncidium, etc.8. 1 Oncidiinae hybrid, including

intergenerics.9. 1 Paphiopedilum species.10. 1 Paphiopedilum hybrid.11. 1 Phragmipedium species.

12. 1 Phragmipedium hybrid.13. 1 Phalaenopsis species, including plants

previously known as Doritis.14. 1 Phalaenopsis hybrid, including

intergenerics. 15. 1 Vandeae species, including Sarcanthinae,

Angraecinae, Aerangidinae but excludingPhalaenopsis.

16. 1 Vandeae hybrid, including intergenericsbut not those with Phalaenopsis.

17. 1 Pleurothallidinae species.18. 1 Pleurothallidinae hybrid, including

intergenerics.19. 1 Maxillarieae species.20. 1 Maxillarieae hybrid, including

intergenerics.21. 1 terrestrial species or hybrid (those orchids

that have underground rhizomes or tubersand seasonally have no parts aboveground) e.g. Cynorkis, Cypripedium,Dactylorhiza, some Calanthe, Disa,Habenaria, Ophrys, etc.

22. 1 species not listed above e.g. Catasetum,Gongora, Coelogyne, Stanhopea, etc.

23. 1 hybrid not listed above e.g. Catasetum,Gongora, Coelogyne, Stanhopea, etc.

24. 1 species or hybrid to be judged for itsdecorative foliage only.

25. 3 Laeliinae species.26. 3 Laeliinae hybrids, including intergenerics.27. 3 Cymbidium species.28. 3 Cymbidium hybrids.29. 3 Oncidiinae species. 30. 3 Oncidiinae hybrids, including

intergenerics.31. 3 Paphiopedilum species and/or hybrids. 32. 3 Phragmipedium species and/or hybrids.33. 3 Phalaenopsis species.34. 3 Phalaenopsis hybrids, including

intergenerics. 35. 3 terrestrial species and/or hybrids.36. 3 Pleurothallidinae species and/or hybrids.

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OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 67

The Royal Horticultural Society Orchid CommitteeThe Royal Horticultural SocietyOrchid Committee(Photos of the Dawlish Warren meeting by Chris Purver)

Full descriptions and illustrations of theplants awarded by the Committee arepublished in The Orchid Review. Subscriptiondetails are available from the RHS, tel: 0207821 3401, e-mail: [email protected] orwebsite: www.rhs.org.uk/orchidreview

The Committee met on 13 September 2011 atVincent Square and agreed the followingaward:

First Class CertificatePhragmipedium kovachii ‘Trinity’, grown andexhibited by the Eric Young OrchidFoundation.

The Committee met on 4 October 2011 atVincent Square and agreed the followingawards:

Award of MeritCalanthe Beresford ‘Le Don Le Brocq’(Brandywine x Mont Pinel)

Stanhopea Hautlieu ‘Le Don Renouf’ (Augresx tigrina)

Both plants were raised and exhibited by theEric Young Orchid Foundation.

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Phragmipedium kovachii ‘Trinity’ FCC/RHS Stanhopea Hautlieu ‘Le Don Renouf’ AM/RHS

Calanthe Beresford ‘Le Don Le Brocq’ AM/RHS

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 69

The Royal Horticultural Society Orchid Committee

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Botanical Certificate and Certificate ofCultural CommendationSudamerlycaste ariasii ‘Le Don Paton’, grownand exhibited by the Eric Young OrchidFoundation.

The Committee met on 15 October 2011 atDawlish Warren and agreed the followingawards:

Award of MeritCalanthe Five Oaks ‘Grouville’ (Gorey xBrandywine), raised and exhibited by the EricYoung Orchid Foundation.

Dendrobium smillieae ‘Anja’, a species fromPapua New Guinea and northeasternAustralia, grown and exhibited by AsendorferOrchideenzucht.

Phragmipedium La Vingtaine ‘Le Don Le Gros’(Memoria Dick Clements x kovachii), raised andexhibited by the Eric Young Orchid Foundation.

Sudamerlycaste ariasii ‘Le Don Paton’ BC/CCC/RHS Phragmipedium La Vingtaine ‘Le Don Le Gros’ AM/RHS

Calanthe Five Oaks ‘Grouville’ AM/RHS Dendrobium smillieae ‘Anja’ AM/RHS

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 71


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Preliminary CertificateOncidopsis Champs du Rey ‘Le Don Huelin’(Oncidopsis Saint Aubin x Oncidium Rozel),raised and exhibited by the Eric Young OrchidFoundation.

