Meetings and Events
LBAOS meetings are a great way to interact with other local orchid growers of various experience levels. Members are encouraged to participate in bringing plants for judging to better understand the criterion used to evaluate orchids.
Scroll down and click on past meetings to see photos.
Meeting Highlights:
We meet the second Monday of every month
Guest speakers
Demos on orchid repotting and mounting
Video travel trips in search of orchids
Growers who know & grow orchids
Auction plants
June 10, 2024
Kristen Uthus: Masdevallias and Draculas: Not as Scary as You Think
Dr. Kristen Uthus studied both plant and animal ecology and evolution at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and the Ohio State University (OSU). She then taught biology and ecology at several colleges including VCU, OSU, University of Michigan, and Eastern Michigan University. The daughter of a plant fanatic, Kristen has been growing orchids for over 30 years, and in 2014 she fulfilled her dream of making orchids a full-time commitment by purchasing NWO.
Although she enjoys growing many varieties of orchids and other plants, miniatures remain her passion—the weirder the better. New World Orchids specializes in Japanese species including Neofinetia falcata, Dendrobium moniliforme, and Sederia japonica, but her miniature selection includes many other small species including Dendrobiums, Bulbophyllums, and Cattleyas. Although never entirely up to date, you can check out NWO’s offerings at www.newworldorchids.com.
Kristen lives in Manchester, MI, about an hour west of Detroit. She is supported in her orchid pursuits by her husband, Dr. Kevin Wehrly, and her two sons, Henry and Gus.
This subset of the Pleurothallid Alliance has long been beloved by orchid growers; however, I hear the refrain, “I can’t grow them” way too often. You would be surprised at the success the average grower can have under “normal” growing conditions. I talk about what makes these two genera so attractive, how to grow them in intermediate to warm conditions, and some great species to try if you are still hesitant.
May 13, 2024
Scott McGregor: Growing Mediterranean-climate Terrestrial Orchids from Europe and Australia
Scott McGregor has been growing orchids since he was 12, when a neighbor gave him a plant. That plant had a short life, but the hook was set, and he found books and sources for orchid species while growing up in St. Louis. His collection has changed over time, living in different location around the world, but has always centered around the more unusual species. Scott grows all his plants outdoors, without a greenhouse, just "adding some water and shade" to what nature provides in Southern California. He especially enjoys finding new species that grow well in our climate (many are far more adaptable than most people would believe), and now grows over 500 different orchid species, along with cloud forest companion plants such as Heliamphora and epiphytic Utricularia. He rarely uses chemical insecticides or fungicides, preferring fresh air, beneficial insects and our native tree frogs. Scott retired from the corporate world a few years ago and stays active on corporate boards and working with non-profit groups that promote science education for kids. He resides with his family in San Juan Capistrano, California.
April 08, 2024
Annual Auction
We will be having our annual fundraiser auction in April. Bidders must complete an online registration form prior to the start of the auction. You can do so ahead of the even by visiting THIS LINK. Bidders will be issued a bidding paddle at the event upon check in.
Please note that something new this year is that there will not be a holding area during the auction. That means each bidder will need to collect their winning items and keep them nearby during the auction. Please bring boxes to store and transport your items!
Please remember that this is the main auction for this club. All proceeds go toward club programs and expenses. Bid generously!
February 12, 2024
David Toyoshima: Big flowers on “small” plants (compact catts)
David Toyoshima has been an avid orchid grower since he was a child. When he was seven, his mom bought him a small, seeding-sized cattleya plant. In middle school, he saved up enough money to buy a small, 6’ x 8’ greenhouse. With weekend trips to Stewart Orchids in San Gabriel, and with the help and mentorship of legendary orchid man, Ernest Hetherington, David started to amass the beginnings of a cattleya collection. One of his first heirloom orchid was Cattleya Bow Bells “Patterson’s” given to him by Ernest.
In high school and college, David worked part-time at Stewart Orchids (San Gabriel) and on occasion, Stewart/ArmRoy Carpinteria. He was an AOS student judge and continues to be a member of the American Orchid Society after forty plus years.
He is a two term (total of 6 years) as a Trustee for the AOS. He is the former chair of the AOS PR Committee. David is also an heirloom cattleya consultant to the Huntington Botanical Gardens.
