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THE GROWER ON CALL FOR NOVEMBER IS LOU REMEIKIS,
892-0263
Growers with internet access are incouraged to
use the Questions and Answers link on
OSA’s web site. The URL for our web site is:
http://welcome.to/orchidsocietyaz
NEXT OSA BOARD MEETING: The next scheduled
Board Meeting will be Sunday,
November 1, 1 p.m. at the home of Joe Freasier
and Wayne Baker, 4417 E. Calle Feliz,
Note: This is a combined BOARD MEETIING and OPEN
GREENHOUSE, and we thank Joe and Wayne for
volunteering to host an open greenhouse. Wayne is
still recuperating from surgery, and it is good
news to learn that he is on the mend.
NEXT OSA SOCIETY MEETING:
The next regular society monthly meeting will be
Thursday, November 5th, 1998, held at the Valley
Garden Center, 1809 N. 15th Ave., Phoenix, Arizona,
(phone 252-2120). The meetng, open to all plant
enthusiasts, will start at 7:00p.m.
Note: The November meeting will include the
election of the 1999 Board of Directors
Web Site
Our meetings and events are now listed with
other non profit organizations at
www.azcentral.com. This site has a link to our OSA
web page which is superbly mastered by our own Jim
Johnson. Visit both when you get a chance.
Keith Mead
NOVEMBER PROGRAM by Norma Kafer
Robert Dressler is our featured speaker for the
November meeting. He and his wife Kerry, live in
Micanopy, Florida where Bob is Adjunct Curator with
the Florida Museum of Natural History at the
University of Florida and Senior Scientist at the
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida
and Co ordinator for the Orchidaceae Section of the
Flora MesoAmericana for the Missouri Botanical
Gardens and associated with several other
universities. As a Botanist, Bob has worked mostly
on orchid classification, on orchid pollination and
on the bees that pollinate many tropical orchids.
Bob was born in the Ozarks and attended a
one room school until he was about 10 when the
family moved to Los Angeles. He attended school
in California, was in the Army (WW II) then
entered college. He speaks Spanish fluently having
worked in Mexico. He met Kerry in Panama where she
was working on the butterflies of Panama. At his
request, she took up photography because he hated
to carry a camera. He promised her all the film
and equipment that she needed, so Kerry took him
up on his offer.
In the past 22 years they have been around the
world several times, and have mostly worked in
Central America and Mexico. They have also worked
in Malaysia, India, Thailand, Australia, New
Guinea, New Caledonia, Columbia, Ecuador and
others!
The Dresslers incorporated their business, Bio
Photo Services, Inc. so that Kerry could produce
computer products and sell them on the internet.
She produced a Screensaver of Costa Rican Orchids
and a CD on Orchids of Coast Rica. Their web site
is http://www.bio photo.com if you want to visit.
They live within 20 acres of Florida forest with
a small orchard; persimmons, mulberries, peaches,
plums, grapes, pears, pecans, citrus, etc. Now we
know where to go for vacation. They don't have a
greenhouse, they keep a few orchids in their home,
but
Bob has a collection or orchids at the
greenhouse at the University of Florida. That
doesn't count the dozens that Bob has found
exploring their estate.
We feel very fortunate to have Bob and Kerry
Dressler as our featured speaker for the November
meeting.
Members are welcome to bring orchids for sale to
others present at the November meeting.
THE OSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR 1998
PRESIDENT -WILELLA STIMMELL 947 - 8479
FIRST V P - LOU ANN REMEIKIS 892 - 0263
SECOND V P - NORMA KAFER 252 - 6197
SECRETARY - JANE HECKEL 839 - 6696
TREASURER - KEITH MEAD 496 - 5762
EDITOR - KEN GETTYS 548 - 9715
TRUSTEES -
ANN CHERNY 948-7944
MARGA LEMAIRE 596-1885
ALSO AVAILABLE AT OUR NOVEMBER MEETING:
OSA'S greeting card designed by Natalie Warford,
will be offered for sale. All boxes of cards which
Keith brought to our October meeting were sold! Our
cards will also be offered for sale at our November
14 & 15 Annual Show, as well as advertised in
the upcoming issue of ORCHID DIGEST and THE
NATIONAL GARDENER, the publication produced by the
National Council of State Garden Clubs. Don't delay
- get your cards before these publications are
circulated throughout the country! Internet surfers
will also find our cards for sale on OSA's web
site.
