This fall marks the 50th anniversary of the Mid-America Orchid Congress and you missed a great party if you didn't take in the Congress and Show hosted by the Orchid Society of Middle Tennessee over Halloween weekend. Established in 1959 with 28 member societies in 13 states, the Congress became an AOS affiliated Society in 1961. Today the Congress has...

The AOS will be hosting a fall orchid show at its Visitor Center and Botanical Garden this coming weekend. This has been an annual event that like fine wine, just gets better each year. There is much to do and see and the timing is perfect for holiday gift shopping, or adding fall bloomers to your own collection. There is a full schedule of orchid classes that are free with admission and AOS judging on Saturday.

About this time of the year my mail brings many questions about brown sheaths. Why does a sheath turn brown? Is it serious? How can I make it green again? Will it injure the buds?

The cooler weather of autumn brings out the orchid flowers, and the orchid shows, to serve as a teaser before the full schedule of the winter-spring show season begins after the holidays. There are many fine orchids whose primary flowering season is October through December and most areas of...

Weird and wonderful, Brassavola cucullata will add a conversation piece to any collection of orchids. Visitors often comment, "that's an orchid?". B. cucullata is the type species for the genus, yet unique with its fringed lip having a long, tapered tip. The species

Twice a year the American Orchid Society has a Members Meeting which is hosted by an affiliated orchid society. This week we’ll have the Fall 2009 AOS Members’ Meeting in California outside of Los Angeles at the fabulous Huntington Library & Gardens from October 16 – 19th. The meeting is being hosted by both the Huntington and the Southland Orchid Growers Show – this is the 50th Anniversary...

ONE OF THE AMERICAN ORCHID Society's greatest strengths is its judging system, which is recognized all over the world as being the finest. It is not the oldest, as the Royal Horticultural Society in London, England, has been judging orchids since the 19th century. But the AOS judging system has been around since 1932, when judging occurred only at national shows. At the first show, 13 awards were given, with the first one recorded going to...

Certain tropical orchids are well-suited and often used as landscape subjects in frost-free areas of Florida. Schomburgkia tibicinis (above) was one of them. I say "was", because although the orchid is still around, the name isn't. I will use it in this personal tribute

To fellow members of the American Orchid Society: Below please find the official call for nominations for officers and trustees to stand for election to the Board of Trustees of the AOS in the spring of 2010. The Nominating Committee will meet in October 2009 at the Members Meeting in San Marino, California, to begin its deliberations, and will complete its nominations early in 2010, with a ballot to be mailed prior to the Spring Members Meeting in Oklahoma City April 28-May 2, 2010. All members of AOS in good standing are eligible for election and members may nominate themselves or others.

The Board of Trustees and committee chairs have been working hard for the last year and a half trying to develop a strategic plan for this current fiscal year. We were sidetracked for the last few months trying to correct the financial problems that we have, but finally, we did put a plan together that makes sense. The original plan encompassed...

This spectacular Catasetum is widespread from the island of Trinidad, throughout the basins of the Negro and Orinoco Rivers in Brazil and Venezuela and into Colombia and Ecuador. The first plants introduced into England were collected in Venezuela and introduced into cultivation by Linden. The species was described by H. G. Reichenbach in 1882 in the Gardeners’ Chronicle. Until 1921 this species was Venezuela’s national flower. The Latin name refers to...

Q.
I seem to get a lot of crown rot in my phalaenopsis. What can I do?
A.
Prevention is the best answer. Always water your plants before noon, or so the plants are dry before the falling temperature in the evening. Keeping your plants...

Aeridinae species and hybrids come in all sizes from the delights of tropical gardens, Vandopsis at six feet (2M.) to the jewel-like Schoenorchis at one inch (2.5Cm.). Greenhouse, window sill and light growers in temperate climes usually prefer plants toward the more petite size of this range. There are plenty to choose...

I WANT TO REPORT A NUMBER OF significant changes in our organization as a result of the Board meeting on Saturday, June 27. As you know, the organization is still trying to turn the business around in order to have a successful future, and the Board members thought if we did not act in a timely fashion there would not be sufficient time to ensure it. We are in an...

