MEETINGS

PO Box 127 Bribie Island Q 4507

www.bribieislandorchidsociety.com

Patron: Cr. Gary Parsons

President: John Hopgood 54976835

Secretary: Lynnette Hauck 3410 1919

Treasurer: Bernie Schulz 54295649

Editor: John Stokes 3408 9228

Committee Meeting

Held on the first Tuesday of the month. The meeting commences at 1.30 pm at The Bribie Is-

land Bowls Club. This meeting is restricted to Committee members only.

Cultural Meeting

Held on the fourth Tuesday of the month, at The Orchid House, 156A First Avenue, Bribie Is-land. Meeting time is 1.30pm. Plants to be benched by 1.15pm please.

New Growers Meeting

Normally held on the second Saturday of the month. These meetings are held at The Orchid House commencing at 1.30pm.

Bribie Island Orchid Society Bulletin September 2013

Topics/Speakers for next meetings. The next New Growers Meeting on Sat 14th September will begin earlier at 12 noon with a free BBQ at The Orchid House followed by the normal meeting. At this meeting John Stokes will lead a discussion on “How to choose quality orchids when purchasing” using his article on page 11 of this Bulletin as a guide.

At the next Cultural Meeting Judy Carleton will lead a discussion on preparation of plants for our October Show.

(Note-Bulletins can be viewed in colour on our website) Contact Editor John ( phone 3408 9228 email stokes@sillyfrog.com) for more information on any of

above items.

DISCLAIMER While the Executive Committee and the editor of the BIOS Newsletter endeavour to en-sure the accuracy of the content of this Newsletter, neither the editor nor the Executive Committee and members of BIOS can assume any responsibility or liability for the views expressed or information in-

cluded in this Newsletter.

August Cultural Meeting

At our August meeting Mel gave us the benefit of his

many years of growing orchids when he divided and repotted a large cattleya.

Don and Margaret Neldner were presented with Certicates of Appreciation

for their long service on our Committee. Thank you Don and Margaret. Where

would our society be with-out members like these?

Popular Choice Orchid went to Brian and Lois McKane’s Den. Crystal Pink (left).

And Popular Choice Foliage to Jim and June McKinnon’s Selaginella Fern (below).

On the left is Mel’s Rhy. Hirota which was

Judges’ Choice And Margaret and Don receiving their certifi-cates on the right.

August Benching Results

1st (Plant Name) 1st 2nd 3rd

Cattleya

Exhibition Mauve/Pink/Lavender/Purple

C. Arom Powder Puff Z&D Holm Z&D Holm Z&D Holm

Exhibition Other Colour Blc. Burdekin Bells Z&D Holm Z&D Holm Z&D Holm

Miniature or Compact Slc. Dixie Jewels Z&D Holm J. Atkins A&D Sirett

Novelty Blc. Double Buttons ‘Peachcat’ Z&D Holm M&V Anderson Z&D Holm

Cluster Epi. Topaz Glory D&T Walterfang Z&D Holm Z&D Holm

Species C. intermedia J&J Stokes

Dendrobium

Any Other Den. Sailor Boy x Ise (now Crys-tal Pink)

B&L McKane D&T Walterfang B&L McKane

Vandaceous

Under 60mm Ascda. Yeo Geck Bee J&B Hopgood

Other Rhy. Hirota (Chorchalood x re-tusa)

M&F Wheeler M&F Wheeler

Species Rhy. gigantea M&F Wheeler

Phalaenopsis

Any Type Dtps. Han-Ben’s Girl J&B Hopgood Z&D Holm J&J Stokes

Species Phal. amabilis M&F Wheeler

Oncidium

Any other Onc. Robson’s Gold M&F Wheeler M&F Wheeler

Misc Hybrid Ionocidium Popcorn M&V Anderson J&B Hopgood

Miscellaneous

Species Coel. flaccida B&M Elliott B&M Elliott J&B Hopgood

Cymbidium Cym. Pee Wee (madidum x pumilum)

J. Atkins D&M Neldner D&M Neldner

Aust Natives

Species Den. speciosum var. curvicaule B&M Elliott M&V Anderson J&J Stokes

Hybrid Den. Gloucester Sands J&B Hopgood D&T Walterfang J&B Hopgood

Novice

Cattleya Lc. Gold Digger B&C Schulz B&c Schulz

Dendrobium Den. Beautiful Egg B&C Schulz P. Tipping

Foliage

Anthurium M&F Wheeler B&C Schulz D&m Neldner

Ferns Selaginella J&J McKinnon J&J McKinnon D&M Neldner

Bromeliad Vriesea Red Chestnut M&F Wheeler M&F Wheeler M&F Wheeler

Foliage other Red Fire M&F Wheeler B&C Schulz M&V Anderson

Tillandsia D&M Neldner

Popular Vote Orchid– Den. Crystal Pink (B&L McKane) Popular Vote Foliage– Black Caterpillar (J&J McKinnon)