In Addition: The fir bark order is in!!! Please
call Keith Mead, (496-5762), to place an order and
the 2 cu ft bags, medium or large size pieces of
fir bark, will be brought to the meeting.
CALL FOR HELP
I believe we are going to have a great show and
sale on November 14th and 15th at the Valley Garden
Center. In order for us to make all the wonderful
things we have envisioned become reality we need
your help. Our show set up is scheduled to begin
at 9:30 A.M. on Friday, November 13. If you can
help us all day or a few hours it would be greatly
appreciated. There will be something for everyone
to help with regardless of talent or physical
ability. If you have tropical "props" bring them
along and don't forget your blooming plants. If
you are not able to participate on Friday please
consider helping with staffing during show hours,
refreshments or the Sunday evening dismantling and
clean up.
We have always had excellent member involvement
in this annual event. I know I can count on you.
Call Peggy Stejskal at 957 3951 or Keith Mead at
496-5762 to volunteer.
See you there!
Keith Mead
On September 26h at 6:30 AM, 39 sleepy eyed OSA
members gathered at Sky Harbor's Terminal 4 for the
long awaited OSA annual field trip to the Orchid
Fair held at Quail Gardens and tour of the San
Diego Zoo's orchid greenhouses. There was quite a
display of our new OSA tee shirts and name badges,
which spiked an interest (and envy) from several
travelers bound for other destinations.
When we arrived in San Diego our chartered bus
was waiting to whisk us away to the first
destination (the Orchid Fair at Quail Gardens). The
atinosphere on board the bus was filled with
excitement and anticipation as we approached the
gardens and when Keith Mead and Marga Lemaire
passed out envelopes containing additional orchid
shopping money. As previously described in the
newsletters, the amount of the trip was $115, but
the actual out of pocket amount for OSA members was
only $50 (OSA paid the remaining travel expenses
and fees). WHAT A BARGAIN!
When the bus arrived at Quail Gardens, we
received a royal red carpet by OSA's Shaffer family
(including Ann & Andrew's uncle) and relatives
of Julie Rathbun. OSA's headcount grew from 39 to
46, 41 members + 5 guests.
The SDOF organizers requested that a donation of
non perishable food items be given in lieu of the
customary admission fee to assist the families of
those who have been stricken with AIDS. That
request was met with great generosity. Several OSA
members 'cleaned out their pantries' and brought
extra donations for those of us who forgot. There's
no doubt that the food donations were greatly
appreciated by the recipients.
As the OSA delegation (all 46) walked through
the parking lot to the Orchid Fair area, the pace
of the first timers (including myself) quickened to
an Olympic record sprint after spying early bird
shoppers retuming to their cars with arms laden
with gorgeous specimens. Numerous nurserymen
proudly displayed a wide variety of orchids many
in bloom, which caused several unnamed members who
suffer from a severe case of "Orchiditis" to break
out in a cold sweat and salivate profusely. There
were orchids from A to Z (Ascocendas, Brassavolas,
Cattleyas, ... Zygopetalums). Colors included every
imaginable tone, hue and intensity. I can't
adequately describe the wonderful mixture of
fragrances nor the beautiftil array of colors
displayed by the vendors. 'fhis event must be
experienced first hand to truly appreciate the
memorable sights and intoxicating aromas, as well
as meeting new orchid friends.
As the departure time for the zoo neared,
members were seen wrapping their treasures for the
long joumey home. Armed with bubble wrap,
newspaper, masking tape, boxes and bags the
seasoned veterans helped the first timers wrap,
pack and load. It was reported that several vendors
raced after us, as we loaded the bus, in order to
thank OSA members for attending (especially Peggy
Stejskal and Ashley Schwimmer the big shoppers of
the day). With all aboard the bus, the group
proceeded to the second phase of the field trip
A tour of San Diego Zoo's greenhouses. At the
main entrance of the zoo, Janette Gerrity, the
greenhouse caretaker and orchid volunteers greeted
the OSA delegation and escorted us to the orchid
greenhouses. 'Aussie Dave' an orchid volunteer from
Down Under, (who is a captain aboard a private 190
ft yacht) boasted of over 7000 orchids back home.