In the December 1946 American Orchid Society Bulletin, Donovan S. Correll named Vanilla dilloniana for the then editor of the AOS Bulletin, Gordon W. Dillon. Dillon had drawn some material, recently collected by Ralph H. Humes in Florida, to Correll's attention, as it appeared  
to be previously...

Q.
My phalaenopis has a bloom spike arising out of the apical crown of the plant. What effect will this have on future flowering?
A.
Probably this means that your plant has reached full maturity, and it will cease to grow and flower after this spike is finished. However, we've seen some plants ...

This October the American Orchid Society's fall Members' Meeting will be held in conjunction with the Southland Orchid Show at the Huntington Library and Gardens in San Marino California and you will not want to miss this special treat. Our last opportunity to spend time there was in association with the spring meeting back in 1989 held in Redlands, California. That meeting offered a special evening and dinner at the Huntington and those who were there will tell you it was...

The first description of this wonderful June and July-flowering plant as Cuitlauzina pendula by Canonigo Pablo de La Llave and Juan Martinez de Lexarca was published in 1825 in Novorum Vegetabilium Descriptiones, Orchidium Opusculum. The genus was named after Cuitlahuatzin, governor of Iztapalapa in Mexico. Throughout the literature and horticulture, there are many misspellings...

Robert W. (Bob) Liddell passed away June 12, 2009 from complications following surgery at the age of 95. Bob, an AOS member for more than 65 years was a real mover and shaker as well as a terrific supporter of new and seasoned growers alike. Bob is survived by his wife Mary and three sons, Emil, Cortland, and Bob (Robert III). He had a lengthy career...

If you are an AOS member and you read Orchids magazine cover to cover, as you should, you will have noticed a new feature. We have repurposed the back inside page to accomodate a "Parting Shot" And we want YOU to send us your best one!

We knew when coming out of the last Board meeting in Houston, Texas, in late April 2009 that we had our work cut out for us in the next couple of months. For one, we had postponed the decision of whether to keep the garden open past June of this year pending more information on the budget.

In June, the AOS introduced a new pin to benefit the Society. "The reason the pin was developed is the Affiliated Society Committee wanted to come up with a fund-raiser to help the AOS. We asked Dawn Vertrees for her help and, working together with her husband, Don, and a jewelry manufacturer in Rhode Island, this is what we came up with," says Carol Holdren, chair of the Affiliated Societies Committee and an AOS trustee.

At first glance the flowers of this genus hardly look like orchids but take one apart and you'll find all the familiar features. Closely related to Calanthe and Phaius, there are, at present count, some 13 species in this genus widely spread throughout tropical and subtropical Asia and the southwestern Pacific islands. Only two or three species...

Cattleya tenebrosa, one of the most spectacular of the former Brazilian laelias, was first described by Rolfe in 1891 as Laelia grandis var. tenebrosa in reference to its dark color compared to the yellow of L. grandis. The name tenebrosa doesn't just mean dark but rather implies a mysterious or supernatural quality. Two years later Rolfe, realizing this was a completely different species, described it as Laelia tenebrosa, a name that has effective "stuck" for nearly a hundred years. This species is closely related to...

The AOS Members Meeting in Houston, Texas, on April 23–26, 2009, was one of the best meetings of the present decade. Congratulations are due to Jim and Melba Butler and to the entire Houston Orchid Society for staging this event. Everything appeared to run smoothly according to the schedule, as all of the meetings started and ended at their proper time. My only regret: I wish there had been more time to enjoy the show and sales area.

Delray Beach, Florida- The American Orchid Society (AOS) Botanical Gardens, which were slated to close at the end of June, were given a new lease on life by the AOS Board of Trustees who voted unanimously on Tuesday (June 2,2009) to keep the gardens open to members and to the public.

Twice yearly, this subcommittee meets to discuss matters that impact orchid nomenclature and the registration of orchid hybrids. At this spring's meeting, several agenda items were addressed that will have an impact our hobby. First, the last round of changes in cattleya names...