Botanical CertificateBrasiliorchis schunkeana ‘Eva May’, a speciesfrom Brazil, grown and exhibited by Ellis Eyre.

Cattleya fidelensis ‘Mirjam’, a species fromBrazil, grown and exhibited by AsendorferOrchideenzucht.

Gastrochilus japonicus ‘Leia’, a species fromChina to temperate East Asia, grown andexhibited by Jean Barker.

Oncidium heteranthum ‘White Wine Spot’, aspecies from Ecuador, grown and exhibitedby Ryanne Orchidée. Oncidopsis Champs du Rey ‘Le Don Huelin’ PC/RHS Gastrochilus japonicus ‘Leia’ BC/RHS

Cattleya fidelensis ‘Mirjam’ BC/RHS Oncidium heteranthum ‘White Wine Spot’ BC/RHS Prosthechea grammatoglossa ‘Estrela’ BC/RHS

Brasiliorchis schunkeana ‘Eva May’ BC/CCC/RHS

72 • OSGBJ 2012, 61(1)


Prosthechea grammatoglossa ‘Estrela’, aspecies from tropical South America, grownand exhibited by Sally Mill.

Certificate of Cultural CommendationTo Ellis Eyre for Brasiliorchis schunkeana ‘EvaMay’, a species from Brazil.

To Robert Gowland for Vandofinetia PatArcari ‘Janet’ (Vanda coerulea x Neofinetiafalcata).

To Hilary Hobbs for Bratonia Aztec ‘Toni’(Bratonia Cartagena x Miltonia MinasGerais).

To Sue Lane for Dendrochilum latifolium‘Grace Trebble’ and for Renantheraphilippinensis ‘Roger’, both species from thePhilippines.

Bratonia Aztec ‘Toni’ CCC/RHS

Dendrochilum latifolium ‘Grace Trebble’ CCC/RHS Renanthera philippinensis ‘Roger’ CCC/RHS

Vandofinetia Pat Arcari ‘Janet’ CCC/RHS

Orchid FocusRepotting MixPeat free – ideal for Phalaenopsis, Paphs, Dendrobium, Cymbidium and most popular hybrids. 3 litres and 10 litres.

For stockists, orchid events and orchid care advice please visit:

www.focus-on-plants.com

Orchid MystThe best way to feed orchids – because it helps to replicate conditions in their rainforest habitat. 100 ml and 300 ml

Houseplant MystWith all the benefi ts of Orchid Myst, formulated

specially for your houseplants. 100 ml and 300 ml

Complete care for Orchids

Dendrobium, Cymbidium and most popular

The ideal gift for orchid loversHighly concentrated liquid nutrient solutions formulated to the highest standards. The complete feeding programme – recommended by the Eric Young Orchid Foundation. Now in a gift box!

3 x 100 ml and 3 x 500 ml.

The ideal gift for orchid loversHighly concentrated liquid nutrient solutions formulated to the highest standards. The complete feeding programme – recommended by the Eric Young Orchid Foundation. Now in a gift box!

3 x 100 ml and 3 x 500 ml.

For stockists, orchid events and orchid care advice please visit:

Orchid MystThe best way to feed orchids – because it helps to replicate conditions in their rainforest habitat.

74 • OSGBJ 2012, 61(1)

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Open Weekend Saturday 28th Jan & Saturday 25th FebComplimentary refreshments.

AsendorferOrchideenzucht(Registration Number P-DE-1004)

Officially registered and approved CITES nurseryfor breeding Appendix I species. Europe’s leading

nursery for Paphiopedilum species, alsospecialising in Cattleya, Laelia, Phalaenopsis

species and other genera.

We are agents forOrquidario Purpurata Ltda,Brazilian native species.

Visit us atwww.Asendorfer-Orchideenzucht.comand www.paphiopedilumworld.com

Pre-orders can be collected from us at

Peterborough 6th – 8th July 2012Mail or online orders are welcomed for

direct despatch.

Hilmar Bauch, Dipl. Ing.agr.Muhlenstr. Nr 9, Asendorf 27330 Germany

Telephone and fax 0049 4253 8343

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8 Hob Lane, Burton Green, Warwickshire CV8 1QB 02477040337, 07510309646

[email protected] www.chantelle-orchids.com

We will be attending the following shows. Pre-orders are most welcome.

