Contents

From the President

You are ALL invited to 'Orchids around the World' on April 26-27, 2008 at the Nepean Sportsplex in Ottawa, ON where all Orchid Growers in Canada will meet to enjoy beautiful orchid displays, excellent speakers and compete for bragging rights about their last bloomed 'Whatzit'.

Also, take the opportunity to partake in the Canadian Orchid Congress annual general meeting which will be held on Sunday, April 27, 2008 @ 9:30 am.

This is also a reminder to all the member societies to donate an item on behalf of their club that can be offered at the silent auction at the banquet at the Orchid Show and Meeting. Since this is the major fund raising project for COC and the host society, it is really important to have many items to provide for a profitable silent auction.

This year we have several executive positions vacant. We need a Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The First Vice President automatically moves up to be president next year. Please consider letting your name stand for one of these positions. It's a fabulous way to meet like-minded people from across Canada and assist in the promotion of our addictive hobby of making orchid plants grow and bloom.

We are also looking for societies to host upcoming COC meetings. We would like to have our meeting in the west in 2009 and then in the east in 2010. It has been customary to hold COC meetings across the nation alternating yearly from east to west. Any society interested, please contact me be email at faithep@shaw.ca. We will have new guidelines to help you with general planning. It's a great way to show off your societies orchid growers.

SEE YOU IN OTTAWA.

Faithe Prodanuk, COC President

Notice Board

ATTENTION ALL ORCHID SOCIETIES

The 21st Annual Meeting is in Ottawa in April and the input of each individual society is needed to ensure that the COC continues to support orchid hobbyists in Canada. The COC can not do this if individuals from the member societies do not step forward to take an office in the COC. You are important to this organization. You have knowledge and skills that we would appreciate you sharing with all orchid growers. Please volunteer to take an office at the upcoming meeting. Positions open are Second Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Please contact Margaret Blewett at mblewett37@cogeco.ca or any current officer to indicate which office you are willing to hold for 2008-2009.

Display Award

Canadian Orchid Society's award display given to Erika Lorincz for the best display for individual at the St Catharines Ont show Nov 10-11, 2007. Photo taken by Robert Hutley, St Catharines Camera Club

Elections

Did your society have elections for a new executive in January? Please send me the snail mail, email and phone number for a new President, Editor and COC Rep. Also indicate whether they want the COC Newsletter via email or paper. jerry@uwaterloo.ca

Email It

Do you want this newsletter in color? Do you want it a week earlier? Then opt for email delivery. Just let me know. - Jerry Bolce - jerry@uwaterloo.ca
Material in this newsletter or on the COC website may be reprinted in society newsletters - just make sure you attribute the author and the COC.

"Stamp of Approval" for Alberta Orchid Breeder

The release of Canada Post's new orchid stamp series at Christmas marked another milestone in the outstanding career of Spruce Grove horticulturalist Gordon Heaps. One of the four orchid hybrids featured on the stamps is Potinara Janet Elizabeth "Fire Dancer" AM/AOS, a plant of Gordon's own breeding.

Gordon, who has been in the plant business for more than 50 years, started growing orchids in the late 1970's. A few years later he began hybridizing Cattleyas, with mixed results. As his breeding lines improved, however, things started looking up, and in 1990 Gordon made Potinara Janet Elizabeth, which was to be his first big success. The plant was awarded an AM at the Orchid Society of Alberta's annual show in 1996.

Every orchid breeder needs his own photographer, and Gordon was lucky enough to find one in the person of his wife, Janet (in whose honour Potinara Janet Elizabeth is named). Janet took up orchid photography when Gordon took up orchid growing, and she soon demonstrated a natural talent for the subject. As she became more accomplished, she was appointed the AOS award photographer for the Orchid Society of Alberta, and her work began to appear in orchid journals and elsewhere. She ultimately became the first person to have her photos appear simultaneously on the front and back covers of the AOS Awards Quarterly, a singular achievement.

