newsOne major challenge to the COC continues to be communication. Yes, we have an excellent web site designed by Steve Saunders (OS of Nova Scotia), and yes, we have a handsome Newsletter, yet even with e-mail and fax and telephone and conventional mail, we still do not have that ideal, a vibrant communication network between member societies. Communication is gradually improving. Jerry Bolce (Central Ontario OS), as incoming Newsletter Editor, will have some novel approaches to share with us but he cannot do his job without news!!
Thanks go to Malcolm Adams (Eastern Canada OS) for his effort and endurance over the past several years to bring newsletters to you. It is not an easy task considering that every gem of information must be pried from the source. Share your newsy gems be they diamonds, rubies or emeralds. They have great value to us all. Each COC member society owes it to all 24 other COC members to communicate news promptly to the Newsletter Editor by mail, telephone or e-mail Jerry Bolce <jerry@uwaterloo.ca>. Jerry will circulate this news in the Newsletter, maintain our mailing list up-to-date, keep the executive informed of changes in COC representatives, executive members, etc. and assist Steve in keeping the COC webpage current. Jerry and your COC executive need your help to succeed in serving you well.
Lynne Cassidy has some excellent ideas about developing regional communication groups to facilitate the gathering and sharing of news, visiting speakers and group plant orders. We welcome further ideas as to how to best accomplish it.
In April 1999, the orchid world will be coming to Vancouver, Canada for the 16th World Orchid Congress. I sincerely hope that every society will have at least one full delegate to the conference, hopefully many more. This event gives every Canadian hobbyist an unique opportunity to see a wide array of orchids from other countries, to listen to over 70 speakers on a wide range of orchid-related topics such as Phalaenopsis, Disas and Odontoglossums, and to purchase plants all within the Canadian context.. The conference theme is conservation. Every COC society is urged to contribute an entry to the conservation poster competition. The COC AGM will be held on Sunday, May 1. I ask that your society try to be represented at this meeting held in the context of this unique Canadian orchid experience. See you there!
Marilyn Light mlight@uottawa.ca
President, Canadian Orchid Congress
Hails from: Montreal, QC with some time spent in Barbados, WI and southern Ontario before settling in Hull, QC in 1980.
Member: Eastern Canada OS, Ottawa OS, Barbados OS, AOS, and OrchidSafari; Garden Writers Association of America.
Writes articles for: The Orchid Review, Orchids Australia
Recent Accomplishments: Author: Growing Orchids in the Caribbean - Macmillan. Leads an orchid conservation study group on the Web as part of Orchid Safari http://www.orchidsafari.org/.
Began growing orchids: In Barbados, in 1970, after having read The Golden Guide to Orchids and having visited an orchid show.
Favourite orchid in my collection: Paph. F.C. Puddle FCC/RHS
If space were not an issue, I would collect: Semi-alba Laeliocattleyas
Has registered Hybrids: C. Fruit Salad, Lc. Memoria Evelyn Light, C. Doctorbird, Epc. Melon Surprise, Masd. Dainty Miss, Odnta. Warbler, Cstm. Frances Smith, Mtdm. Cool Stars, and several more in the pipeline.
Orchid Passion: Seeing a hybrid seedling bloom for the first time then pondering on what to name the grex. (Often a name comes to mind in an instant, other times the process can take months)
Occupation: I work with the Professional Training Service, University of Ottawa, to organize customized short courses for scientists and engineers.
Research: Like Thoreau, I go to the woods to find out what it has to teach. "I am of the land. My feet are rooted in the deep, rich earth...ML". For the past 15 years, I have been conducting a population study of the alien orchid, Epipactis helleborine. Some wonder what value a common, even weedy, orchid could have yet I have found that it has quite a lot of secrets to divulge. I had tried, at first unsuccessfully, to raise this orchid from seeds but recently discovered the problem lay more with my choice of plant and even capsule than in having the correct germination protocol. This discovery led to a description of germination polymorphism occurring in the Orchid Family. A parallel study of Cypripedium pubescens has led to the development of a model by which we can identify superior seed and pollen parents in a wild population. This model has been successfully applied to Cyp. montanum and Cyp. reginae.
