Canadian Orchid Congress Newsletter - VOL15.3

Spring is here, so says the calendar. As I write this, the garden is full of hardy flowers, spring bulbs and blossoms on the fruit trees, but the temperatures are still rather cold.

Just think how nice our orchids have it: we keep them warm year round and cater to their needs, coaxing flowers from them that are bewitching and at times, seem unreal. Now is the season of spring orchid shows. As exhibitors, sellers and judges, we are kept totally immersed right now in this world of orchids. A good example is the recent show in Toronto, with the Mid America Orchid Congress and the Canadian Orchid Congress meetings plus many other meetings, lectures and festivities. It was an excellent show, in spite of all the negative things that were happening at that time. The Southern Ontario Orchid Society and the show committee are to be congratulated for their endeavours! All those who did come had a great time and thank SOOS for their warm hospitality.

The meeting of the COC was rather short. We managed to discuss many things and you will find out about our progress as time goes by. To my relief, the most important item on the agenda was passed - unanimously: It was urged by everyone in Canada to finalize the incorporation of the COC as a not-for-profit organization. I thank you all for your input and suggestions and wish everyone a Happy Spring!

The Notice Board

Canadian Culture Sheets

The COC, in the person of Ross Otto, has produced a set of twelve orchid culture sheets. The sheets are available on the COC website as html files for viewing and PDF files for printing.

All members are invited to review and use these sheets and provide any feedback that may arise to the author, Ross Otto, via email at raotto@computer.org. It is the intention of the author to make amendments to these sheets as comments are provided by the Executive and members of the COC. Further the author intends to continue developing, in the coming year, additional culture sheets. Requests have been received to date for sheets on importing orchids (which is intended to be a brief synopsis and reference to Marilyn Light's excellent article on the subject), native orchids, and growing under lights. This endeavor will be undertaken at the discretion of the President and the incoming Education Chair of the COC.

Slide Programs

Cattleyas - by Ken Girard. This is an excellent program.
Oncidiums - by Gordon Heaps.
Fragrant Orchids by Marilyn Light.
Terrestrial Orchids and Their Culture by Bill Bischoff
Phragmipediums

Note: When reserving a program, please include two (2) cheques, one cheque for $10.00 to cover the cost of shipping and insurance, and another cheque for $25.00. The cheque for $25.00 will be required as a deposit and will be returned as soon as the program is returned. Please include in your request the date of the meeting for which you want the slide program. Cheques are to be made payable to "The Canadian Orchid Congress".

The slide programs may be ordered from:
Janette Richardson
38 Straub Crescent,
Regina, Sask., S4T 6S6

Phone: 306-543-0560
Email: dale.richardson@sk.sympatico.ca

New Society

The Durham Region Orchid Society in Oshawa, Ontario is a recent arrival. For information contact: Anne Antanaitis at "anneantanaitis@hotmail.com" or 905-728-5336

Meetings are generally every third Sunday from Sept to June in Oshawa at Fernhill Community Centre on Fernhill Ave. from 2 to 4 pm.

COC Newsletter Articles

The COC Newsletters are available on the COC website. Articles from the newsletters may be freely reprinted in your society newsletter as long as the author and the COC are credited in the by-line. The text of any article can easily be extracted using a web browser and the cut-and-paste function.

Native Orchid Conference

Last year, the first North American Native Orchid Conference was held in North Carolina with great success. As part of discussions during that meeting, it was decided to incorporate this organization and schedule future, annual conferences in different parts of North America. This year, the second annual conference will be held on the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, Canada. During the first two days there will be presentations at McMaster University located in Hamilton, Ontario. Speakers for the event include: Fred Case, author of Orchids of the Great Lakes Region; Paul Catling, Canadian Department of Agriculture, author of the Orchids of Ontario; Ron Coleman, Visiting Scholar, University of Arizona at Tucson; Hal Horwitz, nature photographer, member of the VA Flora Project; Susan Meades - Adjunct Professor, Algoma University College, botanical illustrator; Charles Sheviak, Senior Scientist and Curator of Botany, NY State Museum. The last three days will be field trips on the Bruce Peninsula. Upon registration, a list of suggested area hotels and campgrounds will be provided.

For more information contact David McAdoo at dmcadoo@triad.rr.com, or visit the Native Orchid Conference website at "http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nativeorchidconference/".

How Well Do Your Slippers Fit?

That is, how well do your Slipper Orchids fit in with the rest of your Orchids? They are different, everyone can see that. But how do they really differ from the rest of the Orchids?