The picture of Potinara Janet Elizabeth on the new Canada Post stamp is based on Janet's original AOS award photo, taken in 1996. The flower's shape shows the influence of Laelia briegeri, its grandparent, while it owes its striking red lip to parent SLC Orglade's Early Harvest. Gordon crossed the latter with Potinara Beaufort Gold to produce Potinara Janet Elizabeth.

This first outstanding cross has been followed by many others over the past 18 years. Today Gordon works with four major Cattleya breeding lines in his greenhouse near Spruce Grove, just west of Edmonton. Though he still looks far and wide for new breeding stock, he notes that 60 percent of his parent plants are now from his own genetics.

There's been no shortage of accolades in Gordon's long and distinguished career in horticulture. But still, nothing quite beats the feeling of seeing his own work on a postage stamp. "It's always a highlight when you get an award," he says, "but this is something else. This is a real honour!"

Canadian-bred Hybrid Orchids Featured on New Canadian Stamps

Postal rates are going up again after January 14, 2008, and hearts are racing also with a Canadian first, news that four definitive stamps featuring red, pink, yellow and orange Canadian-bred orchid hybrids were issued by Canada Post on December 27, 2007. The Official First Day Cover bears all four values as part of a luminous souvenir sheet and is cancelled with a watering pot design out of Bloomfield Station, Prince Edward Island. More information on this series may be found in the latest issue of Details/en détail, January to March 2008, Vol. 17 #1 which is available at the post office or may be ordered at http://www.canadapost.ca/personal/collecting/default-e.asp

There have been more than 250 orchids hybridized and registered by Canadians since 1949 when the first was recorded in Sander's List. These small yet colourful stamps show differently coloured hybrids made in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Québec.

Odontioda Island Red ( Trixon x Actrix) hybridized by Dr. Wally Thomas, West Vancouver, and registered in 1985, has the honour of being depicted on the most frequently used value, the domestic rate, now designated by P with no dollars or cents noted. Wally was the first President of the COC and was instrumental in bringing the World Orchid Conference to Canada in 1999. He bred and registered more than 70 hybrids over some 20 years, many whose names are prefixed with `Island' after his Charles Island Orchids. Oda. Island Red has received three awards with a Judges Commendation (`Victoria' JC/AOS) for intensity of colour

The oversize envelope value ($1.15) depicts one of Marilyn Light's hybrids, Laeliocattleya Memoria Evelyn Light (C. Cherry Chip x Roy Finley), registered in 1994, and named in memory of her mother who started Marilyn's interest in orchids in 1970 with a gift of The Golden Guide to Orchids. This cross has not been awarded but it is a rewarding bloomer with sprays of up to 5 long-lasting brightly coloured and fragrant flowers up to three times area. Marilyn began hybridizing orchids in the early 1980's, registering her first in 1992, and continues to raise `babies' simply for the joy of creating something new.

The USA stamp ($0.96) features Potinara Janet Elizabeth `Fire Dancer' AM/AOS (Beaufort Gold x Slc. Orglade's Early Harvest) which was bred by Gordon Heaps of Edmonton AB and registered in 1996. Named for his spouse and orchid photographer Janet, this showy, floriferous yellow orchid with its stunning and contrasting red lip was awarded in 1996 at the Orchid Society of Alberta show.

For the international value ($1.60), we have one of Mario Ferrusi's wonderful hybrid Masdevallias. Masd. Kaleidoscope (Cassiope x Copperwing), registered and first awarded in 2002, has garnered 3 awards including an FCC/AOS. Selected for the stamp is Masd. Kaleidoscope `Conni' AM/AOS, the clonal name honouring spouse Conni. This clone has an orange flower with heavy brick red speckling. Mario has an active hybridization program and we look forward to new and wonderful flowers from him in future.

Look for these stamps now at your local post office or order some from Canada Post either by mail or on-line. Visit the website for details. http://www.canadapost.ca/personal/collecting/default-e.asp

Ottawa Show and COC Annual Meeting

The Ottawa Orchid Society is pleased to host the 2008 Canadian Orchid Congress Annual Meeting, and invites and welcomes you to attend the COC meeting and our 27th annual orchid show and sale on April 26-27, 2008. A special feature will be the orchid symposium, Orchids around the World, featuring eight excellent symposium speakers.