My views on conservation: "I remember a Yellow Lady's-slipper blooming all alone in a forest doomed and done. ML" When I was 12, living on the Island of Montreal, I saw my first wild orchid and in that same year witnessed it and its habitat destroyed in the face of housing development. I remember thinking of the younger children in those new houses, never having the opportunity to see what I had seen, the orchid, the newts, the bittern, the killifish - unless they travelled a great distance to do so.
We cannot preserve nature. It is ever-changing, even more so in the face of human population growth and development. We can, however, preserve knowledge, we can learn while we still have that opportunity, and pass on that knowledge to future generations. Conservation is defined as making wise use of a resource. We cannot re-create the past but we can develop a legacy for the future. "Must we forget, forever yearn. Memories exist for us to learn. ML"
Sport: Orienteering (and noting wild treasures along the way)
Pastime: Writing poetry
INTRODUCTION
During the 1997-98 period, there was activity in several areas including:
ACTIVITIES
The committee is a loosely structured entity. Joyce and Allan Reddoch (Ottawa O.S.) have acted as expert resource persons in interventions on behalf of habitat conservation initiatives. Members-at-large include conservation representatives of C.O.C. member societies such as Shirley Follen, (Kingston O.S.) who is actively supporting collaborative conservation work with a sister society.
CITES regulations and WAPRRITA regulations
The process of regulatory development has finally begun and is planned to progress in stages over the next year. We continue to lobby for regulations that will favour both conservation initiatives and hobbyists across Canada. The 1998 consultations addressed in particular the proposed procedures for the disposition of seized live species orchids.
C.O.C. Conservation Policy
At the 1997 Annual meeting, the following policy was adopted by member societies. Affiliated C.O.C. orchid clubs and their members are committed to actively engage in conservation.
Conservation of native orchids and their habitats
Bud Ewacha, Manitoba, has been pushing for an environmental assessment of a project involving a proposed well which could threaten a wetland located northeast of Winnipeg. He reports that despite his efforts, a test well is planned. Earlier this year, he, as an individual, and other conservationists, founded the Native Orchid Conservation Inc. with the aim to focus efforts on preserving the wetland and the orchids it supports. We await more news about this venture.
The Kingston and Ottawa O.S. have teamed to restore a grid at the Purdon Conservation Area, Ontario before conducting a population survey of the Showy ladyslippers which grow there in profusion. The last survey was conducted in 1985. Not only have 19 members volunteered their time but the clubs have underwritten the expense for permanent grid markers.
Conservation of orchids in collections
Marilyn Light, Ottawa O.S. and E.C.O.S., has for the past 16 months been making monthly synchronous and asynchronous presentations about orchid conservation to an international group of interested hobbyists under the OrchidSafari banner. The text of many of these presentations is being made available to all C.O.C. member societies through a publication, "Discussion Topics in Orchid Conservation". To assist those who might wish to reproduce any article, the text is also being provided in several different formats on diskette.
For more information about OrchidSafari and how you can participate, please contact: http://www.orchidsafari.org/
Archives of presentations together with transcripts of the interactive discussions which followed may be accessed at the same site: http://www.orchidsafari.org/
Conservation Survey
A survey form was circulated at the 1997 Annual meeting but only a few were completed and returned. We are circulating the same questionnaire as part of the orchid conservation booklet in hope that it may be used locally to assess concerns and to focus effort.
Slide Program
The last few slides are presently being copied for our use. We thank Kevin Tipson (S.O.O.S.) for his efforts locating and photographing some rarely seen species and forms. The first slide program should be ready for circulation in 1999.
