Canadian Orchid Congress Newsletter - VOL21.5

The Journal of the Canadian Orchid Congress
Le Journal de la Fédération Canadienne des Sociétés Orchidophiles

COC AGM2009 Report

Kudos to the Fraser Valley Orchid Society for a magnificent show and COC meeting. The displays were fantastic with a wide spectrum of wonderful orchids of very high quality. Seminars were very interesting and well attended. There were lots of vendors from the US, Ecuador, Columbia and Thailand which complimented the Canadian vendors with exciting and very exotic material. All this, combined with a superb banquet and very warm and considerate hosts, added up to a very remarkable show. Thank you to the FVOS executive, the Show Committee and all the volunteers at the Show, for your very hard work. It was a most memorable success. While I am not sure of the exact final amount, the FVOS-COC auction raised funds which will be split between the society and COC. This is the only fundraiser in which the COC participates so the outcome is important to furthering the aims and goals of the COC . Thank you Fraser Valley Orchid Society for managing and running this important fundraiser.

The COC Board met on Saturday and reviewed both agenda and candidates for the COC certificate. It was decided to give no COC certificate in 2009 and to open for submissions for 2010 with clearer criteria and procedures. The COC meeting on Sunday was well attended with 14 society and Board members present. Specific voting proxies were received on the funding options from 7 societies, and were added to the votes of present members. Although two additional societies also gave proxy, their votes were not specified, and hence were used only to support approval of the minutes and the appointment of the auditor but not for the funding votes. Reports were accepted as presented. Alan Lutyk was confirmed as auditor for 2009 and decisions were made on the two funding options before the membership.

On the issue of raising insurance fees to be cost recoverable, there was no support for Option 1 ( Status Quo) and option 3 , a gradual increase in fees till cost recovery is met received the majority vote. This means that insurance fees will rise by $0.50 per individual member/society to $1.50 starting in 2010. In a surprise move, the members present also voted to levy an administrative fee of $25.00 to societies that send in their insurance fees after the deadline of December 1, 2009. The deadline was imposed because fees are now due to the insurer by January 1, 2010. Last year only 5 societies reported on time and fees were guestimated in lieu of actual numbers. Negotiation of additional coverage with the insurer after the policy premium deadline was difficult and we do not want to repeat this scenario in 2010. Please societies take note and send your fees in by December 1. The format for submission will be on the web site shortly.

On the proposal re matched funding by COC to societies wishing to bring in an educational speaker, the result was very clear. One society supported option 1 ( no travel grant), 4 supported Option 2 and 14 supported option 3 thus approving a travel grant of matching funds up to $200 per society with priority being given to small ( < 60 members) and geographically isolated societies ( societies more than a 2 hour travelling time from the nearest orchid society). As monies were allocated for this in the 2009 budget, pending COC decision, this money can now be released. The criteria and application forms for this money will be posted shortly as our aim is to have this in the hands of societies before December 31.

COC business for the coming year will focus on expanding the culture sheets, and updating the slide library, amending the bylaws to make them more current, and expanding conservation information re Canadian native species on the web site.

In closing, we'd like to thank FVOS again for their magnificent show and meeting and to indicate that the International Native Orchid Society, is planning a meeting in mid June, 2010 in Edmonton Alberta which is planned to offer two days of seminars and two days of field trips to native orchid sites. We understand registration will be limited so watch the newsletter for more information on this upcoming event.

Notice Board

Help Needed For New COC Culture Sheets

I have been asked to be the new Education Chair for the COC and my goal for this year is to get more culture sheets written and put up on the website. I am looking for volunteers to write the culture sheets using the same format as the ones already on the website. The culture sheets we need written are:

If you think you can help, please e-mail me. Also if you think that any of the current culture sheets need updating, please let me know.

2010 Membership and Insurance fees Due Dec 1, 2009

Membership fees ($1.00 per member in the society) and insurance fees ($1.50 per member in the society) are due to the COC Treasurer, Margaret Hewings, by December 1. A late fee of $25 will be charged for late insurance payments as the premium must be paid to the insurer by January 1, 2010 to assure coverage for 2010. The increase in insurance fees was approved at the 2009 AGM to help meet real costs of insurance being offered to societies and will rise again in 2013 to approach cost recovery. The cost of the additional insurance coverage for library and other equipment remains the same as last year. Explanation of coverage, and insurance and membership forms can be found on the COC web site under Services/Group Insurance.