We hope that many members of the COC and its affiliated societies will take this opportunity to attend the meeting and enjoy our Show and Symposium. The attached brochure includes a schedule of events and an outline of what you can expect during the weekend. Please note that the show setup will take place from noon to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 25, 2008. Please don't hesitate to approach one of the Society contacts below if you need assistance or have additional questions.

First of all, we have a great Show with many vendors lined up. The theme for the 2008 Show is Orchidophilia, the love of orchids. In addition to those from our valued usual participants, the Ottawa Orchid Society would love to see displays entered from societies from across the country. Please note that we will have categories for cut orchids, orchid art and educational displays if you are arriving by plane and don't wish to bring a lot of plants. New for 2008 will be a special class for cut flower corsages to adorn a dress loaned by the well-known couturier Richard Robinson. Societies are invited to enter a corsage in this exciting and fun competition. Criteria will be outlined in the registration schedule. All plants, art and displays should be registered in advance to allow us to have tags ready. Please let the two show Co-chairs know as soon as possible what you will need in terms of tables and display space. Registration will open February 1st and close just before the Show. However, we would appreciate getting your registration as early as possible, and we definitely need to know about display space needs as soon as possible.

The orchid symposium promises to be both informative and entertaining. We have some great speakers lined up covering an interesting range of topics. Our banquet will be a special event at the International Restaurant at Algonquin College and Doug Kennedy of Orchids in Our Tropics will be our featured banquet speaker. As is the custom, there will be an auction during the banquet with proceeds shared with the Canadian Orchid Congress. We hope that your
society will be able to help us out with a donation to the auction.

Please distribute the attached brochure to interested members of your society and please reserve the last weekend of April for this exciting event. Ottawa has many other attractions to offer and we hope you will take some time to enjoy some of the many museums, galleries and sites in our National Capital. We look forward to our Show and to the continuation of many friendships and the development of new ones. We hope to see you there.

Contacts:

Rick Sobkowicz, President, OOS, Show Co-chair, ricksobkowicz@rogers.com

Dave Cooper, Show Co-chair, orchidae@allstream.net

Jean Hollebone, COC representative and Symposium organizer, jhollebone@sympatio.ca or (613) 226-2395.

Cypripedium candidum (small white lady's-slipper)

This orchid, one of eight species of the genus Cypripedium found in Canada, is presently recorded only in the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba. Saskatchewan has historical records for this species, however it is now listed as extirpated in that province.

In 1981 the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) acknowledged threats to the survival of the small white lady's-slipper and classified its status as endangered . In 1992 the government of Manitoba followed by placing this orchid under the protection of the Manitoba Endangered Species Act.

The plant, 10 - 30 cm tall, is comprised of single to multiple stems, arising from a creeping rhizome. The flower bud sheathed by the leaves as the plant appears, begins opening soon after the plant emerges from the ground. The flower rarely exceeds 50mm in size, and has yellowish green sepals and petals and a shining white egg-shaped lip. This very attractive plant faces several threats; some as a result of human activity, others of a natural source.

Preferring mesic to wet prairies, much of the original range of this species has been agriculturalized. A few remanent populations exist; in areas less suitable for agriculture, in protected areas, and a few small populations scattered in roadside ditches. Even though the species is now in protected status, it is still subject to digging by those coveting these plants for their gardens.

Blooming begins early in the season and those populations in the northern portion of its range are occasionally subjected to damage by late frosts. Buds or emerging blossoms may be destroyed and the plants themselves may be compromised and become susceptible to insect or fungal attacks.

Another more insidious threat is the result of natural hybridization of this species by both Cypripedium parviflorum var pubescens (large yellow lady's-slipper) and Cypripedium parviflorum var makasin (small yellow lady's-slipper). Present agricultural practices, by providing suitable habitat, have encouraged the yellow lady's-slippers to populate areas in close proximity to the small white lady's-slipper. Shared pollinators create hybrids which degrade the genetic purity of this slipper orchid.

