Dr. Mitch Schneider will be speaking on Cattleya breeding that he is doing at New Earth Orchids.

The meeting will be a hybrid IN PERSON/ZOOM meeting but Mitch will be at the Water District with us. Please
contact Diane Bond (bonddiane9@gmail.com) if you want the link for the ZOOM meeting.

Dr. Mitch Schneider’s interest in orchids started young in his teenage years. Mitch started orchids after seeing the orchid mania display in his hometown at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens. During his PhD studies Mitch worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. While at Los Alamos Mitch met Dr. Ron Midgett, who has been breeding orchids for over 55 years.  Mitch learned the art of breeding orchids from Ron. When Ron started considering retirement, Mitch became a co-owner of New Earth Orchids, and relocated operations from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Half Moon Bay, CA. after accepting a position to join the electron sources team for the Stanford linear accelerator Center (SLAC).

Mitch’s primary interest in breeding orchids is in the Cattleya alliance, Oncidium alliance, and Zygopetalum alliance. Mitch has continued Ron’s work of producing compact novelty size Cattleya’s who have plants no larger than 18 inches tall with flowers that are 5 to 6 inches in natural spread. He has a wide variety of color forms including large full segmented cerulean, green with a white lip, spots and stripes, and his favorite- art shade lines. Mitch also has started breeding to reintroduce high quality warmth tolerance Odontoglossum with the assistance of Bob Hamilton. Mitch is also working with a consortium of breeders to pioneer inter-generic Zygopetalum with full spectrum colors.

Mitch is active in the American Orchid Society Pacific Central Judging Center, has been serving on the SFOS show committee, and is now the Vice President. Mitch strives to encourage younger orchid growers to become more involved and to help partner them with experienced members to share their love of orchids, and to learn from each other.

Opportunity Table

The Opportunity table will be provided by Dr. Schneider

Dinner with the Speaker

Members of DVOS are invited to a no-host, pre-meeting dinner with our guest speaker, Dr. Mitch Schneider.  We will meet for dinner at 5 PM on Thursday January 11th at:

Aung Burma,  2151 Salvio St Suite E   Concord, CA 94520

This restaurant is a 5-minute drive from the meeting venue.  If you wish to attend, please RSVP to bonddiane9@gmail.com by 5PM Wednesday, January 10th so that I can make reservations.

Procatavola Key Lime Stars ‘Bayou Moon’ AM/AOS

Mitch’s recently awarded plant

Note: Early Start Time Due to Venue Availability

SAVE THE DATE!

The DVOS Holiday Potluck will be December 7, 2023

Pleasant Hill Community Center,  320 Civic Dr, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

Set up begins at 6:00, Dinner at 7:00
• Members and spouses are invited
• Potluck meal
Please bring a dish for 8 people according to your last name
A-G Dessert
H-O Salad
P-Z Hot Dish
Water and soft drinks provided by the Board
We have a liquor license, so you can bring wine if you would like
• Gift exchange (see rules in newsletter)
• Raffle of prizes for members who have paid their 2024 dues BEFORE THE PARTY.
• Help with set up and clean-up is appreciated

Our November speaker is Kelly McKracken.  The meeting will be a hybrid IN PERSON/ZOOM meeting. Kelly will be joining via Zoom.

Please contact Diane Bond (bonddiane9@gmail.com) if you want the link for the ZOOM meeting.

Growing under artificial lights

Kelly is an expert at growing under light. She will share some of her knowledge with us. For further reading see her series of articles in Orchids Magazine July – November 2021

Kelly’s Orchid Biography

Kelly is an avid orchid hobbyist and breeder. She enjoys growing miniature specimen plants with a particular affection for Dendrobium, Angraecoids and Sophronitis.  She is currently working as US representative of Tropical Exotique, a Thailand based orchid company.

Opportunity Table

The Opportunity table will be provided by Kelly.

Dinner with the Speaker
Since Kelly is joining us virtually, there will not be a dinner with the speaker this month.