Conservation Award
A letter was sent to all member Societies informing them of the second Conservation Award contest yet we regret that there were no submissions this year. We urge societies to make a poster presentation of their conservation project at the W.O.C. next year as this will be the basis for the 1999 competition. It is not too late to reserve poster space but this should be done soon.
CONCLUSIONS
We applaud those individuals and clubs whose efforts have made a positive impact on the conservation of either native or tropical orchids. You do make a difference! We look forward to recognizing Society efforts through the Conservation Award.
Marilyn Light - Chairperson
Willy Heffner, 106 Roehampton Ct, Kitchener ON, N2A 3K8, 519-894-3255, willyhef@golden.net, Central Ontario Orchid Society
Bernie Huizing, PO Box 948, Coalhurst AB, T0L 0V0, 403-381-0303, Chinook Country Orchid Society
Bob Tooze, 200 Stewart Street, Comox BC, V9M 2T5, 250-339-4465, rtooze@mars.ark.com, Central Vancouver Island Orchid Society
Evelyn Shursen, PO Box 909, Blackfalds AB, T0M 0J0, 403-742-4288, David Thompson Orchid Society
Malcolm Adams, 699 rue Cardinal, St-Hilaire QC, J3H 3Z5, 450-467-4795, madams@sympatico.ca, Eastern Canada Orchid Society
Kenneth J. Girard, 630 Third Avenue N.W., Calgary AB, T2N 0J1, 403-283-6013, girard@ucalgary.ca, Foothills Orchid Society
Lynne Cassidy, 16077 16th Avenue, Surrey BC, V4A 1S3, 604-536-8185, Fraser Valley Orchid Society
Norma Henry, 303 Meadowcrest Road, Kingston ON, K7M 3S4, 613-389-0357, Kingston Orchid Society
Debra Nielson, 62 Bexhill Drive, London ON, N6E 1X2, 519-682-6769, London Orchid Society
Judy Browne, 868 Oakdale Drive, Winnipeg MB, R3R 1A3, 204-888-2656, brown0@ibm.net, Manitoba Orchid Society
Roseanne Kielley, 9 Hutton Road, St John's NF, A1A 2A6, 709-753-4402, kielley@newcomm.net, Newfoundland Orchid Society
Mario Ferrusi, 1129 Cream Street S., R.R.#5, Fenwick ON, L0S 1C0, 905-892-4187, marshhlw@niagara.com, Niagara Region Orchid Society
Eugene Banziger, 422 Okaview Road, Kelowna BC, V1Y 7R3, 250-764-0221, Okanagan Orchid Society
Marilyn Light, 174 Jolicoeur, Hull QC, J8Z 1C9, 819-776-2655, mlight@uottawa.ca, Ottawa Orchid Society
Rod Merz, 527 Pardee Bay, Edmonton AB, T5T 5Y9, 403-460-1283, rmerz@telusplanet.net, Orchid Society of Orchid Society of Alberta
Phil Norris, 18 Partridge Road, Renforth NB, E2H 2V2, 506-847-0417, Orchid Society of New Brunswick
Jean Forsey, 112 Russell Street, Dartmouth NS, B3A 3H6, 902-463-8954, Orchid Society of Nova Scotia
Annette Bagby, 172 Donnelly Dr, Mississauga ON, L5G 2M4, 905-274-6989, bagby@tht.net, Orchid Society of The Royal Botanical Gardens
George Malish, 286 Magee Crescent, Regina, SK, S4R 6K9, 306-775-2271, Regina Orchid Society
Peter Poot, PO Box 241, Goodwood, ON, L0C 1A0, 905-640-5643, sonja.poot@sympatico.ca, Southern Ontario Orchid Society
Janet Lee, 210 Bronson Way, Saskatoon, SK, S7J 5E2, 306-374-5634, jjl@shaw.wave.ca, Saskatchewan Orchid Society
Marjorie Disher, #210 - 1840 - 160th Street, White Rock BC, V4A 4X4, 604-538-3592, Vancouver Orchid Society
Noreen Taylor, 1312 Dunsterville Ave., Victoria, BC, V8Z 2X1, 250-478-0610, Victoria Orchid Society
Bernie Butts, 1187 Wyandotte Street East, Windsor, ON, N9A 3K4, 519-254-7738, aegaeon@mnsi.net, Windsor Orchid Society
Chris Sims, 228 - 15th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 4V8, 204-727-4509, Westman Orchid Society
In 1999, the competition entries will be in a POSTER FORMAT and displayed in conjunction with the World Orchid Congress and COC meeting in Vancouver. We hope that you will be able to participate and have your conservation project poster viewed by international delegates.