AOS Representative

Hello everyone. My name is Mario Ferrusi, I live in Fenwick, Ontario. I have been growing orchids for 30 years and specialize in the cool growing genera. I am a member of the Southern Ontario Orchid Society and am its AOS rep. I am also an accredited judge at the Toronto Judging Centre. I was recently elected as an AOS Trustee. In this position they have asked me to be the Canadian liaison for all the Canadian Affiliated Societies. This does not mean that I would be taking over the local reps duties, simply I hopefully would be able to facilitate some of the new things that the Affiliated Societies Committee is trying to do. I have just joined the Affiliated Societies Committee. This by no means is a way to undermind the COC. It does a wonderful job of bringing the Canadian Societies from coast to coast together.

The AOS lists 22 Canadian Affiliated Societies, whereas the COC web page lists 34 Societies. One of the first things I discovered is that both the AOS and COC info on contacting each society is way out of date, I found it virtually impossible to contact many of the AOS reps.

So with this note I'm hoping that I can get contact info from each Society, not just the AOS Affiliated Societies but all Canadian Societies. I would like to develop a contact list so that I can send out new information as it becomes available. I would also love to have the other societies affiliate with the AOS, the new requirements are very simple.

So please send me your Society info at mferrusi@sympatico.ca
Thank you, Mario Ferrusi

Orchids In the News

The September 2009 edition of the National Geographic magazine had a wonderful article about orchids. The article is entitled "Love and Lies". "How do you spread your genes around when you're stuck in one place? By tricking animals, including us, into falling in love."

Otherwise, visit a friend who subscribes to this publication or drop by your public library.

Ecuador Orchid Tour

A tour being hosted by Merv Lutes and Lynne Cassidy of the Fraser Valley O.S. and organized by Ecuagenera is leaving from Vancouver in 2010. Lynne and Merv hosted a tour to Ecuador in 2007 so are very familiar with the country.

Following are the particulars:
DATE: April 16, 2010
DURATION: 14 DAYS
NUMBER OF PEOPLE: 16
COST: $4,295.00 from Vancouver.
EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT $200.00 (which brings the cost to $4,095.00).
SINGLE PREMIUM: $350.00

To register go to the Rostad web http://www.rostad.com/, their phone number is 1-800-361-8687.

Any questions please contact either Merv Lutes 604-535-5185, email lutesara@yahoo.ca or Lynne Cassidy at 604-536-8185, email lynne.cassidy@telus.net.

There is also a tour leaving Calgary on April 2, 2010 hosted by Carl Austin of Orchid Society of Alberta.

South Okanagan Orchid Society

Our Penticton Society, S.O.O.S. is in the 4th year and gaining new members slowly. We are a very enthusiastic group. Speakers are difficult to come by because of the expense, although we have had Ingrid Ostrander and Terry from Forest View Gardens at our meetings. We have had a few local very interesting people in related fields.

This particular display was in June/09 and was in conjunction with the Penticton Horticultural Society at a local Mall. It was extremely well received and we made many new contacts. This has been a yearly event and we also have another display in the late Fall as part of a Christmas Baazar

COC Slideshows

The programs below have been added through generous donation. They are in Powerpoint and require a computer and digital projector. For details look on the COC website.

Phalaenopsis culture by R.F. Lucas. This program describes Robert's phalaenopsis culture under lights. It covers all of the essentials in text and pictures. It goes into light intensity, watering, growing media, fertilizing, and temperature. In addition there are sections on deflasking seedlings, hybridizing, and seed sowing.

The 19^th World Orchid Conference in Miami by R.F. Lucas. There are 65 Powerpoint format pictures of the

major exhibits and trophy winners, and an accompanying text. An excellent program to relive the 2008 WOC for those who were there and a teaser for those who were not to start thinking about Singapore in 2011. In any case this

presentation provides an excellent overview of what a major orchid exhibition can offer, including wonderful

Dendrobium speciosum, its varieties and influence on its hybrids by Gail Schwartz. This program explores the different varieties of this Australian Dendrobium including growth habits and cultural differences. It was first presented to the Toronto Judging Centre.