Spring ushers in the beginning of Encyclia season and there are many excellent species in the genus whose peak flowering begins around Mothers Day. One of the favorites is Encyclia cordigera (Kunth) Dressler. Long known as Epidendrum atropurpureum, this beautiful orchid ranges from Mexico, though Central America and Northern South America, and into Brazil. Like many wide ranging orchids, Encyclia cordigera is adaptable to varying...

Orchids seem to be sweeping into North Carolina with greater awareness than ever before. Last year saw the opening of the Orchid Conservatory at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden outside of Charlotte. This year, the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro has mounted its first-ever orchid exhibit in the Africa Pavillion.

The lone star shone bright over the Hilton Houston North last week. The Houston Orchid Society hosted the AOS Spring Members Meetings in conjunction with meetings of SouthWest Regional Orchid Grower’s Association, International Phalaenopsis Alliance, Orchid Digest Corporation, Slipper Orchid Alliance, Odontoglossum Alliance and Pleurothallid Alliance. The orchid show, that was open to the public April 24-26 featured...

These past few months, I have heard all kinds of rumors regarding the AOS. Most of them have been negative, with lots of misinformation. I hope that this document will lay all of these rumors to rest. It is the Board’s intention to always maintain an open and honest line of communication with the membership. This is your society and as such, you have the right to get your questions answered by management and the Board.

Rare orchids have always been objects of desire. Ernest Hetherington's tale of the introduction of the 'alba' form of the Colombian species, Cattleya warscewiczii, offers a look at the lengths collectors would go to to in the early twentieth century to obtain the truly unique.

In 1863, Captain Grant, author of the book “Orchids of Burma”, was on orchid safari for a very elegant little Dendrobium that had attracted his attention by being worn in the hair of the Burmese girls at Moulmein. Captain Grant was accompanied by Colonel Fytche, the master planner of the city of Rangoon. They had been searching for the plant for

“The Flavors of Orchids” at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center Providence, Rhode Island Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Sunday, May 3, 11 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Orchid Derby entrance is free with Botanical Center admission Adults, $3, Children, $1

Because of personal reasons, AOS secretary Will Riley resigned after the nominations card was mailed. The Nominating Committee takes this opportunity to inform the membership of the new nominations. The new nomination for Secretary will be Karen McBride, who has been serving as a Trustee and Assistant Treasurer. The new nomination for Trustee, to fill the position for which Karen McBride was nominated will be Tim Brooks. The proposed slate of officers and trustees...

From April 22–26, I encourage you to attend our semiannual meeting, to be held in Houston, Texas. You can enjoy the fantastic hospitality that the Houston Orchid Society is known for — including an orchid show and sales area, a program of orchid lectures, and tours of Bayou Bend and the beautiful city of Houston. There will also be meetings of the International Phalaenopsis Alliance, the Odontoglossum Alliance, Orchid Digest, The Pleurothallid Alliance, the Encyclia Alliance, the Mid-American Orchid Congress and the SouthWest Regional Orchid Grower’s Association (SWROGA).

We are nearing the end of the blooming season for Cattleya lueddemanniana. It is a good time to review the fine qualities of this classic Venezuelan Cattleya to get us inspired to seek plants to grow up for next year. Michael Sinn's essay offers a brief overview of this desireable, easy-growing species.

Those of us who have only a few plants anticipate each flower with great eagerness. So it is a terrible disappointment to have a flower irregular in some way. But orchids are completely unpredictable, and it is never safe to count your blossoms until the buds are open. The unusual flowers are called "cripples" and I must say that in my experience...

Lake Huntington Walk is now available on our virtual tour. Thanks to Alan Kaitz, volunteer, who put together the information, took the photographs and created the Web pages. A big thanks also to everyone who donated their time, plants and materials to transform the unused, weedy corner of our property into an exciting new garden for our members and visitors to enjoy. A few of the larger donations include: Large trees from JEM Orchid’s property, more than 40 trees from Southeast Growers, Philippine orchid species from Mac’s Orchids, mulch and tractor use from National Property Services, trees and shrubs from Gardino Nursery and a wrought-iron gate from Dania Beach Water Gardens and Gifts.