The standard size of the poster will be 28" x 44" (70 cm x 112 cm). Organizers must know immediately if you plan to stage a larger poster. If you plan to attend the conference, you may submit the poster on April 25/26 for staging. If you are not able to attend the conference, you may mail the poster to reach the organizers no later than four weeks before the conference begins.
WHAT ARE THE COMPETITION RULES?
What does your orchid society/club do for conservation? Tell us about your project involving native or tropical orchids. The project may be selflimiting or ongoing. The more member involvement in a project, the better the chance of your society entry of winning this annual award.
This competition is limited to current member societies of the Canadian Orchid Congress.
CONSERVATION PROJECTS can be:
The above are just a few suggestions of what might be possible. Your original approach is welcomed. Conservation is everybody's business.
JUDGING CRITERIA
TOPIC 25 points
Is the topic relevant to the conservation theme? Does (do) the topic(s) chosen lead to a higher degree of awareness or practical understanding of the conservation of orchids? The conservation project may involve tropical or temperate orchids.
EFFORT 40 points
Has the entrant expended more than the standard time and effort on the project(s)? Is (are) the Project(s) a collective effort and has this been adequately documented? Points should reflect the degree to which the conservation project is a group effort although not all members of the group must have contributed the same effort. i.e., some may give in kind, others in labour.
CREATIVITY 35 points
The topic does not have to be new, however, if a familiar topic has been chosen, the approach should be fresh and innovative. The project should foster a new awareness within the society and/or in the public domain.
PRIZE: Cdn $100 as a gift certificate towards the purchase of books for the winning Society library. A framed Certificate. The winner will be announced at the COC Annual General meeting in Vancouver.
TO ENTER:
PREPARE A POSTER OUTLINING YOUR PROJECT
RESERVE a poster space and REQUEST an abstract form from Paula Keeler.
SEND the completed original abstract to:
Paula Jean Keeler
1611 North State St.
Bellingham WA 98225 USA
e-mail: lkpk@pacificrim.net
SEND a copy of the abstract to:
Marilyn Light
174 Jolicoeur St, Hull, QC
J8Z 1C9
e-mail: mlight@uottawa.ca
Foothills Orchid Society
Fraser Valley Orchid Society
Manitoba Orchid Society
Niagara Region Orchid Society
Orchid Society of Nova Scotia
Orchid Society of the Royal Botanical Gardens
Regina Orchid Society
Southern Ontario Orchid Society
and a commercial donation from
Brookside Greenhouses Ltd.
Lynne Cassidy
Chairman W.O.C. Trophy Committee
Paph. callosum comes in several colour forms, green which lacks red or anthocyanin pigment, coloratum with various degrees of flushing of red pigment on the floral segments and vinicolors which have intense concentrations of the red pigment so that the resultant flower may appear dark purple to blackish and presents very little, if any, white in the dorsal sepal.
Notably two darkly coloured Paph. callosum strains appeared in the late 60's. One of these Paph. callosum 'Sparkling Beauty' was a jungle collected plant and its progeny, obtained by selfing, became an important source of vinicolor forms. The other strain arose from Paph. callosum 'JAC' whose parental origins are obscure. The appearance of these strains set off a virtual breeding frenzy with attempts to improve on the form and, in the search for novelty, vinicolors were crossed with a wide variety of other Paphiopedilum species. Desirable crosses, and particularly awarded clones, demanded extremely high prices in the thousands of dollars. Dreams of achieving the elusive black orchid were rampant and still are today.