The Stanhopeas by Inge and Peter Poot. A survey of Stanhopea species including culture requirements and origins. The program deals with species identification and presents some hybrids as well as some intergeneric hybrids. Includes a section on cultivation.

Orchids of the Ottawa Region by Henry Steger. A survey of species native to the Ottawa region with habitat as well as closeup photography. An excellent introduction to many of our native orchids.

Hardy Orchids, a slide program, has been converted to Powerpoint. One disk contains an 85 slide of orchids hardy in Canada plus a Word document narrative describing the pictures and the cultural conditions required for the plants.

Mentoring the new hobbyist - Guidance through example

I expect that many of us have entered the orchid hobby by way of a smiling face at a show, a first purchase or gift of a beautifully flowered orchid, or by joining an orchid club to learn more about the hobby and to meet similar-minded people. By whatever means we were lured into the orchid hobby passion, we likely remember, and fondly, the smiling face at our first show, the helping hand when we first tackled re-potting, the thoughtful guidance of a hobbyist-mentor when we considered expanding our collection, and the counsel of a seasoned exhibitor when took the plunge and decided to display our pride and joy. How many of us remember the wise counsel of a senior hobbyist who cautioned about disease transmission or who pointed out that "To save a plant you give a division away."?

Many species of the Orchid Family (Orchidaceae) are desirable horticultural subjects and as such have suffered much at the hands of greedy collectors who choose to take from the wild for immediate profit. These ravages have diminished due to international legislation but where caring about oneself takes precedence to respect for the natural world, greed continues to be expressed. When we refuse to trade in wild-collected material we demonstrate respect and caring about wild orchids. When we practice what we preach and express our concerns in constructive ways such as supporting enterprises dealing in artificially propagated plants then we demonstrate that we care.

Few horticultural specialties focus so strongly on species. Some of us have the privilege of having rare species in our collections. When we show generosity by propagating rare plants either by seed or pollen exchange or by raising and distributing seedlings, we show new hobbyists that orchid hobbyists care about conservation.

All plants are subject to a panoply of pests and diseases. Most orchids happen to be vulnerable to virus diseases which are both deleterious and contagious. When we practice sanitation in our collections and employ methods to reduce the transmission of virus diseases, we show new hobbyists that we care about the health of the plants in our care.

Orchid hobbyists love to show what they grow. New hobbyists are especially keen to exhibit either in a society display or as individuals. Often it becomes the responsibility of some of these new enthusiasts to stage an exhibit for the club. Mentors then have an opportunity to demonstrate not only how to assemble the props and stick handle through the registration process but also how to care for the precious entries of fellow hobbyists. From the time of unpacking, staking and staging, to the rushed takedown and re-packing for the trip back home, the fledgling exhibitor should see how their mentor cares for their own plants as much as for those of other members.

Conserving Our Collections: Planning for a Future

The next time vacation rolls around will we be wondering "Who will take care of the orchids?" A family emergency requires us to be absent for days, weeks or even months: who can take care of our orchids? Tragedy strikes and a serious orchid collector dies suddenly: who will take care of that collection of orchids? These scenarios are well known to the orchid community yet there is little effective planning at the individual, family, or orchid society level to deal with the issue of vulnerable plants. Without careful planning and activation of those plans, orchid collections can be quickly lost to inappropriate care or theft, inclement weather, pests and diseases. Species in our collections should be of particular concern since they may not be easily replaced but healthy vigorous hybrids are important also, especially if they are unique individuals, not mericlones. While botanical gardens have contingency plans ready to implement in the case of emergency, and staffing plans to deal with vacation and illness, rarely are we are similarly prepared. For the serious collector who truly cares about conservation, the message is simple: Plan, plan, plan and let someone know about those intentions.