Judges Choice– Rhy. Hirota (M&F Wheeler) Judges– M.Wheeler, T. Davis, J. Carleton, J. Stokes, and B. Elliott (Foliage) Scribe— B. Hopgood

August New Growers Meeting

The pictures tell the story about our last New Growers Meeting. About 45 people turned up to join with John in dividing up his huge specimens of

C. bowringiana, Cym. Burma Star and Cym. atropurpureum, and all the new growers went away with at least one new orchid to add to their collection. Our thanks to John and Bev for their donation.

The pics below will give some idea of what the new owners can expect when their

plants flower. From the left: Cym. atropurpureum Cym. Burma Star (bicolour x aloifolium)

C. bowringiana

MAROOCHYDORE SHOW

Bribie Individual Results M&F Wheeler 2xSecond & 4xThird J&B Hopgood 1xSecond & 1xThird

Our Stand Equal First

Left to right Champion Paph. Neridah, Champion Species V. lamellata, Champion Specimen, Dcm. wenzellii

DATES TO REMEMBER

14th September New Growers BBQ, commencing 12 noon, prior to normal

meeting.

24th September Cultural Meeting

1st October Committee Meeting

6-7 September Nambour Show

20-21 September Noosa Show

21-22 September Eastern Districts Orchid Show

27-28 September Glasshouse Show

5th October Bus Trip to Pirates of Penzance

12-13 October BIOS Show

26th October “Beginning with Orchids” Day at Rollin Farms and Orchid

Nursery

1-2 November Nambour Species Show

5th November Melbourne Cup Function in Orchid House

9-10 November Pumicestone Show

26th November BIOS Xmas Party

News /Notices

Cultural Tip for the MonthCultural Tip for the MonthCultural Tip for the MonthCultural Tip for the Month

If you’re not having much luck with Bulbophyllums this tip from Jeff Morris (a grower in Virginia USA) courtesy of Bill Thoms might be worth a try.

1. Take a wire hanging basket with the normal coco fibre liner. Wire the liner to the basket to prevent it falling out. Then turn it upside down. Or turn it upside down first and secure the liner to the crown outside.

2. Place some sphagnum moss on the crown with plant on top and then also secure it

to the basket with wire or similar. The coco liner will help to retain a moist environment for the plant and the upside down

basket also provides a mounded environment which is open underneath to improve air circulation and afford better light to the bulbs.

Sheila Wilson Trophy Explained At our August Cultural Meeting Secretary Lynn spoke on the criteria for the “Sheila Wilson Memorial Trophy” to be awarded for “Outstanding Service to the Bribie Island Or-chid Society Inc.” This is a trophy which is to be voted on by all financial club members at each Cultural

Meeting. Voting papers will be handed to each member who wishes to vote but it is not compulsory. Votes will be placed in a sealed container and kept by the Secretary. The last vote taken will be in May of each year and the trophy and replica will be presented at the AGM. As this is a secret vote, two members from the club will count

these votes, get the trophy and replica engraved and it will be presented (with nobody knowing the result) until it is presented at the AGM. The winner of the trophy will be ineligible to compete again for two years. Subsequent winners will be ineligible to

compete for this trophy for a period of two years after which, nominations may be made for them by members wishing to do so.

New Member Chris Wiskar spotted this Bonnet Orchid (Cryptostylis erecta) on the

recent annual wildflower walk and believes it is the first time found on Bribie! Sharp eyes Chris!

Our Treasurer Bernie and Joan Harrison presenting a cheque for $1000 to the

Secretary of The Bribie-Moreton Hospice, Maree Cunningham.

News /Notices continued

Melbourne Cup and Christmas Party

It's that time of the year again when we are starting to think about Melbourne Cup and Christmas parties. On the Tuesday, the 5th November we will be having our regular Melbourne Cup luncheon plus sweeps and fashion parade with lots of fun (Cost for mem-bers only $10). Organise to bring family, friends and neighbours along for this wonderful

day, you can contact Diann or Allan Sirett on 34081130 for further information and book-ings. The Christmas party is 26th November it will be held at Bluey's hotel, North St, Woorim.

We have a rolling raffle where we all bring something nice that we would like to take home for ourselves (suggested value $5 to $10). This is open to all club members including new people. Cost will be $10 members and $25 non-members. Just keep these dates in your

diary. To book we need names and numbers to Diann or Allan.

