Golden Gate Cymbidium Society
September 2010
MEETING
Golden
Gaten
INFORMATION
LOCATION:
Lakeside Park Garden Center
666 Bellevue Avenue
Oakland, CA.
DATE AND TIME:
September 22, 2010
7:00 – 9:45 p.m.
GENERAL MEETING
AGENDA:
Plant Sales
Announcements
Show and Tell
Refreshments
Speaker
Opportunity Table
SPEAKERS DINNER:
Grand Oaks Restaurant
3701 Grand Avenue
Oakland, CA. 5 P.M.
Call Jim Donoso if you plan to
attend at 510-562-9006
CLUB OFFICERS:
Nancy Starr, President
510-261-7530
Jim Donoso, Vice
President 510-562-9006
WEB ADDRESS:
www.ggcymbidiums.com
Cym. Pyewacket “Wild Thing” x Son of Freak (POE 2008) Ehibitor:Neal Tadlock Photo: N. Starr PEEPS FROM THE VEEP: This month’s speaker was to be Tony Valardi. Unfortunately, Tony has fallen ill and will not be able to speak to us at this time. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope to have him visit us soon. Stepping up to fill the void is our own Jeff Trimble. Former president of the CSA, Jeff is an active member of the Golden Gate Cymbidium Society. Usually found at the back of the room with his arms folded across his chest and a smile on his face, he has been growing cymbidiums since 1973. He has always struck me as a person who is willing to share his knowledge freely and at the same time is eager to learn from others. Jeff will supply the opportunity table. His topic of discussion will be early blooming cymbidiums. To join us for the speaker’s dinner call me at 510-­‐562-­‐9006. The restaurant is the Grand Oaks, 3701 Grand Ave. at 5:00 p.m., September 22nd. Hope to see you there. -­ Jim Donoso, Vice President GGCS September 2010
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: Here it is September already. WOW where has this year gone? Lots of things happened this year and as they say, “it’s all good!” Our treasury has been enriched and we have a new and energetic Board of Directors in place. There has been much discussion about how to get new members and to generate new interest. There is one sad change: Allison Pascoe is no longer our newsletter editor and I will be filling in until we can find someone who would like to take on this challenge. Please send any articles to me by email to [email protected] by the second Friday of each month. This is a big job and I’m “flying by the seat of my pants” so to speak. This includes any photos that you might have taken at our auction party or other club function. I would like to feature a new plant each month, so step up if you want one of your “children” recognized. This month I chose one of my favorites. Next month??? I would also like to include a new feature called CULTURE CORNER with a tip or two each month on culture and related subjects. If you have a little trick that makes your orchid life easier share it with us all. We can all learn a little something every day. By this time we should all have repotting done. To repot now will delay blooming this year. We are striving to have interesting programs and encourage good attendance at our meetings. Next month we are going to have a fun time at an October Party. Anyone with some ideas please step forward with your suggestions. Some preliminary ideas have been to offer plants as prizes for costumes, games, and possibly a sprouted back bulb trade. Put your thinking caps on and let’s PARTY! Speaking of thinking caps, we need a theme for our March show. The member who submits the winning idea will receive a free membership in the CSA (which is worth $35). Please bring them up at our next meeting! I would like to thank Andy Easton for coming out of retirement to share some of his vast experience with us last month. His fertilizing information was very helpful to me and I think I have finally “grocked” it. See the CULTURE CORNER feature on page 3. I would also like to say THANK YOU for the excellent plant table which he so generously donated. Well, that’s it for now. See you September 22! Nancy Starr, President GGCS UPCOMING EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER: Sept 11-­‐12 SF Orchid Society Fall Sale Sat-­‐Sun10am-­‐5pm Hall of Flowers, 9th & Lincoln Way, SF, 415-­‐
6655-­‐6468 $3.00 admission Sept 18 California Orchid Sale Sat 9am-­‐4pm, 515 Aspen Rd., Bolinas , Ca.94924, 415-­‐868-­‐0203,or [email protected] Sept 25 Coastal Valley Orchid Society 4th Annual Orchid Expo,Sat 10am-­‐4pm, Grossman Gallery, Lompoc Public Library, www.coastalvalleyorchidsociety.com 805-­‐736-­‐3020 September 2010
Shock and Awe at GGCS Potluck Imagine going to your organizations picnic or potluck. Everyone is eating and having good conversations with those whom are at their table. You have just started eating your dessert (a coconut macaroon covered with chocolate) and all of a sudden you hear some one say it's time to award the Leland Williams trophy for service to the organization. You keep eating and all of a sudden the Society President announces that Ray has won the Leland Williams trophy, and I nearly choke on a mouthful of chocolate covered coconut macaroon. Yes, I was both shocked and awed. I would like to say a heartfelt Thank You to all of the members of the Golden Gate Cymbidium Society. Winning the Leland Williams trophy for service is the most prestigious honor that can be bestowed on one of the members of the Golden Gate Cymbidium Society each year. Once again Thank You to the Members of the Golden Gate Cymbidium for this prestigious award. -­ Ray Vickers-­Traft CULTURE CORNER: This month’s culture corner will feature Andy Easton’s tips on fertilizers and there use. 1. Never buy liquid fertilizers—“They’re a waste of money.”
2. A proper concentration of solid fertilizer can be made by using 8 oz. of fertilizer to 5 gallons of
water. For feeding ease use a siphon hose attachment for spraying.
3. Starting in the fall a higher concentration of potassium and lower nitrogen content will
encourage spiking and blooms.
4. Starting in the spring higher nitrogen and lower potassium is recommended to encourage new
growth.
5. Fertilizers containing urea are most effective for follicular feeding during the summer months.
6. Gypsum, oyster shell and dolomite lime can be added to your mix to supply trace minerals.
(Gypsum helps break down salts and is especially good for coir mixes.) These materials can also
be “top-dressed” on your plants.
7. If foliage is too green, check your pH balance. Ideal is 6.5 to 7.
8. In March and April and August and September a magnesium sulfate additive can be used.
9. For those who like to use a balanced slow release type NUTRICOAT (13-13-13) is very good. It
can be found at Home Depot with a red label called DYNAMITE. Use on March 1st and it will
release over the next 6 months. It is okay to use this in conjunction with liquid types.
Well, that’s it for now. HAPPY GROWING !!! UPCOMING EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER: Sept 11-­‐12 SF Orchid Society Fall Sale Sat-­‐Sun10am-­‐5pm Hall of Flowers, 9th & Lincoln Way, SF, 415-­‐
6655-­‐6468 $3.00 admission Sept 18 California Orchid Sale Sat 9am-­‐4pm, 515 Aspen Rd., Bolinas , Ca.94924, 415-­‐868-­‐0203,or [email protected] Sept 25 Coastal Valley Orchid Society 4th Annual Orchid Expo,Sat 10am-­‐4pm, Grossman Gallery, Lompoc Public Library, www.coastalvalleyorchidsociety.com 805-­‐736-­‐3020