One of Kelly’s recently awarded plants Cattlianthe Blazing Sun ‘Bingo’ AM/AOS October 22,2021

Cattlianthe Blazing Sun ‘Bingo’

This month our speaker is David Edgely. David will be speaking on Phalaenopsis: Soup to Nuts.

The meeting will be a hybrid IN PERSON/ZOOM meeting, but David will be at the Water District Building with us. Please contact Henry Shaw (dvosshowandtell@gmail.com) if you want the link for the ZOOM meeting. But I would certainly try to be at the meeting in person.

Phal. Mituo Purple Dragon ‘Phalanx’

Phal. LD Bellina Eagle x Phal. Prima

Phal. violacea var. sumatrana Dark Devil x self

Phalaenopsis: Soup to Nuts

Everything you always wanted to know about Phalaenopsis but didn’t know who to ask. In this comprehensive program, David covers a wide variety of topics such as what is an orchid? Do I need to feed them? What about ice cubes? Can I trim wandering roots? Also, fertilizer, watering, potting, roots, pots, media, virus, magic elixirs, advanced topics like “where do baby orchids come from?” and much more.

David’s Orchid Biography

David has been growing Phalaenopsis for decades, introduced them as a teenager living on a Navy base in the Philippines. A hobby grower, David has been active in local societies and shows, spreading the good news about Phalaenopsis. In his small and rather crowded (10’x12′) greenhouse in the Pacific Northwest in the small tourist town of La Conner, Washington, David grows hundreds of orchids, primarily Phalaenopsis. In addition, David has made a few of his own crosses. Over the years, he has killed his fair share and hopefully learned most of what not to do. Having tried nearly every possible potting media (except shredded newspaper), and fertilizer fad, David has learned some hard but valuable lessons over the years. Some of David’s favorite Phalaenopsis are Harlequins, multi-floras, reds, oranges, yellows and, of course, novelty hybrids. Favorite species include Phal. schilleriana, equestris, and bellina. He is an accredited American Orchid Society judge, former AOS trustee, and treasurer of the International Phalaenopsis Alliance (IPA).

Dinner with the Speaker
Members of DVOS are invited to a no-host, pre-meeting dinner with our guest speaker, Dave Edgely We will meet for dinner at 5 PM on Thursday October 12th at:
Aung Burm, 2151 Salvio St Suite E, Concord, CA 94520
This restaurant is a 5-minute drive from the meeting venue. If you wish to attend, please RSVP to bonddiane9@gmail.com by 5 PM Wednesday, October 11th so that she can make reservations.

Phalaenopsis Zeng Min Cedar ‘Prince’

This is one of David’s recently awarded Phalaenopsis

See Events :      D & D Flowers & Tiny Jungle Fall Sale

This month our speaker is Tyler Albrecht. Tyler will be speaking on Australian Dendrobiums: Finding the Right Fit for Your Home Growing.

Dendrobium delicatum

The meeting will be a hybrid IN PERSON/ZOOM meeting. Please contact Henry Shaw (dvosshowandtell@gmail.com) if you want the link for the ZOOM meeting. But I would certainly try to be at the meeting in person.

Tyler will be supplying the raffle table.

