Tidewater Orchid Society Newsletter

June 2005

Meeting:  June 5th at 4:00 p.m. at Botanical Gardens Picnic Area.
 Pot Luck Dinner.  Bring a dish to share.  Drinks and paper products will be provided.  If this is your first picnic, you might want to bring some lawn chairs.  Meeting will consist of installation of new officers, tram ride, dinner and member plant auction.

President's Message:

This will be my last message as president.  I want to thank the board, committee chairs, and members for all their support and hard work for the last two years.  I know that we will be in good hands with our new officers and I know that you will continue to give them your support.

Special thanks goes out to Arthur Kaplan and all his crew for a great auction.  They did a wonderful job.  What a spirited meeting with lots of beautiful plants and eager bidders.  TOS made $3,456.20 profit on the auction.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the picnic.

Joanne Bryan

ATTENTION:

            If you have an orchid in bud or bloom you would like to donate as a door prize contact Cindy Adair at aladair@cox.net. She will gladly accept any donation and all plant, regardless of bloom status, are welcome and appreciated.

Web Page

Jon Herrell has redesigned our web page.  The new site is http://www.mycommunityis.com/tos.  Please take a moment to check it out. He will also be posting the current month's newsletter. Just click on the tab for the newsletter.  If you would like prefer getting the newsletter online or in e-mail after checking the website, you can email Jon or let Charles Rhodes know.  We'll be able to save money on paper and postage.

If you click on the site http://www.mycommunityis.com/tos Jon will get your email address and he can generate an email list so we can send the newsletter to you when it is ready.

CONSERVATION NEWS

Did you notice how late the cypripediums (both pink and yellow) are appearing this year?  Usually by this time the pinks are nearly finished flowering.

For those who have received the Calapogon, a single strap leaf should appear when the weather gets warm.  Initially it looks like a blade of grass, so be careful.  Then a long spike will grow and one or more flowers will come into bloom at the end of June.  It likes moist soil (but with good drainage) and full sun.

The questionairre for the Sprianthes cernua var. odorata will be due at the September meeting, or you may opt to email or mail me the information.  I still haven't received all the questionnaires for the putty root or rattlesnake plantain and would appreciate receiving those outstanding at any time (soon).  For your convenience, a blank questionnaire begins below.

Allan Zuckerwar

Conservation Chair

TIDEWATER ORCHID SOCIETY

Conservation Committee

Questionnaire on cultivation of native orchids

Plant identification ________________________________________________________

Growing conditions

General environment (wooded area, edge of woods, lawn, near water, garden area, slope,etc.):

____________________________________________________________________________

Soil (clay, humus, sandy humus, sand, limestone, etc.):

____________________________________________________________________________

Light (deep shade, partial shade, speckled light, full sunlight for ____ hours)

Summer ________________________________ Winter ______________________________

Moisture (dry, moist, variable, soggy):

____________________________________________________________________________

Natural leaf litter (pine or hardwood):

____________________________________________________________________________

Culture

Bed preparation:

____________________________________________________________________________

Watering (none, weekly, biweekly, occasionally, etc.):

____________________________________________________________________________

Fertilizer if any (type, dose, and frequency, includes lime):

____________________________________________________________________________

Protection against predators if any (rocks, cages, etc.):

____________________________________________________________________________

Results

Number of years after planting ________________

Description (none, foliage, flower.  Provide details of flower):

____________________________________________________________________________

Comments:

____________________________________________________________________________

Name and Date:

____________________________________________________________________________

                                                                                                                                            9/2002