Ye Old Bell Hotel, Barnby Moor 19 Feb Harrogate & District 26 Feb Cheltenham & District 3 March RHS London Orchid Show 16-17 March Birmingham & Midland 25 March Hinckley & District 31 March North East of England 1 April MERLIMONT, France 7-9 April 15th European Orchid Congress 12-15 April Wisley Garden Orchid Show 28 April

Chantelle Orchids (UK) & Hsiang Yu Orchids (Taiwan)

RHS LONDONORCHID & BOTANICAL ART SHOW16 - 17 March 201210am - 5pm

Exclusive Preview Evening15 March 6:30pm - 8:30pm

RHS Horticultural Halls, Westminster Nearest tubes: St James’ Park or Victoria

See and buy sumptuous orchids from the finest British and international growers, and admire stunning works in the largest botanical art show of the year.Entrance: members £5, non-members £8Preview Evening: £12, includes entry on 16th or 17th March

Cypripedium hookerae var. vollanteanum JL Mcfarlane, RHS Lindley Library

Purchase RHS prints online rhs.org.uk/prints

0845 612 1253rhs.org.uk/londonshows

Follow us on @the_rhs /rhslondon

Exclusively for 2012

Enjoy an extensive collection of botanical art from the Hampton Court Palace

Florilegium Society.

76 • OSGBJ 2012, 61(1)

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Ray Creek (Orchids)

7 Jacklin Lane : Luddington :Scunthorpe : DN17 4RB

Exciting list of species & hybrids available.

2 X 1st class stamps appreciated.

Gift orchids from£20,incl. p&p

Quality washed and heat-treatedcoconut husk chips & topspecifications orchid feed instock. Try them, they work !!

Telephone: 01724 798445www.raycreekorchids.com

JUST IN GLASS

Decanters, Mirrors, Plates, Society Trophies, Vases,Wine Glasses (anything in glass!).

A wide range of coloured glass and designs areavailable. The ideal gift for any occasion

from a simple thank you to a glorious Wedding orAnniversary. Other images may be requested

or supplied (non-orchid).

For further information on the range ofdesigns available, please contact:-

Andy Phillips, Just In GlassUnit G2, Bunkers Hill Farm,Rotherwick, Hants RG27 9DA

Tel: 01256 474911 and Mobile 07910 245690E-mail: [email protected]

Commissions welcomed for individual beatenpolished-copper Orchids

15th-17th MarchRHS London Orchid Show6th-9th AprilBelgium Orchilium, Limburg.

12th-15th April15th European Orchid Congress,Budapest

20th-22nd AprilMonte Porzio, Italy

All pre-orders have to be submitted at least28 days prior to the shows.

Visit us atwww.ecuagenera.com

Mr.Roy Barrowis our UK contact, email

[email protected]

RosemannGreenhouses

British made greenhouses built to astandard not a price.

Our Bernhard range is 8’6” highand 8’3” wide.

Available from 6’ to 12’ long.Including 6’ high doors, 2 roofvents, a full width rear shelf and

downpipes.Easy access - opening 4’ wide.If you need a more compact

greenhouse then our Sprite 6’ widerange is built to the same high

standards19, Eastern Green RoadCoventry. CV5 7LGTel: 024 7647 1228

78 • OSGBJ 2012, 61(1)

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Laneside HardyOrchid Nursery

We offer a wide variety of hardyterrestrial orchids from around theNorthern Hemisphere including over

70 cypripediums.

For our on-line shop stock list; details ofevents and talks for 2012 visit

www.lanesidehardyorchids.com

Alternatively contactJeff on 01995 605537 for a currentprice list or place an order by phone.

Laurence Hobbs Orchids LtdBailiffs Cottage Nursery, Hophurst Lane,Crawley Down, W.Sussex RH10 4LN

Tel: 01342 715142 or Mobile 07961 350053Near M25/M23/Gatwick Airport

• For quality Cattleyas, Paphiopedilums, Phalaenopsis, Dendrobiums, Cymbidiums• Also a range of nursery raised and imported species and hybrids

• Many Cattleya hybrids, seedlings and merclones from Carter & Holmes Inc. (USA) forwhom we are the sole UK Agents

Extensive choice, no order too smallPlease send sae and £1 (redeemable) for black/white stock lists and

Carter & Holmes colour brochures

Plants supplied by Mail Order. Visitors welcomeSociety/Group visits catered for, please ring in advance to arrange

Opening Times: Saturday & Sunday: 10am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pmPlease phone first to avoid disappointment

Monday to Thursday: open by appointment onlyClosed Fridays and Bank Holidays

Open Weekend: Saturday 4th & Sun 5th February

When only the best will do !

Sterile, inert, an ideal long-term growingmedium for your orchids.