Tyler’s Orchid Biography
“Orchids have been a thing of interest, passion, mystery, disappointment, exploration, and love of mine since I was 8 years old. It’s all my father’s fault for introducing me to Cymbidiums in the early 80’s. After finding success in not killing Cyms for a year or so, I tried some other genera and fell in love with Paphiopedilums and a keen interest in all things weird.
Living in the Bay Area was great for Orchid enthusiasts, and access to many fantastic people who later went on to become mentors to me early on in growing. People like Lil Severin, Dennis Olivas, Gerardus Staal and Dorothy Stevens to name just a few. Now I am surrounded by some additionally fantastic mentors who are not only encouraging but incredible people as well.
Fast forward 30 something years and with a short hiatus for five years, I’m back full steam doing what I love, growing orchids. With an eye on the future and blessing from my wife of 15 years, things are set in motion to transition to full time nursery production in the coming years. Also immersing myself into the AOS Judging program with the California Sierra Nevada Judging Center. In the meantime, my day job is servicing aquarium and ponds out of our home in Loomis at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Other day jobs include shuttling my daughter Reagan back and forth to the barn where she rides as a competitive Hunter/Jumper at shows around the state and region. Also making sure that my son Reece gets to his Taekwondo studio where he recently acquired his blackbelt and his various competitions! And last but certainly not least, go out on the occasional date with my lovely wife Dana……when we are not knee deep in kid and work stuff.”

Dinner with the Speaker
Members of DVOS are invited to a no-host, pre-meeting dinner with our guest speaker, Tyler Albrecht. We will meet for dinner at 5 PM on Thursday September 14th at:
Aung Burm, 2151 Salvio St Suite E, Concord, CA 94520
This restaurant is a 5-minute drive from the meeting venue. If you wish to attend, please RSVP to bonddiane9@gmail.com by 5 PM Wednesday, September 13th so that she can make reservations.

Dendrobium x suffusum ‘Reece’ HCC/AOS

This is one of Tyler’s recently awarded Australian Dendrobiums

We will NOT be meeting at Contra Costa Water District August 10!!

We will have the Annal Auction and Picnic Saturday August 12 instead.

Donation plant submission starts 9:00-9:30

Auction starts at 10:00
Pleasant Hill Park
147 Gregory Ln
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

It is in Area #3 (just north of the parking lot in the southeast corner of the park).  We need help the day of the auction. If you have any of these items, PLEASE BRING THEM… Chairs, Tables, Shade-tents, umbrellas, refreshments.

Pleasant Hill Park Site

The Picnic

Immediately following the auction we will have a picnic at the same location. Provided: Plates, cups, utensils.

Please bring potluck picnic fare to share: Salads, Mains, Desserts, Beverages.

• Come to the auction and bid. This is your opportunity to obtain some excellent and potentially unusual/rare plants. It could also be your opportunity to get a division of one of those plants you saw at a Show and Tell or on Facebook that you coveted. Everyone can find a little space for a new orchid!
• Publicize the event and invite your friends to attend. The Auction and picnic are open to the public. Tell the members of any other orchid, garden, or plant clubs you belong to about the event. If you know someone who buys Trader Joe’s Phals. and might want to explore other species, invite them! We are
  actively trying to rebuild our membership post-COVID.
• Volunteer to help set up before and clean up after the event.
• Bring some food and drink and spend time socializing with other DVOS members after the auction. Remember to bring your own chair!

The auction will start around 10 AM, with setup and logging-in of donations about an hour earlier. The auction should be over by noon, which will leave us ample time to make use of the
picnic and barbeque facilities of the venue. Additional details will be forthcoming in the August Newsletter.

This year we have again a catalog for the auction.

DVOS August 2023 Plant Auction Catalog.  and

2023 DVOS August Auction Catalog ADDENDUM 230808

All of the plants in this catalog will be available to bid on as well as all of the plants that come in the day of the auction. Distribute this catalog to anyone who might be interested.  Start making your list of must haves!

YOU CANNOT BE PRESENT IN PERSON, BUT WOULD LIKE TO BID on items in the catalog, we have appointed Pat Bacchetti to act as Proxy and bid for you. Please contact her at bacpab@comcast.net no later than August 6 for details.

Safe the Date!