In 2005, the Manitoba Orchid Society sponsored two University of Winnipeg students to complete a preliminary study of the extent of hybridization at two isolated Cypripedium candidum sites within an hours drive of Winnipeg. Using visual characteristics, the students identified 31% of the plants in these two populations as being of hybrid origin.

As a follow-up to this preliminary study, In 2007, the Manitoba Orchid Society provided funding in support of a study of these same sites by a University of Manitoba student using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprinting of DNA. This study was designed to provide more accurate identification of hybrids than was possible by visual characterization. Preliminary results indicate that the extent of hybridization may in fact be greater than the results of the visual study.

The challenge now is to determine how the information obtained from these studies can be used to protect populations of the small white lady's-slippers from further degradation of genetic purity.

Lorne Heshka

Above: Cypripedium xandrewsii

21^st COC AGM Agenda April 27, 2008@0930h in Ottawa, ON

Call to order.

Welcome!

Attendance list to be signed by all: delegate, executive member or guest.

Declaration of Notice and Quorum.

Adoption of minutes from the 20^th AGM, March 25, 2007 in Winnipeg, MN

Business arising from the minutes

1. It was noted that some societies are paying their membership dues late causing insurance premiums for that society to incur a penalty payment. A motion to pass this cost on to the society was presented and carried. Status of late payments in 2007?
2. A motion was carried to send the COC newsletter fro March 2007as a PDF file to member societies for redistribution to their membership. Appears to work well.
3. Societies are reminded to send to the editor a photo and description of the COC medal awarded.
4. It was recommended that vendor information on the website should be updated yearly. Vendors that don't respond should be removed from the website until the webmaster is contacted..
5. Insurance: Unless Lynne is notified by December 15, there will be a $50 late charge along with the $1/member for insurance for the following year.
6. A motion was carried that COC will subsidize the hosting society for documented cost of speakers, AGM meeting room, printing and postage expenses to a maximum of $1000. This motion was to be reviewed annually. It was also noted that COC AGM should alternate between east and west.
7. A slide program on taxonomy was presented for review as to suitability for inclusion with the other slide/CD programs.
8. COC medal: Discussion about when awarded. The COC award was originally proposed and carried (with guidelines) in March, 1990. See minutes from 2007 for complete motion. Should this be revisited?

Correspondence

Reports of the Officers:

• Treasurer's Report
  • Financial Report
  • Slide Report
  • COC Medal
• President's Report
• Vice President's Report
• Secretary's Report

Reports of other Committees/Members

• Newsletter/website
• Conservation Report
• Other

New Business:

1. Review of general guidelines for hosting a COC meeting. Need hosts for upcoming COC meetings.
2. COC Website
   1. Changes/Additions
   2. Should the newsletter be used for advertisements? Charges?
   3. Chebucto website provider-OK?
3. Newsletter
   1. Changes needed/desired?
   2. Addition of a native orchid site. First article in January newsletter…Should this continue?
4. Slide programs
   1. Review of current programs. Can someone review existing programs for relevancy?
   2. Addition of programs on Phalaenopsis, Cypripedium, Masdevallias, Draculas, others? Phalaenopsis and Cypripediums are currently being developed by COC members. Is there a member that would be willing to develop any others?
   3. Historically the Treasurer has looked after the slides. Should this be a separate position? Should this task be given to the either First or Second Vice President
5. Orchid importation issues
   1. C.I.T.E.S. Marilyn Light will report
   2. Do we still need a representative to liaise with government agencies to keep them correctly informed re: orchid plants?
   3. Can someone encourage the C.I.T.E.S. authority to help make border crossings easier for hybrids? Refer to Nov/Dec/Jan 2007 Orchid Digest article by Jerry Fischer.
6. Financial issues: How can COC raise revenue? Do we need to? Are there projects that can be done? How about converting slides to CD format? Others? Any suggestions?
   