Easy to handle in re-potting making this asuperb alternative to bark.

Supplied exclusively by award-winningDensyl Orchids.

A free guide to 'Growing Orchids inEpiphoam' with every new order.

Plus a wide range of books available atdiscount prices.

Visit us at www.densylorchids.co.uk orwww.epiphoam.co.uk

or phone

01328 820272

OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 81

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80 • OSGBJ 2012, 61(1)

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Elegant plant supports for the home and garden

Innovative Design

Zip-up and be creative with the shape and support of your orchids using natural canes with our TW2 flexible cane & fittings

And the Pots-up that fits almost anywhere with screws or securing ties to hang 4 to 6 inch plastic pots from their rim and also allowing light into clear pots from all angles.

Enquiries & orders: www.touchwoodtoo.co.uk or call 01702 216940. See them on the web site or call us for details

OSGB Show Diaryincluding Affiliated Societies and International Shows

2012February18 North Bucks OS Spring Show, Flitwick Village

Hall, Flitwick, Bedfordshire, MK45 1HP.11:00 – 16:00Contact: Kate Bellingham, tel: 01234 824882

25 South West OS Show, Village Hall, MonktonHeathfield, Taunton, TA2 8NE. 10:30 – 16:00Contact: Marian Saunders, e-mail: [email protected]

25 Bournemouth OS, Spring Show, AllendaleCommunity Centre, Hanham Road,Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1AS. 12:00–16:30Contact: Chris Broomfield, tel: 07712 479056

26 OS of East Anglia, Spring Show, EatonParish Hall, Colman Road, Norwich, NR4 7AW. 10:00–16:30Contact: Jack Butcher, tel: 01603 466535, e-mail: [email protected]

March3 Suffolk OS Spring Show, St Michael’s

Church Centre, Martlesham Heath, Suffolk,IP5 3UY. 10:00–16:00Contact: Mo Turner, tel: 01473 278310, e-mail: [email protected]

15–17 RHS London Orchid and Botanical ArtShow (preview evening: Thursday 15March, show: Friday 16 and Saturday 17March), website: www.rhs.org.uk

17– RHS Garden Wisley Orchid Event.15 April31 Bristol & West of England OS Annual Show,

Town Hall, 57-59 Broad Street, ChippingSodbury, Bristol, BS37 6AD. 11:00–16:00Contact: Peter Ball, tel: 01275 372147

31 Hinckley & District OS 21st AnniversaryShow, St John’s Church, 351 Coventry Road,Hinckley, Leicestershire, LE10 0NP. 10:00–16:00Contact: Keith Bates, tel: 01455 446793, e-mail: [email protected]

April1 North East of England OS Annual Show,

Bowburn Community Centre, DurhamRoad, Bowburn, Durham, DH6 5AT. 11:00–16:00Contact: Brian Coulson, tel: 0191 420 7329,e-mail: [email protected]

1 West Cornwall OS, Spring Show,‘Blaythorne’ Holman Sports Club,Pendarves Road, Camborne, TR14 7QB.11:00–16:00Contact: Kit Lindsay, tel: 01209 717947, e-mail: [email protected]

7 Solihull & District OS Show, Arden School,Station Road, Knowle, B93 0PT. 11:00–16:00Contact: Martin Ball, tel: 01564 822897,e-mail: [email protected]

12–15 15th European Orchid Congress and Show,SYMA Event Centre, Budapest, Hungary,website: www.eocbudapest.hu/aindex.php

14 Essex Orchid Group, Spring Show, SouthGreen Memorial Hall, Southend Road,Billericay, Essex, CM11 2PR. 13:30 –16:00 Contact: Margaret Dalton, tel: 01702 218533,e-mail: [email protected]

22 CHS Sussex OG Open Spring Show, CrawleyHorticultural Hall, Ifield Avenue, Crawley,RH11 7AJ. Doors open 13:30Contact: Sally Mill, tel: 01293 547896

22 Fenland OS Show, Village Hall, Terrington StClement, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, PE34 4LZ.10:00 –16:00Contact: David Morgan, tel: 01553 767032,e-mail: [email protected]

28 OSGB Spring Show, RHS Garden Wisley.10.30 – 16.00

May5 Devon OS, 37th Annual Show, Elizabeth Hall,

Exmouth, Devon, EX8 2AZ. 10:30−16:00Contact: Nicola Wakley, tel: 01404 850354,e-mail: [email protected]