The greenhouses are not nonnally open to the
visitors of the zoo and hidden between the African
Kopje and Meerkat exhibits. The zoo serves as an
orchid rescue station for the U S Customs. Each
greenhouse was filled to the brink with many exotic
species. It was quite an impressive collection and
a true honor to be able to view. OSA donated $250
to the San Diego Zoo's orchid greenhouses since the
zoo's admission fee was waved for our special
group.
Later that day, 39 very tired OSA members
hurried to stow the orchids in overhead
compartinents, under seats and any other place
permitted by the flight crew, in preparation for
the flight home. After a brief (4 hour and 17
minute) delay, due to mechanical trouble, our
flight finally took off. Although the flight delay
was inconvenient, OSA members made the best this
situation. We had a great opportunity to visit and
get to know each other a little bit better. It was
surprising to find out that many others share more
things in conunon that just the passion of orchids.
Since the orchids on board the plane were
inconvenienced, Carol in Customer Service at
America West Airlines has arranged for 2 round trip
tickets. These free tickets will be used to fly in
guest speakers at OSA's future meetings.
I am sure that everyone who went on the San
Diego field trip would like to thank all who took
part in planning and arranging this fantastic trip.
THANK YOU!
If you missed this year's field trip, mark your
calendar for this event in 1999.
FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK
Wilella Stimmell
We were pleased to welcome visitors from various
member garden clubs of the Arizona Federation of
Garden Clubs, Kristin Huisinga's parents, and
others to our October 1 meeting. Kristin later
reported that her presentation at our meeting
provided the encouragement she needed to present
her thesis work on Salvias of the Verde Valley, to
general audiences. She also has begun interviewing
Native American elders in the Verde Valley, to
determine how present and earlier generations of
Native Americans might have used Salvia. Thus far
she has interviewed two Hopi elders. In an e-mail
message, Kristin stated: "It (Salvia) was used by
Indians in the past though they probably did not
carry it into the Verde Valley. It was probably
there and was subsequently used by the people
there."
There was a wide variety of orchids and
orchid-related items on our October raffle table.
This is not unusual, but what was unusual this
night was the long line of members and visitors
that formed waiting to buy tickets! There were 11
divisions from possibly the world's largest
Coelogyne plant! The divisions, donated by Dr. John
Atwood, Director of the Orchid Identification
Center, Selby Gardens, Sarasota, Florida, surely
attracted many of the ticket purchasers. Dr.
Atwood's personal orchid collection is "small", and
we are honored that he shared one of his
exquisitely well-grown plants, with us. We know
that the time he has to devote to personal
activities is very limited, and we appreciate the
fact that he used some of that time to divide his
plant for our benefit. John stated that making the
divisions was " a labor of love".
Other generous raffle donations were received
from the family of Bernice Ehrlich, Bob Garelick,
and OSA, and from members: Pearl Bays, Joe Civello,
Joe Freasier, Lou Ann Remeikis, Peggy Stejskal,
Natalie Warford, and me. Thanks to all donors and
ticket purchasers!
Members who were unable to attend our October
meeting, but who would like a copy of the herbarium
specimen preparation booklet prepared by Natalie
Warford for use during the herbarium specimen
preparation portion of our program, are welcome to
request a opy. Special thanks is due Natalie for
preparing the booklet, bringing some of her pickled
specimens to our meeting, and for providing copies
of herbarium specimen sheets for us to use as
examples. Thanks is also due Kristin for bringing
actual herbarium sheets that NAU's herbarium loaned
to her for use in our program.
Many orchid societies are not interested in
making herbarium specimens, yet growers flood the
Orchid Identification Center with requests for
identification of their plants. We hope that now
that we have shown our members how simple it is to
press specimens, that once or twice a year we will
be able to send a collection of herbarium specimens
to OIC. Dr. Atwood, Director of OIC, did not
contain his excitement upon learning that OSA
pressed a Galeandra species during our October
meeting. He stated, "We can use all the Galeandras
we can get!" If any OSA member who grows species
orchids does not wish to personally press a
specimen, we will do it for you! Call any OSA board
member whose phone number is listed elsewhere in
this newsletter! We will press the specimen for
you, but your name will be listed on the note which
accompanies the specimen. Keep in mind that you do
NOT need to sacrifice an entire plant to make a
worthwhile contribution and that living OR dead
species can be pressed! PLEASE DO NOT discard
species orchids that died in your custody! The
information that might have made a significant
contribution to science, would then be lost
FOREVER.