Vacation planning should begin weeks or even months before the first day of the long awaited trip. We may cultivate a trusted neighbour to stand in during our absence. We may rely on family members or even hire a plant care business to do the work. In all cases, the caregiver must be provided with training and walked through the daily routine. Leave printed instructions and use visual clues such as coloured markers to highlight which plants require special care. We all know how a heavy hand at watering can spell death for some precious orchids. While an orchid babysitter may have concerns about damage to someone else`s orchids and property, and all may be forgiven if all that happens is a broken spike, it still pays to be cautious: friendships have been fractured over much less and there may be liability issues. Be certain that the caregiver has contact information, understands that you have a backup plan, and knows what to do in an emergency.

Contingency planning is needed for unexpected events including prolonged power outage, floods, storms and fire. Backup generators do provide power when we need it but we must already have a generator on hand as well as fuel to operate it until either power is restored or we have moved the orchids to a secure location. We may have only a short time to select plants to `save' before evacuating to a safer location so it is a good idea to label the collection accordingly as is done in some public collections. Of course, if we must evacuate with little notice, saving orchids may be the least of our priorities. Sharing divisions of selected plants with growers at a distance is always a good way to reduce the risk of losing species rare in cultivation.

Succession planning is probably the least thought about but should be seriously considered by anyone having a collection of species or breeding stock. Even with detailed directions as to the care and disposition of a collection, unless others are informed of our intent, no one may learn of those wishes before the plants have died. It goes without saying that all plants should be labelled and that records should be copied to be stored somewhere safe.

For those inheriting orchids, the plants could represent a living remembrance of a loved one and their green thumb. The inheritor may know nothing about orchids but despite that is just managing to keep a very special plant alive. They are ready to do whatever to keep this living memory thriving but they need help. This is when orchid societies can assist whomever asks for help. Offering to repot the orchid or providing additional advice at a meeting would be welcome. Your good turn will turn into a learning experience for everyone and perhaps line up some new orchid friends for the grower and a new member for the society.

Plan for vacations Identify who can take care of your orchids when you are away. Discuss options with family, friends and neighbours. Ask for suggestions from orchid society members or contact house sitting businesses that also provide plant care services. Prepare a plant care schedule.

Plan for contingencies Consider how to take care of the orchids during a power failure, in summer heat or winter cold, or what plans to have in place if you suddenly become ill or have to evacuate the premises. Have a list of the most valuable plants which must be saved if at all possible. Mark these plants so that they may be quickly located and removed to safety.

Plan for succession Keep records up to date and plants labelled. Identify who you want to take care of your orchids once you no longer are able, be certain that they are willing, and share this information with your family or those ultimately responsible for your estate.

ONLY ONE - A Tragedy in Three Acts

This conservation discussion is centred around the consequence of collecting one orchid plant. Depending upon how we script the story, the orchid could be the only one collected from a wild population, it could be the only one left after an unscrupulous collector took the rest, or it could be the only one surviving in cultivation.

In a pine wood just outside a newly developed suburb somewhere in North America.

"Aren't the pink lady's-slippers beautiful! I'll just dig one, the largest plant with the most flowers, leaving the smaller ones to grow for others to enjoy...... This plant will look lovely in my garden!"

Wow! It's blooming. Those nosy neighbours said it wouldn't live but I have proved them wrong. I succeeded where others have failed! I must tell _____. He has always hesitated to collect wild orchids because he thought they wouldn't survive transplanting. I will show him what I did and where they are growing so he can take one too. I want to share my success story!

I can't understand it. The orchid flowered last year and looked fine. The leaves maybe were not as big as in the woods but I think that was because of the drought. Maybe a squirrel dug the plant up. Before I collect another to replace this one, I must think of a way to foil those squirrels.

"I must hurry with the collection of this spectacular new species found in bloom this May, 1840. I have collected every plant that I can in this valley, taken notes, and destroyed the rest............"

"Packed the plants carefully but lost two crates to the river......... The one remaining lot should fetch a premium commission."

"The orchids purchased at auction continue to thrive except for two that promised to be spectacular specimens but alas those dwindle day by day."

"The coal ration is such that we must soon cease heating the conservatory. Pity that grandfather's orchids may not survive but once the war is over, I expect we shall get some replacements."

"More vines must be destroyed today as they are diseased. The winter rains caused root rot. We must propagate more vines to keep up production."

"No more than 30 wild specimens have been located. There may not be large enough tracts of forest with living plants remaining to ensure in situ survival of the species.... The establishment of gene banks is extremely urgent for this orchid that represents an important source of foreign exchange for several tropical countries."