One difference is, that no Slipper Orchid, tropical or from the more temperate zones of our earth, produce pseudo-bulbs. Most are terrestrial, even the species which grow on trees, only do so when there is sufficient detritus, that is decayed plant material available to protect the root system. The Slippers of northern areas, some as far north as past the arctic circle, are deciduous and survive the winter underground, in temperatures as low as -40⁰ C.

Where they really differ is in the structure of the flowers. To be as different as they are they must have split off from the rest of the Orchids many million years ago. To compare them, place a Phalaenopsis and a Slipper Orchid side by side and identify the different parts as they are mentioned in this article. Perhaps wait until one of your slipper Orchids drops a flower so that you can cut it in half to get a better view into the flower.

Just like other Orchids the slippers have all the basic flower parts that differentiate Orchids from all other flowering plants. There are petals, sepals and a central column, all arranged in front of the ovary (seed bud, inferior ovary). Of the three petals, one is converted into a lip, a very deep pouch like structure - another of the differences. The pouch is an insect trap which lures the vectors by color and or scent to pollinate the flower. The slipper like structure guides these trapped insects toward the end of the pouch and provides two escape routes, past the female parts and then past the male pollen. To the best of my knowledge, no food is provided for the insects.

Of the three sepals, one is very visible, it is the top most part of any slipper orchid. It can either stand very erect, or in the case of some of the northern terrestrial slippers, it can bend over the pouch. In any case it is a prominent structure. The other two sepals are fused into one part which is directly behind the slipper ( syn-sepalum / syn = lat. together ) - this is a third difference. Occasionally the syn-sepalum is split into two parts which confirms this statement.

The central column in an Orchid flower is where all the reproductive parts are located. This is where the slippers differ mostly from other Orchids. To make a comparison look closely at the Phalaenopsis flower especially the central column, just above the lip. On the very tip just below the anther cap, a thin tissue, is the pollen mass. Just behind, divided by a membrane, is the female part of the flower. This arrangement prevents self pollination and allows an incoming insect to deposit pollen from an other Phalaenopsis flower and thus fertilize the flower. When said insect backs out of the flower it will strip off the anther cap and pick up pollen from the flower, to carry it hopefully to the next Phalaenopsis flower. Please note, the pollen is picked up and deposited as a whole package. This is true for all non Slipper Orchids.

A Slipper Orchid differs remarkably from other Orchids in the reproductive department. The central column has the female part right on the very front of the column and the column is bent backward down toward the back of the pouch. There are two pollen masses at the back of the column, that is, on either sides of the column. The pollen is similar to the pollen in a Lily flower, sticky and waxy in consistency. This pollen is not removed in one package, rather pollinating insects brush some off every time when they visit a Slipper flower. Many insects can take pollen from one flower. This is an other very important difference.

To propagate Slipper orchids asexually is by division only. To date is has been very difficult to produce these plants from tissue culture. Seed propagation is the only reliable method. Whereas most other Orchids can readily be multiplied by other than seed propagation, this is also an important difference from other Orchids.

Where Slippers are the same as all other Orchids is in the seed department. The seed capsule is divided into three compartments and the seeds are produced at several hundreds of thousands per seed pod. These seeds are very small and are wind dispersed. They contain no nourishment for the young plants, only genetic information. As with all other Orchids, slipper seeds need fungi to help germinate the seeds and nourish the seedlings.

I hope this information is of interest to all, especially the new Orchid hobbyist and I further hope that it will induce everyone who has never grown Slippers, in the house and in the garden, to try some plants. With the diversity of Slipper Orchids available, there is a plant available for just about every growing situation. To start with buy the new plants when in flower, especially hybrids, so that you can see exactly what you get. Also consider plants with attractive foliage, as to enjoy them when not in flower.

Just as Cinderella found a slipper that fit her, I'm sure that you will also find a Slipper Orchid that fits into your life and bring happiness and enjoyment forever.

As with any general statements made about Orchids, there will be differences from the above made claims. These will be left to the reader to research and marvel at.

COC President's Annual Report

The most important experience I had during the past year was to realize that although our country is vast, the friendliness and helpfulness from every person I spoke with made me feel that we really can function as one big, happy family.

Most items that had been approved by Delegates' votes at the 2002 AGM have been dealt with:

There was a good deal of research involved that is connected with the pending incorporation of the COC. There were many other communications with individuals and with every single orchid society in Canada. Our officers did much work on behalf of the COC as you can read in their reports. There were many constructive suggestions, which I hope, will come to fruition; they will assure that the COC really fulfills it mandate - to be useful every Canadian Orchid Society.