This Oncidium (Onc. Robsan’s Gold), belonging to Mel, won

Show Champion at the recent Pine Rivers Show. Well done Mel. Some members may also remember seeing it on the bench

at our last Cultural Meeting.

The Champions’ Table at the Gold Coast

Show visited by our bus trippers. Show Champion was Ascda. Su-Fun

‘Sunrise’ on the left of photo with that long inflorescence.

Next Orchidfest

Booking confirmed for the 2016

Diamond Festival of Orchids to be held at the Lake Kawana Community Centre on Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th June 2016. Set

up will be Friday 10th June.

More News

Look who turned up to view the Impressive array of blooms at The

ANOS/KABI National Show and

Conference.

Now this is what I call Floribunda! Merv

and Val’s Petrea (not an orchid).

From John and Bev “This Speciosum had 52 spikes & is

over 50 years old and is at 32 Wattle Street Bongaree Home of Kathleen Griffin. We dispatched 8 dendrobium

beetles for her. She has two pieces of brick that she uses to kill them.” That’s what you call a speci-

men!

More News

Name Changes within the Vanda Alliance The Orchid Hybrid Registration Advisory Group has advised following intergeneric name changes within the Vanda Alliance. Ascocenda (Ascda.) {Ascocentrum x Vanda} becomes Vanda (V.) Aeridicentrum (Aerctm.) {Aerides x Ascocentrum} becomes Aeridovanda (Aerdv.)

Ascofinetia (Ascf.) {Ascocentrum x Neofinetia} becomes Vanda (V.) Kagawaara (Kgw.) {Ascocentrum xRenanthera x Vanda} becomes Renantanda (Rntda.) Mokara (Mkra.) {Arachnis x Ascocentrum x Vanda} becomes Aranda (Aranda) Neostylis (Neost.) {Neofinetia x Rhynchostylis} becomes Rhynchostylis (Rhy.)

Rhynchocentrum (Rhctm.) {Rhynchostylis x Ascocentrum) becomes Rhynchovanda (Rhv.) Vascostylis (Vasco.) {Ascocentrum x Rhynchostylis x Vanda} becomes Rhynchovanda (Rhv.) (Thanks to Caloundra Society for this information contained in their newsletter)

New Members A big BIOS welcome to our new members: Avril Belcher from Glasshouse Mountains. Emma Hall from Bray Park Aileen O’Connor from Bongaree

Carol Cheneval from Woorim

Committee News Your Committee is listening! Following suggestions received, in future we will be purchasing good quality plants from a local nursery for raffle prizes.

BIOS Spring Show is almost upon us. Only 5 weeks to go! If you want to offer your services now is the time to contact

our Show Organiser Judy Carleton.

Orchid Buying Guide

One of our new members recently asked “How do I determine the quality/benching potential when buying a new orchid?” A very good question!

Let me make a few suggestions: Firstly I would suggest you always try to buy from a reputable grower or nursery and ask them about the quality of the plant you are considering. If you are considering buying from the big retail stores (eg Bunnings/Masters/Kmart/BigW) you will mainly see available Cymbidiums and

Phalaenopsis. At least these plants will be in flower but beware. The cymbidiums mostly come from southern cooler climate nurseries and may not flower again in our area. The phalaenopsis also come from large wholesale nurseries but in this case the problem is not that they may not flower again so much as the quality of the flowers. These nurseries breed mainly for colour and

rapid growth under controlled environment conditions. They are not particularly concerned with shape. This doesn’t mean that you won’t sometimes find a flower with good shape but usually they do not label these plants with the grex name. Plants with unknown heritage can be benched

at shows (but not awarded) but most keen hobbyists like to know the breeding, particularly if they intend to breed themselves. Generally speaking when starting out with orchids it is best to choose fewer, but better quality (and possibly dearer) plants. Also if you start out with mature (ie flowering or near flowering size) you won’t have to wait so long. There are two good nurseries

close to Bribie (Aranbeem and Trost) and others from further afield who attend our shows. Also of course our own members sell their excess stock or divisions at our shows and you can usually talk to the member to enquire about quality.

Secondly

If the plant you are considering is in flower this is a considerable advantage as you can then assess the quality, if necessary with the help of an experienced member or the grower himself. If it is not in flower pay particular attention to the label. In the case of hybrids some crosses are

well known to produce quality flowers. Others will be more risky. Particular clones or cultivars of a cross may be better (and quite different in appearance) than others so again check the label for these. They will be written after the hybrid cross or grex (registered hybrid name) with single quotes (eg ‘Starfighter’). These clonal/cultivar names are given by the grower and are not

registered. Species orchids will also often have cultivar or clonal names for particularly good quality breeding or varietal names for a distinctive race within a species. (eg Den. speciosum var. grandiflorum

‘Robyn’ x ‘Foxtail’ ). Also on the label look out for an indication that the particular clone has received a quality award which will be indicated by either HCC/AM/FCC after the name. This will be a good indication of quality (but not a guarantee).