DVOS Fall Auction August 12, 2023

Planning is underway for our annual auction, which will return to our pre-COVID format and include a picnic/barbeque as part of the event. This year, the event will be held under the trees at the Pleasant Hill Park, 147 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

Our Fall auction is our main fundraising event of the year. The funds the Society receives as a result of this event provide the resources we need to bring in the wonderful speakers and plant tables that we have at our monthly meetings, as well as pay for social events like the annual Holiday Dinner. Ideally all our members will participate this year. There are many ways to participate:

• Donate plants.   It’s summer and therefore repotting time for many of us. Designate some nice juicy divisions to donate to the DVOS auction. Pot those plants now so that they will be well-adjusted and growing by the time of the auction. We will be putting together an auction catalog again this year. Instructions for submitting information on donated plants for the catalog will be sent in an e-mail to all members.
• Come to the auction and bid. This is your opportunity to obtain some excellent and potentially unusual/rare plants. It could also be your opportunity to get a division of one of those plants you saw at a Show and Tell or on Facebook that you coveted. Everyone can find a little space for a new orchid!
• Publicize the event and invite your friends to attend. The Auction and picnic are open to the public. Tell the members of any other orchid, garden, or plant clubs you belong to about the event. If you know someone who buys Trader Joe’s Phals. and might want to explore other species, invite them! We are
  actively trying to rebuild our membership post-COVID.
• Volunteer to help set up before and clean up after the event.
• Bring some food and drink and spend time socializing with other DVOS members after the auction. Remember to bring your own chair!

The auction will start around 10 AM, with setup and logging-in of donations about an hour earlier. The auction should be over by noon, which will leave us ample time to make use of the
picnic and barbeque facilities of the venue. Additional details will be forthcoming in the August Newsletter..

This month our speaker is George Hatfield. George will share his wisdom and experience in growing and breeding Cymbidiums.

The meeting will be a hybrid IN PERSON/ZOOM meeting. Please contact Henry Shaw (dvosshowandtell@gmail.com) if
you want the link for the ZOOM meeting. But I would certainly try to be at the meeting in person. Dennis Olivas will be supplying the raffle table.

Doors open at 6:30 for Show & Tell setup and conversations.

George’s Orchid Biography

George graduated with honors from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona with a Bachelor of Science in Plant and Soil Science. George is the founder of Hatfield Orchids which was established in 1999.

George served as President of the American Orchid Society 2016 – 2018.

George received the Hudlow Trophy from the Cymbidium Society of America recognizing his achievements in Cymbidium hybridizing.

Cym. Pinata x Cym. Kirby Lesh

There will not be a ‘speaker dinner’ before the meeting.

Cymbidium Lambert Day ‘Amber’

Safe the Date!

DVOS Fall Auction August 12, 2023

Planning is underway for our annual auction, which will return to our pre-COVID format and include a picnic/barbeque as part of the event. This year, the event will be held under the trees at the Pleasant Hill Park, 147 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

Our Fall auction is our main fundraising event of the year. The funds the Society receives as a result of this event provide the resources we need to bring in the wonderful speakers and plant tables that we have at our monthly meetings, as well as pay for social events like the annual Holiday Dinner. Ideally all our members will participate this year. There are many ways to participate:

• Donate plants.   It’s summer and therefore repotting time for many of us. Designate some nice juicy divisions to donate to the DVOS auction. Pot those plants now so that they will be well-adjusted and growing by the time of the auction. We will be putting together an auction catalog again this year. Instructions for submitting information on donated plants for the catalog will be sent in an e-mail to all members.
• Come to the auction and bid. This is your opportunity to obtain some excellent and potentially unusual/rare plants. It could also be your opportunity to get a division of one of those plants you saw at a Show and Tell or on Facebook that you coveted. Everyone can find a little space for a new orchid!
• Publicize the event and invite your friends to attend. The Auction and picnic are open to the public. Tell the members of any other orchid, garden, or plant clubs you belong to about the event. If you know someone who buys Trader Joe’s Phals. and might want to explore other species, invite them! We are
  actively trying to rebuild our membership post-COVID.
• Volunteer to help set up before and clean up after the event.
• Bring some food and drink and spend time socializing with other DVOS members after the auction. Remember to bring your own chair!