Most of all, I thank you for making me feel good, each time I talk to any of you!

Education Committee Annual Report

The major activity in the last year has been the evolution of the idea of providing culture sheets through the Canadian Orchid Congress which are intended to provide more useful information to novice Canadian orchid growers than the often used culture sheets from the American Orchid Society. The initial set of twelve of these sheets have recently been released through the COC website.

The author, Ross Otto, extends his thanks to the following people for their kind assistance in the development of these sheets:

An additional educational activity which occurred during the last year was the production of an article (available on the COC website) covering the procedures for importing orchids into Canada authored by Marilyn Light of Ottawa, Ontario. I wish to extend my thanks as well as that of the COC to her for this endeavor, and for keeping it up-to-date with developing issues and changes such as the recent Sudden Oak Death issue in Oregon and California.

At this time, when the very purposes and goals of the COC are being reexamined, I would suggest that the primary goal of the COC is to serve its members, the orchid societies of Canada, and that the educational aspects of the COC play a major role in this goal and should continue to be expanded. Each society has the goal of providing its members with information on orchids and how to grow them. The COC, through articles in its newsletter, articles on the web site, culture sheets, national speaker tours, and particularly the excellent slide shows, is already a major resource for the member societies in meeting their member's needs. Continuation and expansion of all of these educational services and expansion into other educational areas such as videos and formal educational meetings or workshops will enhance the services received by our members and as a result increase the support the COC receives from them.

I wish the Executive and member of the COC as well as the incoming Education Chair all the best in the coming year, and look forward to continuing to serve the COC.

Conservation Committee Annual Report

We continue to lobby for regulations that will favour both conservation initiatives and hobbyists across Canada. The 2002 consultations addressed the education of inspectors on the ways and means that hobbyists trade in orchids including flasked material, hybrids and mericlones, and on the disposition of seized live species orchids. We have produced a fact sheet on importation guidelines which has been published both in the COC newsletter and on the web site.

Marilyn Light, Ottawa 0.S. and E.C.O. S., has been making monthly synchronous and asynchronous presentations about orchid conservation for the past five years to an international group of interested hobbyists under the OrchidSafari banner. Those who wish to reproduce any article in their newsletter may do so with the appropriate credit line.

For more information about OrchidSafari and how you can participate, please contact:

The Orchid Safari website is presently being reorganized. Archives of presentations together with transcripts of the interactive discussions which followed may be accessed at: http://www.orchidsafari.org/ (1996-99) and also from a temporary archive (2000 to present) at:

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!

Treasurer's Report

1. Very sorry for not attending the AGM this year, but as some of you already know, I fell and broke 2 bones in my left leg. They operated on my leg and were able to set one of the bones, but they had to put a plate on the second bone. I have a cast, but it is not a walking cast (a show cast as I tell everyone), making it very hard to get around on one leg. I go on April 7th to get this cast removed and x-rays taken. The x-rays will tell me what comes next.

2. Photocopies are provided for the following: Financial Statement, an Income and Expense sheet and the list of the societies that have paid their 2003 dues by January 31,2003. I have converted the general ledger to my computer instead of doing it manual now. The auditor was pleased with the way the books are set up on the computer. If anyone has any questions regarding the books, please feel free to contact me.

3. The following societies have not yet paid their 2003 dues: Les Orchidophiles de Quebec, Westman Orchid Society

4. The slide program has been well used this past year. This is great to see. In fact some of the societies have been asking me if there are any new slide programs in the makings. The societies have given me good reports when they have returned the slide programs.

Newsletter and Website Annual Report

Newsletter: This year we put out five issues of the newsletter (skipped the July/Aug issue). There were no problems from my end. I noticed that several of the articles were reprinted in society newsletters, indicating that the pursuit of "good" articles is important.

We can mail out five pages for the regular postage, so I would target that size of newsletter for now.

The mailing list is kept current with a bit of effort. Society web sites with Executive lists and contact persons help. The COC Reps should also make an effort to inform me of any changes.

- ask for opinion on current newsletter and type of articles
- any volunteers for articles
- issue of who has the copyright on all articles and their use should be cleared

Web Site: Renewed location for another year at Chebucto. Renewed domain name.

We updated "What is the COC?" Need the French version yet. Marilyn working on it.
Added current newsletters.
Added the COC Constitution.
Added "The COC Representative" defining duties of the position.
Added Marilyn's article on importing orchids into Canada.
Added some earlier newsletters.
Added COC culture notes.
Always updates needed to data on various pages.