The story in each of these scenarios is much the same although species, time and place vary. "Only One has been taken", without realizing that others may come, one by one, to each take one..... and then one day, there will be none. If all the collected plants survived in cultivation and remained healthy perhaps the story would not be quite so tragic but more often than not, few of the collected plants survive in cultivation for decades let alone for centuries. Perhaps the most troubling is that some of the most robust plants may also be keystone seed parents within a population but we will never know as these are often the plants first collected and once lost in cultivation can no longer serve a reproductive role.

Consider this: Vanilla is an ancient crop of the tropical Americas and now raised in many tropical countries around the world. A hand pollination technique developed in the 1840's is still being used, an expert being able to pollinate 1000-1500 flowers a day. Long before virus and other diseases were understood, propagation and pollination techniques possibly contributed to the spread of disease within plantations. Diseased vines were burned and new material acquired from the wild. Vigorous cultivars producing the best quality fruits were conserved resulting in the selection of narrow gene pool. When crop improvement specialists now seek wild specimens as sources of genetic variation, as a means of getting around self-compatibility problems, or as sources of genes controlling resistance to diseases such as root rot, there are few wild plants to be found. When hybridizers look for new genetic material to instill vigour to their breeding lines, their search is often in vain. Do we see a parallel situation now looming with cultivated orchids? What steps must the orchid community take to conserve our beloved orchids so that they do not go the way of vanilla, one of the orchids longest in cultivation?

The Windsor Orchid Society - In its 25^th Year!

The September 27^th General Meeting of the Windsor Orchid Society/La Société des Orchidophiles de Windsor (WOS) marked the beginning of its 25^th year. The WOS is affiliated with the Canadian Orchid Congress (COC), the American Orchid Society (AOS) and the Mid-America Orchid Congress (MAOC).

The Society was initiated in September of 1985 when the founding members, Dr. John Doherty, Peter Smith, Ed Cott, Chuck Lefaive and Bernie Butts formed the initial Executive. In May of 1986, the WOS organized its first local Orchid Show as part of the Gardening and Landscape Show at St.Clair College. In the course of the years that followed, the WOS has been host to a number of noted guest speakers including Ray McCullough, former President of the AOS, Gerda Ferrington, former Executive member of the MAOC, and local orchid growers Ron Ciesinski (Taylor Orchids), Ted and Alexis Linder (Great Lakes Orchids) and Dick and Mary Kock (Huronview Nurseries). In recent years we have had the pleasure of welcoming Mario Ferrusi, Lynn O'Shaunessy, Rob Halgren and Terry and Doug Kennedy, all accredited AOS judges and award winning orchid growers, to speak to our membership on topics associated with the culture of orchids of many genera.

The WOS meets on the last Sunday of the month (Sept-Nov, Jan-May) at 1:30 pm at St.Clair College in Windsor, Ontario _ Room 192A next to the greenhouse. Meetings are relaxed, informative and friendly. Visit our website at http://www3.sympatico.ca/ecott/index.htm

COC Medal Winner at the Eastern Canada OS Orchidfête 2009 - Les Orchidophiles de Montréal

This was an impressive 3m tall assemblage of flowering orchids draped on a constructed tree that attracted much attention for the range of genera, species and hybrids blooming to perfection. Members of the Orchidophiles de Montréal did a great job of growing and showing their pride and joy. This exhibit not only received the COC Medal but also an AOS Artistic Certificate (91 points) for colour and design, as well as the AOS Show Trophy. Many of the plants also received recognition including Best Cypripedium Alliance (Paph. Schaetzchen), Best Cymbidium Alliance (Eulophia euglossa), Best Vandaceous (V. Rose), and Best Visiting Society exhibit. Congratulations!

left above - COC Medal winning exhibit at ECOS Orchidfête 2009

right above - Eulophia euglossa `Golden Luster' (right) and flowers of Sarcoglottis metallica `Katie' HCC/AOS (left)

left - Beautiful vinicolor Paph. Schaetzchen contrasts with mauve buds of Stenoglottis longifolia

Some photos from FVOS show

COMING EVENTS

2009

2010

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