COMMUNITY SERVICE REPORT:
On October 6, we presented five programs to 175
students at the Mensendick School, 5535 N. 67th
Ave., in Glendale. Our first program began at 8:45
a.m. and the fifth and last program ended at 12:30
p.m. The children were 4th, 5th, and 6th grade
students, and they were VERY excited to see our
blooming display plants and to pot the 90
phalaenopsis seedlings which OSA purchased for the
classrooms. Judging from the questions they asked
us about orchids, we think we spotted at least
three potential botanists! The seven OSA members
who volunteered to assist with the programs were in
constant motion from 8:45 to 12:30! After each
program, we hauled our display plants and all
potting supplies to the next classroom. The
children eagerly assisted us during each
relocation; however, our team really had to hustle
to get everything moved so that we could start each
program on time! In assembly-line fashion, we
helped the children create 90 mini-greenhouses from
plastic milk jugs and pot their seedlings. Special
thanks to Shirley Engberg (who ran the risk of
developing carpal tunnel syndrome after writing so
many name tags for the seedlings), Jane Heckel (who
took a day off from work to help with the
programs), Norma Kafer (who took photos during the
programs), Cathy Nelson (who also took a day off
from work to help with the programs), Julie Rathbun
(whose stamina impressed all of us!), and Lou Ann
Remeikis (another member of the team who took a day
off from work to help with the programs). Most of
us were exhausted by the time we packed up our
display plants and headed for home.
Betty Kiwak, one of the teachers at Mensendick
and the person who had set up the schedule for our
"Marathon at Mensendick", stated in an e-mail
message: "I can only guess how exhausted you all
were feeling. Wow! What a success! The children and
teachers greatly enjoyed the programs, and we wish
to thank OSA for their support." Betty had also
arranged for our name to be featured prominently on
the school marquee. We indeed felt "welcome"!
In our on-going record of community services
presented since April, 1995, we list each location,
not the number of programs presented at each
location. Bearing that in mind, our record is
nonetheless very impressive: in less than four
years, forty-two groups located throughout Arizona
have been the beneficiaries of free presentations.
These programs are in addition to all of our other
activities! Those of us who actively participate in
the programs know that our "reward" is the
satisfaction we feel from introducing adults, some
physically and mentally impaired, some not, and
children to the joys of growing orchids.
Those who are unable to actively participate can
take comfort in the fact that the funds we use to
purchase plants for our community service programs,
are taken from OSA's treasury. Our treasury is
healthy thanks to the combined efforts of a large
number of OSA members who help through payment of
membership dues, assist at our displays and sales,
purchase raffle tickets, donate monies and other
items, and freely give of your time and talents.
Our community service is truly a group effort!
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY NEEDS VOLUNTEERS FOR
CREEK
RESTORATION WORK AT RAMSEY CANYON:
Work weekends are: November 21 & 22, 1998;
December 5 & 6, 1998; January 23 & 24,
1999; February 20 & 21, 1999, Time: 10:00
a.m. - 3:00 pm each day Volunteer creek restoration
projects will include salvaging native plants in
areas impacted by construction activities,
deconstructing man-made structures including stone
retaining walls along the creek, and reseeding and
replanting areas disturbed by construction
activities. Volunteers may participate in either or
both of the workdays offered each weekend.
Accommodations with local volunteers might be
possible. Call Terri O'Brien (520) 378-2785 to sign
up or for more details or e-mail Terri at:
terrio@theriver.com
Native orchid populations at Ramsey have
dwindled to the point that they are nearly
non-existent! Mark Pretti, Naturalist at Ramsey,
stated that Thurber's Bog Orchid (Habenaria limosa)
and lemon lillies used to be found growing
side-by-side at Ramsey. The peak bloom time for
Habenaria limosa at Ramsey should have been around
June 20, but this year, he did not see any blooming
orchids and very few lemon lillies. When I visited
Ramsey on a scouting mission in September - to
determine whether an OSA field trip to the Canyon
was possible for next year, I saw a few lemon
lillies in bloom on the bank of a stream, but most
of the vegetation was the non-native, vinca.