We encouraged other societies to get on the web and several have done so. One chose to use the resources we offered the offer did precipitate some new web sites.

- do we add more older newsletters? There is the concern of who has the copyright or control of use, the COC or the author.
- use of web space for historical archive or put on cd

Mailing Lists: We have the "orchids-can" mailing list open for all. Very little traffic more should be encouraged.

The "orchids" list should be expanded to all COC Exec and COC Reps. This would allow direct contact to all societies (hopefully they all have some rep on the internet by now)

- should I put all COC Reps on? Ask first?
- Can all of the COC Exec set up a mail group for the COC Exec members on their own machine?

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ORCHID GROWERS

DO check the credentials of suppliers offering species orchids for sale. Question their practice of artificial propagation. Are they raising species from seeds or merely dividing previously wild-collected stock plants?

DO observe national and international import/export regulations and phytosanitary requirements.

DO consider carefully before making a purchase, how the plants may be safely shipped. What is cheapest for the purchaser may not be best for the plants.

DO NOT import or purchase locally, wild-collected plants even if legally permitted, unless they are from an authorized rescue program or if they are to form a nucleus for propagation and seed production.

DO enjoy the satisfaction of raising plants from seed or of supporting such activities by supporting those who carry out this conservation program.

DO record when you acquired a plant and its origin. Keep plants in your collection labelled.

DO try to propagate rare or unusual, documented plants, either personally or through donation of pollen and seeds to propagators. Arrange for the distribution of propagules to other enthusiasts and public collections.

DO ensure the survival of rare and scientifically valuable plants after you are no longer able to care for them either by a legal agreement with designated recipients or by distributing propagules widely beforehand.

DO endorse the precepts of this Code of Conduct as a guide for responsible and conscientious behaviour.

DO discourage the advertisement of wild-collected plants for sale in your newsletters and web sites.

DO publicize national and international regulations on the export, import and sale of orchids.

DO sponsor or support national and international measures to protect the habitats of rare and threatened species.

DO encourage local conservation groups to set up orchid gardens or reserves: these could be developed for the rehabilitation and propagation of plants rescued from areas of forestry activity.

DO assist your members to make arrangements for the continued survival of their plants when they are either absent for an extended period or when they are no longer able to take care of them.

DO include in the schedule, some classes for orchid species raised from seed by the exhibitor.

DO make a policy of rewarding excellence in cultivation through judging criteria of particular classes.

Conservation Education

Essential steps toward the development of a successful conservation education program

GOAL: To develop a conservation education plan with objectives and milestones, for a defined audience, and with the means to assess that the objectives have been met.

We recommend that you begin with programs addressing the specific needs of one defined audience. Possible audiences vary from place to place but the following order of precedence is suggested for any community. Once an audience has been identified, get to know the audience, their perceptions, misconceptions, hopes and fears, through dialogue, group discussion, or surveys.

One or more messages could be combined according to the selected audience. For example, if the audience is tourism operators, the message could be a combination of. "What are orchids and why should we conserve them?" combined with a second message, "Orchids and tourism create jobs".

Any or all of the following delivery mechanisms could be used depending upon the audience and available resources.

Any of the following methods can be used to evaluate an educational program in terms of the impact on knowledge, skills, attitude or behaviour.

COMING EVENTS

2003

The purpose of COC news is to inform members of the meetings, policies of the COC, to profile members, and to provide technical information regarding happenings, trends and techniques in orchid culivation across the country and around the world.

We welcome your suggestions and contributions. Deadline for each issue is one month before the issue dates previously announced.

Recipients of this newsletter are strongly urged to pass a copy on to other members of their society

President ..... Ingrid Ostrander
250-652-6133
email: ifl@telus.net

Past President Lynne Cassidy
604-536-8185
email: lynne.cassidy@telus.net

Vice-President Margaret Blewett
902-827-2614
email: mblewett@accesswave.ca

Vice-President Lorne Heshka
204-663-6850
email: lheshka@escape.ca

Treasurer ........ Janette Richardson
306-543-0560
email: dale.richardson@sk.sympatico.ca

Secretary .......... Terry Kennedy
905-727-3319
email: ourtropics@ica.net

Education ...... Mark Elliott
604-943-6979
email: melliott@mrl.ubc.ca

Conservation . Marilyn Light
819-776-2655
email: mlight@igs.net

COC Web Site - http://www.CanadianOrchidCongress.ca/
Please send in your show information - date, location, contact, etc.

news

From the President