7. Canadian Orchid Journal? Shall these be resurrected and articles used
   
8. Ingrid has donated (with recognition) a variety of essays that can be printed or added to the website. What should be done with these?
9. WOC Report
10. Future meeting dates:
    • 2009
    • 2010
    • 2011

Appointment of auditor

Election of Officers

First Vice President, Second Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Webmaster, Education, Show awards, Conservation and Newsletter. Note: The First Vice President, Jean Hollebone becomes President. Anyone wanting to stand for any position, please contact Margaret Blewett. The Past President, Margaret Blewett, will take over the meeting. Anyone nominating someone should first get permission from the nominee.

• Declare the new executive as voted into office.

Other Business

Adjournment

COMING EVENTS

2008

• Feb 9-10: The Southern Ontario Orchid Society at the Toronto Botanical Garden, Edwards Gardens. "http://www.soos.ca/"
• Feb 22-24: Orchid Society of Alberta "Orchidacious!", at Grant MacEwan College South Campus, 7319-29 Avenue, Edmonton. Contact info@orchidsalberta.com, or contact Brian Grant at baam@shaw.ca or 780-460-0141. 'http://www.orchidsalberta.com/"
• March 1-2: Victoria Orchid Society Spring Orchid Show at the Students' Union Building, University of Victoria. Contact Noreen Taylor, 250-592-0088, creamofthecrop@telus.net. "http://victoriaorchidsociety.ca/"
• March 1 - 2: The Orchid Society of Nova Scotia at the Spring Garden Place on Spring Garden Rd. Halifax "http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Recreation/OrchidSNS/"
• March 8-9: Orchid Society of the Royal Botanical Gardens, 680 Plains Rd., Burlington. Contact Jane Johnstone, rjjohnstone2@sympatico.ca "http://www.osrbg.ca/"
• March 15 - 16: London Orchid Society at the Western Fair Special Events Building, London, Ontario For show information: http://los.lon.imag.net/losshows.asp
• March 28-30: The Manitoba Orchid Society Annual Show and Sale. Contact president@manitobaorchidsociety.ca "http://www.manitobaorchidsociety.ca/"
• March 29-30: Vancouver Orchid Festival VanDusen Botanical Gardens Floral Hall, Vancouver, BC http://www.orchidfest.com/
• March 29-30: Les Orchidophiles de Montreal Orchidexpo 2007, College de Maisonneuve, 2700 Bourbonniere St., Montreal, Quebec. For information: Andre Poliquin 450-653-9590 e-mail: mor-pol@sympatico.ca "http://orchidophiles.qc.ca/"
• April 12-13: Central Vancouver Island Orchid Society at the Country Club Center, Nanaimo, BC. Contact: Sue Christison, 250-246-2447 or email orchidlady@telus.net http://www.cvios.com/
• April 12-13: The Regina Orchid Society Show and Sale will be held at a new location — Wascana Place, 2900 Wascana Drive, Regina, Saskatchewan. For more information, please contact c.eisbrenner@yahoo.ca.
• April 19-20: The Annual Toronto Artistic Orchid Association Show, Chinese Cultural Centre, 5183 Sheppard Ave., East (Markham Road)Phone: 416-292-9293 Email: Louisa Fung louisafung@rogers.com "http://www.taoa.ca/"
• April 26-27: The Ottawa Orchid Society show in conjunction with the COC Annual Meeting and Symposium, Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Avenue, Nepean, Ontario. Contact David Cooper, Show Chairman, at orchidae@allstream.net. "http://www.ottawaorchidsociety.com"
• May 3-4: The Vancouver Orchid Society Annual Show will be held at the Richmond Winter Club, 5540 Hollybridge Way, Richmond BC. Contact Mary Kapoor marka92220@yahoo.com
• Sept 26-29: Western Australian Orchid Spectacular and Conference "Living with Orchids" "http://members.iinet.net.au/~emntee/WAOS.html"
  

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

Officers of the Canadian Orchid Congress