David is a veteran advertising creative director (35 years) and has worked in Los Angeles and Chicago on blue-chip clients like McDonald’s, Budweiser, and American Honda.
He is currently an adjunct professor at CSULB teaching advertising and graphic design.
David continues to enjoy his cattleya collection—most, if not all, heirloom and historically significant plants.
January 08, 2024
Jack Zhu: Asian Cymbidium Impact to Asian Culture
Jack Zhu is an orchid hobbyist from the Los Angeles area in California. He grows many varieties of orchids, focusing on Asian cymbidiums. Jack is also very interested in the culture and history of Asian cymbidiums. He is currently an Associate Judge in AOS Pacific South Judging Region and has more than twenty AOS awards for Asian cymbidiums.
Holiday Party
LBAOS Final Meeting of 2023!
For our final 2023 meeting we will once again play BINGO and have prizes for each round. The meeting will be strictly an in-person meeting, no ZOOM. You MUST be a member in good standing with dues paid in order to play BINGO.
We will be doing a Silent Auction. The December Newsletter included the Silent Auction Rules and Forms and they will also be available on our Facebook Group page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/lbaos.
There will be no raffle at this meeting. There will also be no plant judging, but you are more than welcome to bring your plants.
Join us for lots of fun and laughter and participate in the Silent Auction if you have good orchids to sell or you would like to purchase some interesting plants from LBAOS members.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
August 14, 2023
Brandon Tam: Culture on Growing Large Slipper Orchids and Other Specimens
As the Orchid Collection Specialist, Brandon curates one of the largest and most diverse orchid species collections in the world, including over 1500 unique species and 3,600 different varieties across 280 orchid genera. He oversees day-to-day horticultural operations, including acquisitions, propagation, conservation, and supervision of over 40 orchid volunteers. Under Brandon's stewardship, The Huntington has won over 100 awards from the American Orchid Society. He supervises numerous public education events, such as orchid shows, judgings, and conferences. Additionally, Brandon co-curates the Amorphophallus titanum collection of 43 mature specimens and has exhibited over ten blooming specimens. Brandon started as the Orchid Collection Specialist at The Huntington at age 16 while concurrently earning his bachelor's degree in plant science from California State Polytechnic University at Pomona, which he completed in 2015.
July 10, 2023
Cultural Workshop on Mounting Your Own Orchids
The July 10th meeting will be our annual hands-on mounting session. It will be only an in-person meeting, no Zoom will be presented. We will start promptly at 7pm so that we can get through the meeting and raffle on time. Norm Nakanishi, Gary Putnam, and Espie Quinn will be the experts that will be helping members mount and/or remount their own orchids.
June 12, 2023
Nicholas Rust: The Wonderful world of Jewel Orchids
Are you a fan of any and everything "jewel orchid?" Do you like them but need a little extra help growing them? Then this is the talk for you! Featured in a 2020 American Orchid Society webinar, this talk strictly focuses on jewel orchid species and how to grow the many different genera that are classified as jewel orchids. Not only is it filled with detailed pictures of these plants' beautiful foliage, but it also places an emphasis on flowers, something that is often overlooked in jewel orchids
May 8, 2023
Tim Culbertson: Holcoglossums, The Next Big Thing in Vandas
Holcoglossums are a relatively new genus to Vandaceous breeding, and they are already making a big splash: they are miniature, adaptable, and make great compact plants for windowsills or outdoors in Southern California. By combining Holcoglossums with basically every Vandaceous genus under the sun, we have been able to come up with some spectacular new combinations; in many cases, these are so new that they haven’t even been named yet!
Orange County Orchid Society Auction
Repotting Workshop
Orange County Orchid Society
Annual Orchid Auction
Free admission!
April 10, 2023
Repotting Workshop
The April meeting will be a hands-on repotting session featuring our experts: Norm Nakanishi, Gary Putnam, and Espie Quinn.
Hope you can join us! These sessions are always helpful and a lot of fun for everyone.
August 2022
Ray Barkalow of First Rays: Biological Products Based on Beneficial Bacteria and Fungi to Enhance Plant Growth
July 2022
Cultural Workshop on Mounting Your Own Orchids With Expert Guidance from Espie Quinn and Gary Putnam
April 2022
Cultural Workshop on Repotting Your Own Orchids With Expert Guidance from Espie Quinn and Norm Nakanishi