Volunteers have worked diligently to rid the Canyon
of the vinca and allow native plants to
reestablish. OSA is a member of The Nature
Conservancy.
ATTENTION SAN DIEGO FIELD TRIPPERS:
At our November meeting, there will be vouchers
available for a discount on a future America West
flight. For those members who have not already
personally requested and received their vouchers,
these vouchers are for you - one per person. The
vouchers are a goodwill gesture by America West -
to compensate us for the inconvenience we
experienced regarding our return flight from San
Diego on September 26. In order to use the voucher,
you will either need the passenger receipt portion
(stub) of your air ticket OR if you discarded it,
you may request the number of your ticket from
Marga. She has all of our ticket numbers on file.
BROWN CITRUS APHID QUARANTINE UPDATE:
I recently received a letter from a commercial
orchid grower located in Sarasota, Florida. In the
letter, the owner of the nursery stated that the
Arizona Department of Agriculture had recently made
him aware of special regulations governing the
shipment of plants into Arizona. For those who
might not know, in 1995, Keith Kelly, Director of
the Arizona Department of Agriculture signed an
Administrative Order placing ALL plant materials
from 5 counties in Florida (Dade, Broward, Collier,
Monroe and Palm Beach) and all of the Hawaiian
islands under Brown Citrus Aphid quarantine. In
November, 1996, OSA's Board of Directors lodged a
formal protest with ADA requesting that the agency
revisit the quarantine issue with the express
purpose of excluding orchids, not a field crop in
Arizona, from the quarantine. No action was taken
by ADA in this regard. In the letter from the
nurseryman, he states: "We do not mind complying
with the agricultural laws of any state or country,
so long as they are reasonable. So far, only Hawaii
and Arizona require a hytosanitary inspection for
each shipment. The inspection is not free, costing
$30. Of course, chemicals and time it takes to dip
the plants are an added the expense, with some
chemicals costing over $100 per pint.
The bottom line is this: We will ship your order
as before, but must secure the phytosanitary
certificate as is required. You must pay for this,
at cost, $30.... Right now, Arizona is going
through a very strict regulatory phase. Several
shipments we have made lately, even though
accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, were
destroyed...due to 'paper work deficiencies'."
One year ago, we noted in our newsletter that
one of our members ordered orchids from a
commercial grower in Florida and that his plants
were returned to the grower because the shipment
lacked the phytosanitary certificate verifying that
the plants had been treated for Brown Citrus Aphid.
We reminded our members at that time that the
quarantine was still in effect and placed the
reminder in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. We hope that the
recent letter from the Florida grower did not
allude to an OSA member! It appears now that even
if a certificate that plants in a shipment have
been treated for Brown Citrus Aphid, IS included,
the plants might be destroyed, or at the very
least, intercepted and inspected by ADA before they
are forwarded to the buyer.
DECEMBER MEETING:
Our Annual December Major Fund-Raising Auction
will soon be here! It's not too early to approach
businesses and request donations of items for our
auction! All donations from businesses are
acknowledged in our January newsletter.
Newer members who might not have heard of this
fun event might like to know that many members have
been gathering items all year long to donate to our
auction. Some members donate plants; others donate
orchid-related items, and all who attend
participate in the party-like atmosphere of a live
auction. Newer members probably would not have
plants to donate, but participation in the friendly
bidding is equally as important as are donations!
We each do what we can - NO PRESSURE! Also, we
encourage all members to bring a finger food for a
greatly-expanded refreshment table. Mark the date
on your calendar: DECEMBER 3! Bring your friends!
EVERYONE WELCOME!
HOT OFF THE PRESS!
Volume V of THE CATTLEYAS AND THEIR RELATIVES:
Brassavola, Encyclia, and Other Genera of Mexico
and Central America, by Carl Withner.
(The Caribbean species of Encyclia were
described in Volume IV, and the South American
species will be included in the sixth and final
volume of the series.) More than 100 species
are described in this volume, and some of them
are extremely rare and known only from a few
herbarium specimens.
Dr. Withner proposes in this volume that two
species presently placed in the genus,
Encyclia, be transferred to a separate new
genus, Euchile. He believes that the work done by
Dr. Robert Dressler, a specialist in the
morphology, classification, and evolution of the
Orchidaceae, and other taxonomic authorities,
supports his proposal.
A copy of this book will be available for
viewing at our November meeting.
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