A striking green flower, large checkered leaves, spotted purple underneath, tall impressive flower stem and raspberry fragrance; Paphiopedilum malipoense has it all! This recently discovered species wasn't described until 1984 and it's hard to imagine how this incredible plant remained unknown for so long. While the best clones...

Consistently recognized as a “blockbuster” winter flower show for its elaborate and kaleidoscopic displays of orchids, The New York Botanical Garden’s annual exhibition this season offers a new theme, design, and experience. The Orchid Show: Brazilian Modern, which opened February 28 and runs through April 12, takes visitors on a stroll through a contemporary Brazilian garden. It’s a perfect getaway...

Hybrid Phalaenopsis have reached a popularity unimagined thirty, even twenty years ago. They have done what no other orchid was able to do by becoming a favorite houseplant. They have introduced thousands of people to this wonderful family of plants. As varied and attractive as these hybrids can be, there is a certain charm that their species ancestors possess that makes them worthwhile additions to any orchid collection. Although there are other choice candidates...

AOS members will be receiving proxy cards with their magazines this week. Bios of the officers and nominees for the proposed slate can be found here ...

At the World Orchid Conference in January 2008, International Orchid Committee met to discuss the situation and, with input from the RHS Advisory Panel on Orchid Hybrid Registration (APOHR), the authors of the additional studies, the Orchid Hybrid Registrar (the Registrar), the AOS and editors of Genera Orchidacearum agreed that sinking Sophronitis into Cattleya would be a better approach...

This weekend is the world famous Miami Orchid Show, one of the biggest and best in the US. If you have never been to this show and happen to be in Florida this weekend, it is worth the investment of a drive from anywhere in the state. Or, come by boat or plane...

Because of ease of growth and the showy display it puts on every Christmas, Dendrobium goldschmidtianum is one of our favorite orchids. Even better than that, it follows that winter blooming with a slightly lesser one 6-8 weeks after that and can push flushes of flowers throughout the year. Flower color ranges from intense purple-violet to soft pink. Long known as Dendrobium miyakei, the species is a member of the Pedilonum section...

February 12 marks the 200th birthday of a man whose studies would profoundly affect the science of evolution. This week honors the contributions of the 19th-century naturalist, Charles Darwin. At 23, Darwin set out on a five year expedition as naturalist for the HMS Beagle. The brig was sent on a surveying voyage and visited Brazil, Argentina, Tierra del Fuego, Chile, Peru the Galapagos Islands, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia and...

In the economic climate in which we find ourselves these days, we are all faced with difficult decisions when it comes to where and how we spend our money. Well, the AOS is no different. The Board of Trustees recognizes that our organization’s Mission must be the focus, and at the same time we must understand who our members are, and what is required to do for our members to remain a viable organization. It is obvious that we must do what private and public institutions do, as well as what many families do. And that is, we cannot spend what we do not have.

The SF Conservatory of Flowers, a spectacular living museum of rare and beautiful tropical plants, is mounting a new collaborative effort in conjunction with the DeYoung Museum to create an integrated display of the flora, fauna and peoples of highland New Guinea. Plans are well underway to open the exhibit in the spring of 2010 and current plans are for it to run through 2014. And, you could be a part of this effort!

The beautiful monopodial orchid, Rhynchostylis gigantea, is adaptable to varying cultural conditions and belongs in every orchid collection. The sweet winter fragrance is an added bonus to the sprays of spotted or solid-colored flowers.

All donations, regardless of size, contribute to the mission of the American Orchid Society. Our supporters share a dedication to promoting and supporting the passion for orchids through education, conservation and research. Today, we remain dedicated to fulfilling our mission, determined more than ever to withstand the turbulence of tough economic challenges and demands. The value of giving helps to encourage the notion that we share this passion and have responsibility for one another. We are fortunate to have capable and devoted staff and volunteers, who, with your generous commitment to the AOS, will remain reliable, dedicated and steadfast to deliver the vision for providing leadership in orchids.

The pristine white flowers of Caularthron bicornutum will be open in a few weeks. This beautiful New World species produces its lemon-scented flowers on tall inflorescences at the beginning of the year. Just in time for the orchid show season! Plants are generally of easy culture and can grow to specimen size in a few years. Read on to learn more...