Paph. callosum 'Sparkling Beauty' FCC/91 had warts on the upper edge of narrow petals, a characteristic twist in dorsal sepal and recurving of its lateral margins-- all of which are characteristic of callosum and, with the exception of the warts, are considered flaws nowadays. Today, if 'Sparkling Beauty' appeared on the judging scene and, if there had been no vinicolor development as yet, it would probably receive a JC for colour. We have certainly reset our standards since this was awarded in 1969.
Paph. Maudiae, a cross between Paph. callosum and Paph. lawrenceanum was registered in 1900 by Charlesworth and Co. and now exists in all three colour phases. Using vinicolor Paph. callosum, more modern breeding has been able to incorporate intense wine red coloration in the progeny. Some examples include: Paph. Maudiae 'Ebony Queen' FCC/90 (AQ 13/117), Paph. Maudiae 'Kozac' HCC/76 which has warts on both the upper and lower edges of the petals--the upper warts from Paph. callosum, and the lower warts from Paph. lawrenceanum as well as more horizontal petal stance, Paph. Maudiae 'Pitch Black' HCC/75 a cross of Maudiae x Maudiae with a natural spread of 12.1 cm, (AQ 27/129), Paph. Alma Gevaert (Paph. lawrenceanum x Maudiae) 'Great Hawaiian' HCC/77, (AQ 28/205), and Paph. Alma Gevaert 'Fox Valley' HCC/78 (AQ 23/241)
The early crosses gained in colour intensity but lacked size. To enhance size, two tactics can be employed -- increase in ploidy and crossing to larger forms. Increase in ploidy using colchicine can result in larger plants with larger flowers but the growing time to maturity is increased and the plants may be reluctant breeders. To commercial growers, these are serious disadvantages. In 1992 there was a report of a very large, possibly polyploid, Paph. Onyx 'Gargantua' in the AOS Bulletin (it was the Bulletin then). The article erroneously reported the natural spread as 8.2 x 8.2 cm. I thought this was strange because Paph. Maudiae 'Ebony Queen' was considered small with a natural spread of 10.5. Upon checking the RHS system I found that the actual natural spread was 12.2 x 13.0 cm. Jeff Britt, horticulturist for Rod Mc Clellan where this coloratum was developed said that it took some time to get it to prime size.
A better solution is the incorporation of genes from larger flowered cultivars. This was done using Paph. Gloriosum which is Paph. Holdenii (callosum x Maudiae) backcrossed to callosum. Some of the progeny of this vigorously growing cross have flat dorsal sepals which lack the characteristic twist found in the dorsal of callosum. Some examples include: Paph. Red Glory (Gloriosum x Red Maude) 'Simon Puppy' HCC/75 (AQ 26/74) which had a natural spread of 12.1 x 9.8 cm. and Paph. Red Maude (Maudiae x Maud Read) which contains elements of lawrenceanum, callosum, and mastersianum. Paph. Red Magic 'Go for Broke' HCC/76 (AQ 26/74) which is a cross of Gloriosum x fairrieanum illustrates the type of dorsal sepal and coloration typical of Gloriosum with a natural spread of 6.3 x 9.6 cm.
Further breeding experiments led to the inclusion of many other Paph. species. To enhance the deep coloration, crosses were often bred back to newly selected more intensely coloured cultivars of Maudiae with more desirable conformation characteristics. In time, the resultant products began to look distressingly similar to all but the connoisseur. That is not to say that they lacked beauty but since most of them contained a high percentage of callosum it is not surprising that similarity would ensue.