The auction will start around 10 AM, with setup and logging-in of donations about an hour earlier. The auction should be over by noon, which will leave us ample time to make use of the
picnic and barbeque facilities of the venue. Additional details will be forthcoming in the August Newsletter.

This month our speaker is Dave Sorokowsky of Paph Paradise.  The title of his talk will be “Don’t Fear the Slippers”.   This will be a talk about culture of these beautiful plants.

The meeting will be a hybrid in person/ZOOM meeting. Please contact Henry Shaw (dvosshowandtell@gmail.com) if you want the link for the ZOOM meeting. But I would certainly try to be at the meeting in person.  Dave will be supplying the raffle table. 

Doors open at 6:30 for Show & Tell setup and conversations.

Dave’s Orchid Biography

After receiving his degree in biochemistry from the University of Toronto, Dave opted to step outside his chosen field and operated a tropical fish import business for eight years.  Upon returning to school, Dave received a degree in enology and viticulture from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario.  While attending Brock, Dave began acquiring orchids one 2” pot at a time and before he graduated, Dave had over 100 orchids.  Winemaking and a passion for orchids prompted Dave to seek a warmer climate in California about one year later.  Dave has been growing paphiopedilums for about 15 years and seriously hybridizing for the past 10 years.  He is an accredited AOS judge and his paphiopedilums have received over 100 awards to date from the AOS and CSA. Many of those awarded plants playing important roles in his breeding program. In 2018 Dave left winemaking in order to focus all of his time running Paph Paradise Orchids.

Please visit Dave’s site: https://paphparadise.com/ to see the plants he has available for sale.    Macabre Midnight ‘Dornfelder’ HCC/AOS is one of Dave’s recent AOS awarded plants.

Paph. Macabre Midnight ‘Dornfelder’ HCC/AO

Members of DOVS are invited to a no-host, pre-meeting dinner with our guest speaker.  We will meet for dinner at 5 PM on Thursday June 08 at:  Aung Burma,  2151 Salvio St Suite E,  Concord, CA 94520

This restaurant is a 5-minute drive from the meeting venue.  If you wish to attend, please RSVP to bonddiane9@gmail.com by 5PM Wednesday, June 07 so that I can make reservations.

This month our speaker is Marni Turkel (pronounced tur KELL).  The title of her talk will be “Show Me the Plant”.  The meeting will be a hybrid in person/ZOOM meeting. Please contact Henry Shaw (dvosshowandtell@gmail.com) if you want the link for the ZOOM meeting. But I would certainly try to be at the meeting in person.  Marni will be supplying the raffle table. 

Doors open at 6:30 for Show & Tell setup and conversations.

“Show Me the Plant” is a presentation that uses images of blooming specimen plants as well as close-ups to consider the whole plant for a sense of proportion and relationship and not the flower in isolation. Marni will be talking about many of her favorite plants and will cover some basic information as well as specific needs for individual plants and strategies for growing specimen plants. This is a chance to see some of the best of her collection and learn how she grows it.

Marni’s Orchid Biography

Marni is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area and has been growing orchids since 1980. She grows in four greenhouses in Santa Rosa with approximately 1250 sq ft of growing space. Her main interest is in miniature species but plenty of larger plants have crept into the collection as well. Marni has been a contributor to Orchids magazine with her series called ‘Well Worth the Space’ and ‘Give It a Rest’. Her articles have been translated into Dutch, German, Portuguese and Swedish for international publication. Photographs of her plants have been feature in articles noted orchid publications including Orchids Magazine, Orchid Digest, Richardiana, The Orchid Review, and The Australian Orchid Review. For the last few years she has been sharing her photographs and knowledge on OrchidsForum.com. 

Starting in 2009, Marni expanded her work with orchids to include propagation of orchids from seed and has set up a flasking lab of her own to take the process from start to finish and sell flasks of many of the orchids species in her collection. After working for over 43 years as a potter, she has retired from ceramics to pursue orchids full-time.