5−7 Raby Castle Orchid Show, Raby Castle,Staindrop, Darlington, Co. Durham, DL23AH. 11:00−17:00Contact: Maurice Local, tel: 01642 566761email: [email protected]

19 Cambridge OS Show, Great ShelfordMemorial Hall. Woollards Lane, GreatShelford, Cambridge, CB22 5JZ. 10:30–16:30Contact: Peter Johnson, tel: 01279 812704,email: [email protected],website: www.cambridgeorchidsociety.org.uk

22−26 The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, website:www.rhs.org.uk

July6−8 Peterborough International Orchid

Show, East of England Show Ground,Peterborough, website:www.peterboroughinternationalorchidshow.org.uk

September 9 Orchid Show, Josephine Butler College,

Durham University. Contact: Chris Barker, tel: 01642 654748

October21 OS of East Anglia, Autumn Show, Eaton

Parish Hall, Colman Road, Norwich, NR4 7AW.10:00–16:30Contact: Jack Butcher, tel: 01603 466535, e-mail: [email protected]

26–28 25th British Orchid Congress, WrithlingtonSchool, Somerset, website:www.wsbeorchids.org.uk and www.british-orchid-council.info

Services to members

Further Diary Dates can be found via the OSGBwebsite: www.osgb.org.uk and the British OrchidCouncil website: www.british-orchid-council.info/

All articles and photographs in the Journal are the copyrightof the OSGB and the authors, and may not be reproduced inany form without permission.Opinions expressed in the Journal are those of the authors andthey, together with services and products offered by advertisers,are not necessarily endorsed by the Society.The Journal is produced quarterly and is available to members bysubscription only. The annual subscription is £16.00 with £4.00extra for each additional family member at the same address.There is an overseas members’ postage supplement of £4.00 forEurope and £5.00 for rest of world. Junior (under 21) membershipUK only is £12.00. Back issues of the Journal are available (4 issuesper year): £5.00 + p&p £2.50 per year, for the UK.All subscriptions are due on 1 January unless new members havea special arrangement to cover two years. Membership application forms may be obtained from theMembership Secretary.

The OSGB JournalPublished quarterly

MeetingsHeld most months at Napier Hall, 1 Hide Place, (offVincent Street), Westminster, London, SW1P 4NJ.Doors open at 13:30, and unless otherwise stated,introductory session and cultural queries at13:45−14:15 with guest speaker at 14:30.Competitive table show at all meetings. Plants forjudging must be in place by 14:00. Non-competitiveplants are always welcome. Parking is currently freeon Saturdays on single yellow lines (do not park withwheels on the kerb or alongside dropped kerbs) andin Pay & Display bays, but DO NOT PARK in Residents’Parking bays. Meetings at which members may bringplants to sell (with 10% to the Society, please) aremarked with an asterisk (*).

20124 Feb* 13:45 Introductory session: oncidiums

(odontoglossums) and cultural queries

14:30 Speaker: Professor Andy Jones – Growing orchids under lights

3 Mar 13:45 Introductory session: paphiopedilums and cultural queries

14:30 Speaker: Dick Warren – Where orchids grow

7 Apr* 13:45 Introductory session: dendrobiums and cultural queries

14:30 Speaker: Helen Millner – Pleurothallids with special reference to Restrepia

28 Apr 10:30 OSGB Spring Show at RHS GardenWisley in the Glasshouse Gallery

5 May 13:45 Introductory session: ludisias (jewel orchids) and cultural queries

14:30 Speaker: Andrew Bannister – Growing hardy orchids

2 Jun* 14:30 AGM followed by a panel of experts to answer your orchid queries

14 Jul Please note change of date – thisis the 2nd Saturday in the month

Cultural AdviceAvailable at all meetings, or by post from ValMicklewright, 103 North Road, Three Bridges,Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 1SQ (please enclose anSAE for reply) or email: [email protected]

Websitewww.osgb.org.ukThe new-look website has been designed by MarcelKral of Smallfish Designs. The Society’s internet webcontroller, Sam Hurley, will be pleased to receivematerial for the website, [email protected]

LibraryBooks are available by post from the Librarian(address inside front cover of Journal) or can becollected at the monthly meetings. They may beborrowed for up to four weeks. The borrower isasked to pay the outward and return postage. A fulllist of books may be obtained from the Librarian orfound on our website.

DisplaysMembers are invited to bring their plants tocontribute to official displays by the Society at thoseshows shown in bold in the Show Diary, but pleaseliaise beforehand with Displays Manager Val Pugh,[email protected]

82 • OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) OSGBJ 2012, 61(1) • 83

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