Paph. curtisii (superbiens) was used extensively because of its deep coloration and its tendency to produce wider petals with spots and warts in its offspring. Spots and warts were sought after because black spots and black warts gave the appearance of a darker petal. Paph. Goultenianum (curtisii x callosum) 'Black Magic' HCC/75 (AQ 13/149) and 'Ruby Solitaire' HCC/76 (AQ 14/65) demonstrate these characteristics.
Crosses to Paph. charlesworthii were an obvious choice because of its elegant broad dorsal sepal. Paph. Schaetzchen (Maudiae x charlesworthii) 'Penny' HCC/77 (AQ 25/80) shows a lot of the charlesworthii influence while Paph. New Wine (Raven x charlesworthii) 'Myrna' AM/81 (AQ 28/79) is an example of a delightful integration of the characteristics of these two forms. Many of these crosses are more wide open and the dorsal has the appearance of being stuck on as an afterthought. One of the least offensive ones is Paph. Backlight (Red Maud x charlesworthii) 'Aries' AM/83.
Paph. ciliolare has been used to add even more warts, spots and black hairs; for example, Paph. Zeus (ciliolare x callosum) 'Adiana' AM/80 (AQ 28/274). Paph. ciliolare crossed back to Maudiae gave Paph. Colorado 'Rain Meadow' HCC/78 with good balance, a striped dorsal and almost black petals, and Paph. Colorado `John's Favourite' AM/82 (AQ 23/24). A more complex cross Paph. Silly Treasure (ciliolare x Vintner's Treasure) 'Etc., Etc., Etc.' HCC/78 (AQ 23/209) gave a handsome flower very similar to Paph. Maudiae with much black in the petals. Vintner's Treasure incorporated gene infusion from barbatum, sukhakulii and purpuratum.
Paph. hirsutissimum var. esquirolei was used to create Paph. Yeti 'Black Avenger' JC (AQ 26/145). Now here's a Paph with attitude. Either that or it was in the back seat when fellow Toronto Judge Annette Bagby accelerated her sports car!
Paph. druryi has imparted its dark central stripe of druryi on the dorsal and on the petals; but failed to overcome the faults of the typical callosum dorsal in Paph. A. R. Smith (callosum x druryi) 'Smooth' HCC/75
Paph. mastersianum has been used to broadens the available colour palette. Paph. Nettie Mc Nay (Maudiae x mastersianum) 'Fox Valley' AM/84 (AQ 24/183) shows persistence of light coloration in the dorsal but intensely coloured petals producing an intense coloratum form.
Paph. wardii was used in the cross Paph. Satchel Paige (wardii x Vintner's Treasure) 'D & B' HCC/79 (AQ 28/161) to create attractive persistent striping in the dorsal of the wardii type and wide dark petals incorporating the spots from the wardii petals.
The search for blackness led to the use of Paph. sukhakulii to see how many black warts and spots can be literally crammed onto a petal. Perhaps if they are so numerous as to be confluent a pitch black petal will result. The result was often crippling or at least severe narrowing in crosses like Paph. Makuli (Maudiae x sukhakulii) 'Jean' AM/82. Petal crippling could be overcome, but with a flower similar to Maudiae with the smaller dorsal of sukhakulii as seen in Paph. Sunken Treasure (sukhakulii x Vintner's Treasure) 'A.M.J.' AM/85 (AQ 24/281) Retention of the darkness of the petals was achieved without obvious crippling or narrowing in more complex crosses such as Paph. Macabre (sukhakulii x Voodoo Magic) 'Harford's Warlock' AM/81 (AQ 26/179).
The delightful species Paph. fairrieanum was an obvious choice for crossing with vinicolors. It already contains a fair amount of anthocyanin pigment and its typical downswept petal stance is found in most of its offspring and usually some of the undulations on the edge of the dorsal sepal as well. These characteristics can be seen in Paph. Friedrich Mellin 'Neptune' HCC/78 (AQ 25/79) a cross of Alma Gevaert x fairrieanum (Alma Gevaert = lawrenceanum x Maudiae). Paph. Fair Katie 'Chestnut' AM/81 (AQ 25/161), a cross of Onyx x fairrieanum (Onyx = Goultenianum (callosum x curtisii) x Maudiae) shows the wide dorsal and the downswept petals of fairrieanum with the rich glowing burgundy of Maudiae.
