First, thank you to the organizers of this wonderful orchid show for allowing me the opportunity to address you. The American Orchid Society's highest award is its Gold Medal of Achievement and it's my great pleasure to be able to present one today. Over the past 86 years only 70 Gold Medals have been awarded which should give you some idea of how few individuals are selected for this prestigious honor.

Pictured above: Ascda. Motes Burning Sands 'Mary Motes' AM/AOS (V. lamellata x Ascda. Motes Goldpiece; grown by Motes Orchids. Photo: Greg Allikas

Membership Renewals
In an unfortunate incident, the company we use for mailing our membership renewals sent them out last week with the wrong address on the return envelope. If you send in a check or credit card information using the supplied envelope, we will not receive your payment and your account will not be credited. New envelopes are being sent to members this week at no charge to us, but if you want to pay for your membership renewal immediately, please address a blank envelope to the address below and send your check. You may also make payment online by logging in at - MyAOS > View/Edit Profile > Billing.

We apologize for this inconvenience.

The American Orchid Society
16700 AOS Lane
Delray Beach, FL 33446-4351
Attn: Membership Services

Pictured above, Polystachya campyloglossa Rolfe,grown by Marni Turkel

This summer California has been a hotbed of orchid activity. Last weekend orchid enthusiasts had the choice of two major Southern California orchid events. Some folks attended both! Shown above are the five winners of the first-ever Neofinetia falcata judging. Photo by Peter Lin.

The orchid world has lost a number of noted members this year. Following are brief accounts of their lives and contributions.

Above: Pleurothallis maduroi 'Chiquita' CBR/AOS - Exhib: Joe & Rosalie Dixler - photo: Rhonda Peters

One of the pleasures of collecting Brazil's bifoliate cattleyas is that with the exception of the late autumn months, there are species in bloom throughout the year providing the grower with satisfying variations in color, form, fragrance and plant habit. Cattleya tigrina is surely one of the most satisfying.

In setting up my fertilizer injector over the weekend, I had trouble understanding the table of dilutions for making the stock solution. The tables are based on ppm (parts per million). Can you tell me what range of ppm for nitrogen is appropriate for the "weakly weekly" fertilizing of orchids? I have also noticed small, shiny black spheres on some of my plants. Do you have any idea what these might be?