Finally you may also see on the label an indication of the number of chromosomes (ploidy) indi-cated by the number followed by an ‘n’ (eg 3n, 4n, 6n). This breeding is done to improve the quality/strength/size of plants and flowers but be aware that plants with 3 chromosomes will be

sterile and you will be unable to breed from them.

Thirdly

Be aware of the general criteria used by judges in determining quality.

Once you have a general idea it is advisable to attend some orchid shows and study the winners in each class to try to determine why they were chosen by the judges over other plants in their class.

In judging orchids out of 100 points, one third goes to shape, one third to colour quality (no particular colour is preferable) and one third to everything else (eg size, flower count, substance, arrangement). Benchmark improvements (appreciation judging) will also be taken into account in award judging.

Especially in the case of species the judges often have to rely on prior knowledge and benchmarks (possibly photographic) for comparison.

An example of an orchid label with the lot could be:

Lc. Angel Heart ‘Hihimanu’ (4n) AM/AOC

Please note that this article was written by The Editor and contains his, and only

his, views.

Orchid Buying Guide (cont.)

What the judges are looking for

There are general criteria covering shape, colour, floriferousness, arrangement,

substance, size etc and specific criteria for the various genera. It is suggested that new growers when selecting plants to purchase bear in mind the following general criteria which would be a good starting point. Of course the plant being considered will have to be in flower at the time.

Shape (one-third)

Circular in outline with rounded tips Flat or slightly concave Symmetrical

Overlapping segments (no gaps) (some major exceptions to this eg. Oncidium, spatulata/intermediate dens, bulbophyllums, many species). Sepals and petals wide, flat, not furled or quilled, reflexed backwards or hanging forward

Labellum fully visible, not jutting forward excessively Colour and texture (one-third) should be clear, glistening, and well-defined. Texture lustrous and without blemish. Other (one-third)

For example

Substance-a measure of strength or solidity of segments Arrangement-flowers arranged on stem to present to their best advantage

Floriferousness/size-many good size flowers is ideal but a lesser number of very large flowers or abundance of slightly smaller flowers is equally acceptable. Below are some examples of Cattleya, Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, Vandaceous and Phalaenanthe dendrobium showing desirable shape attributes.

Reflection

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.

Later, when the nurses were going through his meagre possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital. One nurse took her copy to Melbourne. The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since ap-

peared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem. And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.

Cranky Old Man What do you see nurses? . . .. . .What do you see? What are you thinking .. . when you're looking at me?

A cranky old man, . . . . . .not very wise, Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . .. with faraway eyes? Who dribbles his food .. . ... . . and makes no reply. When you say in a loud voice . .'I do wish you'd try!'

Who seems not to notice . . .the things that you do. And forever is losing . . . . . .. . . A sock or shoe? Who, resisting or not . . . ... lets you do as you will,

With bathing and feeding . . . .The long day to fill? Is that what you're thinking?. .Is that what you see? Then open your eyes, nurse .you're not looking at me. I'll tell you who I am . . . . .. As I sit here so still,

As I do at your bidding, .. . . . as I eat at your will. I'm a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother, Brothers and sisters .. . . .. . who love one another A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. with wings on his feet

Dreaming that soon now . . .. . . a lover he'll meet. A groom soon at Twenty . . . ..my heart gives a leap. Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.

At Twenty-Five, now . . . . .I have young of my own. Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home. A man of Thirty . .. . . . . My young now grown fast, Bound to each other . . .. With ties that should last.

At Forty, my young sons .. .have grown and are gone, But my woman is beside me . . to see I don't mourn. At Fifty, once more, .. ...Babies play 'round my knee,

Again, we know children . . . . My loved one and me. Dark days are upon me . . . . My wife is now dead. I look at the future ... . . . . I shudder with dread. For my young are all rearing .. . . young of their own.

And I think of the years . . . And the love that I've known. I'm now an old man . . . . . . .. and nature is cruel. It's jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool. The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigour, depart.

There is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart. But inside this old carcass . A young man still dwells, And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells

I remember the joys . . . . .. . I remember the pain. And I'm loving and living . . . . . . . life over again. I think of the years, all too few . . .. gone too fast. And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.

So open your eyes, people .. . . . .. . . open and see. Not a cranky old man . Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. .... . ME!!

That’s all folks.

Return AddressReturn Address

Bribie Island Orchid SocietyBribie Island Orchid Society

P.O. Box 127P.O. Box 127

Bribie Island QLD 4507Bribie Island QLD 4507