Paph. Onyx has also made an important contribution to more complex vinicolor breeding as can be seen in Paph. Dark Spell (Docteur Knock x Onyx) 'E.F.G. Orchids' AM/82 (AQ 23/196). Dr. Knock is Procrustes x Maudiae and Procrustes is Gowerianum (curtisii x lawrenceanum) x Maudiae. The constant reinfusion of Maudiae reinforces the colour.
It was only natural that the mental vision of four or five elegant flowers of burnished burgundy on a single inflorescence led to a flurry of crosses with multifloral Paphs. Here is a sampling: Paph. Roth-Maud 'Forest' HCC/77 (Maudiae x rothschildianum), Paph. Astro Boy 'Aaron's Choice' JC (Makuli x rothschildianum), Paph. Southport 'Lillian' AM/82 (rothschildianum x Alma Gevaert), Paph. Phone Booth 'Clark Kent' HCC/79 (philippinensis x Goultenianum), Paph. James Hausermann 'Elmhurst' HCC/75 (philippinensis x Vintner's Treasure), Paph. Black Falcon 'Utopia' AM/84 (Red Maude x philippinensis), Paph. Manahawkin 'Debbie Ann' AM/83 (Maudiae x praestans which is considered a synonym of Paph. glanduliferum), Paph. Sable Knight 'Black Jamboree' HCC/75 (Vintner's Treasure x praestans), Paph. La Bandita Charlotte 'Glo' JC (Saint Swithin x Goultenianum which is (philippinensis x rothschildianum) x (callosum x curtisii), and Paph. Saint Rook 'D&B' AM/81 (Saint Swithin x Black Rook, Black Rook = Vintner's Treasure x Holdenii, Holdenii = callosum x Maudiae). I have only listed these multifloral crosses and avoided adding the AQ references because none of them is an improvement on the species multifloral parent. Those crossed with praestans (glanduliferum), philippinensis and a recently shown plant of Red Maude x sanderianum at The Greater Lansing Orchid Show in East Lansing lack the graceful spiralling petals of the species parent and instead have disconcerting, indecisively directed petals. Those crossed to rothschildianum and Saint Swithins lack the elegance of their graceful petals. One hopes that crossing back to the species parent will improve the conformation while maintaining the richness of colour of the vinicolor parent.
A more successful hybridizing venture was achieved using complex paphs as parents. Well formed, deeply hued blooms with with waxy burnished segments are the result. Examples of these crosses include Path. Royal Ruby (Peony x Maudiae) 'New Look' HCC/76 (AQ 24/272), Paph. Flashdance 'Ruby Jamboree' AM/83 (AQ 26/15) which is Orchilla x Flasher (Flasher = charlesworthii x Goultenianum), and Paph. Vintner's Moon (Vintner's Treasure x Sonador Moon) 'Penny' AM/89 (AQ 28/195), and Paph. Ebony King 'Pinot Noir' (Orchilla x Docteur Knock). The latter is Procrustes x Maudiae and Procrustes incorporates Gowerianum which is curtisii x callosum
Vinicolor crosses with members of the section Brachypetalum have yielded mixed results. Some crosses yield splendid blooms but other crosses have discoloured streaks on the bloom segments, deformed flowers or are reluctant bloomers. Although quite a few crosses are registered few have been awarded. A few samples are: Paph. Pink Gem 'Elektra' AM/80, a cross of Maudiae x concolor, has Maudiae petals and a concolor pouch. Paph. Colorguard 'Dark Night' HCC/78 (Kevin's Wine x bellatulum) reminds me of a basset hound with the drooping petals from bellatulum, curtisii and Maudiae. Kevin's Wine is Vintner's Treasure x Emerald which in turn is curtisii x Maudiae.