Once again, the Houston Orchid Society will host the spring members meetings of the American Orchid Society, SouthWest Regional Orchid Grower’s Association, International Phalaenopsis Alliance, Orchid Digest Corporation, Slipper Orchid Alliance, Odontoglossum Alliance and Pleurothallid Alliance on April 23-26, 2009.The meetings will be focused around....

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) marks its 250th birthday this year. Long considered a mecca for orchid scholars, the Gardens were founded in 1759 by Princess Augusta, the mother of George III. Tropical Extravaganza is the first festival in a year of events celebrating RBG Kew's 250th anniversary.

The Fort Lauderdale Orchid Show has come a long way since it was first held in February 1957 in the lobby of the Atlantic Federal Savings and Loan building, with only members participating. The international recognition of the show has resulted in the Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society being named co-host of the 19th World Orchid Conference that was held in January 2008 in Miami. Today, the Fort Lauderdale Orchid Show is one of the largest in the United States.

If you’re like me, the past 12 months have been spent mostly reading Orchids magazine, at my computer, mainly on the AOS’s Web site (www.aos.org), and of course, tending to my orchids. Orchids magazine and the AOS Web site are two informative resources for passionate hobbyists, and all three of the aforementioned activities are great ways to relieve stress. I know that orchids mean different things to different folks.

December 23, 1930 - Mamaroneck, New York
Stewart Everson was doubly upset this afternoon. Not only was he being tested with an insurmountable problem, but he had been requested to stay at work until he solved it. This close to Christmas, extra hours were not in Stewart's plans. He had hoped to leave work a few minutes early and stop by the sweet shop to pick up a few goodies for his family's holiday celebration. Stewart was the assistant clerk in charge of store display at Healey Mercantile...

Not sure what gift to get for that special orchidist on your list? Get them a book! The thing that orchid growers like best next to orchids is books. A book is a perfect gift that lasts forever and continually reminds the recipient of the gift giver. Books provide answers and inspiration.

The 2008 Fall Members Meeting at Longwood Gardens was a great experience. The Board met on three days to finalize the organization’s strategic plan. This plan will be presented to the membership once the Board has had a chance to look it over and staff has had the opportunity to complete the accompanying financials. This plan was built around the Mission of the AOS, which is to promote and support the passion for orchids through education, conservation and research, and the Vision, which is to provide leadership in orchids.

I had the good fortune to be invited to speak at Cali's national show this year and to experience the hospitality of the Asociación Vallecaucana de Orquidelogía, a terrific group of orchid growers and some truly great people.

Now Showing! Sophronitis cernua (Lindl.) W. J. Hook, delights us every year with its brilliant red flowers. Just the thing to get us into the holiday spirit! Generally easy to grow for most, read on to find out more about this Brazilian miniature.

If you love orchids, and love the outdoors, the Native Orchid Conference may be just for you. This group of 500 or so enthusiasts was begun in 2002 to foster the study, conservation and appreciation of the orchids of the United States and Canada.

Within a couple weeks in October, I met two kids who were really interested in orchids. I was reminded of just a few or our well-known orchid personalities who began the hobby young...

During the AOS October business meetings at Longwood Gardens, three new organizations were approved for AOS affiliation. Benefits to societies include show judging by AOS accredited judges, the AOS Speakers List, slide programs, educational material such as culture sheets...

On Sunday November 23rd 2008, in conjunction with the show at AOS Headquarters, the South and Central Florida Region of The International Phalaenopsis Alliance will host a workshop featuring talks by Jose Exposito, Carlos Fighetti and Frank Smith. Also featured will be an auction...

As I have told the membership in previous columns, the Board of Trustees has met often this year in a series of Board Retreats with the purpose of redefining the AOS and preparing a strategic plan that will carry us on a new course for the next several years.

Like spring, fall is an important transitional season and orchid growers should be making preparations for the coming winter. As days get shorter and cooler, orchid growth will slow and in some cases, cease altogether.

Acquire divisions of rare orchids at the American Heritage Collection auction to be held on Friday, October 17, from 6:30 to 8:15 pm at the Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington, Delaware. Absentee bidding is now open. The auction catalog is available online.