With the exception of delenatii, vinicolor crosses with the section Parvisepalum have proved too incompatible genetically.
I have saved a success story for the last. I must say that when I heard that crosses with the delightful species henryanum were contemplated, I envisioned sacrilege! That this little beauty would also be reduced to another ho hum Maudiae replica. But no - Paph. Red Glory x henryanum from Paphanatics has produced glorious colours and markings. This little species has enough genetic gumption to exert its integrity. I say: "Bravo henryanum!"
[This article was first given as a slide talk at an AOS judges training seminar in Ann Arbor, Michigan in May, 1998. My cryptic notes were edited and prepared for publication by Don Garling, co-editor of "The Score Sheet", newsletter of the Great Lakes Judging Center. I have further edited it for publication in the COC newsletter. Doris N. Jensen]
It was May 26 of 1985 that nine individuals with an interest in orchids met in Kitchener with the goal of starting an orchid society. Only one person could have been called an experienced orchid grower. I had been growing orchids for a few years and was anxious to meet other growers to share experiences (and to find more orchids!). We quickly elected an Executive, picked a name and started work on a Constitution.
Our goal was to establish a friendly social group where everyone would feel comfortable. From the beginning to today every member is encouraged to assist in some position in the Society. Putting on an annual show is an opportunity for members to work together. Participation becomes part of a training program so that each member can be expected eventually to serve on the Executive.
To give everyone a chance (and to avoid cliques), no one is allowed to serve on the Executive for more than three consecutive years. So far we have found 'volunteers' each year so that no member has had return to the Executive after a time out. The easy path is to let the experienced members carry on with the job they do so well.
The result is a Society of 80 to 100 members that works well together. There are no experts that have the last word. Several members have held each position so the beginner always has ready help available and the Society is not totally reliant on any one member. The Society works as a social group not as a classroom. The aim is to have fun.
The adjacent article is the perspective of one of our more recent members.
Jerry Bolce
I never really thought about what makes my orchid society different from other societies. I had always assumed we more or less functioned identically; monthly meetings, annual shows, shopping trips, open houses, beginners classes, etc. I've attended four other Canadian society shows and two American. I've attended only one other society's general meetings. Upon reflection, perhaps my insulation will help me give an unsullied picture of my society.
The one thing that stands out for me is that we are a society of total amateurs. I don't mean that in a negative sense. We're all keen on orchids but we have no inner circle of professional experts. This puts all our members on equal footing. There's no higher authority within our group except those that have spent the most years mastering our craft, the professional amateurs, if you will. They are ordinary people just like you and me and they have earned their position the hard way just as we are by following in their footsteps.
I think having a professional in the room creates a natural deference to their opinions and ideas, perhaps making ordinary folk feel a bit second-class. You might think I have a low regard for professionals. I don't. I've worked eight years at our Show and I've enjoyed learning from them. They are dedicated to the cause and I admire them greatly. I just think it makes a difference on how your society feels to the ordinary member.
Then too, feel depends on human makeup, the population you have to draw upon. We're a relatively small city with rural roots rather close to the surface. Farmers generally don't care much about foreign goods unless they can grow it in the north forty. Perhaps this makes each of us feel a bit like a lost soul and we're so happy to find a kindred spirit.
I don't hear people talk much about their families or jobs, the only unifying aspect of our lives is our hobby. We meet to talk orchids, not business. We go to the shows to enjoy orchids. We're not competing, we're playing. And that's why I think my society is best suited for me.
Dawn Milller
Two members have had their gardens featured in the magazine 'Gardens West'. One garden belongs to the Past C.O.C. President Ken Girard, member of the Foothills Orchid Society. The other garden is of Carla and Bill Bishop, members of the Vancouver Orchid Society. Their garden was featured as the main article and also on the cover.